Eddie Hearn: Katie Taylor’s farewell fight at Croke Park is the greatest thing I’ve ever done

You name it, Katie Taylor has done it.

Olympic gold medalist, reigning two-weight undisputed champion, selling out arenas around the globe. Those are to just mention a few of her accolades!

The Bray native has changed the face of women’s boxing and she’s aiming to bow out with another victory against the unbeaten French fighter Flora Pili at Croke Park in Dublin.

Taylor is putting her IBF, WBA and WBO titles on the line and the 40-year-old can also claim the vacant WBC belt.

We sat down with Taylor’s promoter and all round good guy Eddie Hearn to discuss the iconic night ahead of us – and it’s fair to say the Matchroom man knows how big of a deal the Croke Park sellout is!

You can get all the latest Katie Taylor v Flora Pili odds on PaddyPower.com.

Eddie Hearn

What moment will you remember most from Taylor’s career?

There’s so many! The debut at Wembley where she convinced people to follow her journey, the first world championship fight, the first Amanda Serrano fight will always be a moment where the boxing world stood still. It broke so many barriers. The third Serrano fight was brilliant for the whitewash because of our rivalry with Jake Paul.

Where will this fight rank?

This is the ultimate and it’ll top everything. This will be the greatest thing that I’ve ever done. That moment when she walks out will be iconic. The plan we have for the evening… the music, the acts, the undercard, the walkout. When she walks out it’ll be one of the most iconic moments in the history of boxing. It’ll be one of the most iconic sporting moments in Irish history. She’s breaking so many barriers and that’s what she’s done her whole career.

Top five fights you’ve worked on?

Taylor v Serrano 1, Canelo Alvarez v Billy Joe Saunders, Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko, Carl Froch v George Groves and Tony Bellew v Ilunga Makabu.

Did you ever give up hope of Taylor fighting at Croke Park?

I’d like to say no… but yes, I did! I felt we weren’t getting the support or belief that we needed. It was Katie’s desire and the public support that made me sit down and find a way to do this.

How much has Taylor changed the perception of women’s boxing?

Every female fighter of today’s generation owes so much to Katie. Without her, boxing wouldn’t be in the Olympics and it wouldn’t be the size it is now commercially. She’s broken viewership records and sold out some of the biggest arenas around the world. She’s inspired a new generation of fighters and she’s shown young girls and women that it’s possible to break down barriers. It’s possible to have a future in the sport now thanks to Katie.

Have you been surprised by the scale of interest?

Yes I have. When you look at the stadium with 80,000 seats, there’s no blueprint to tell you what Katie can sell. If we’d have sold 30,000 or 40,000, it would have been incredible. This was us kind of believing in the Irish people that they would come out for their moment. I’d say 90 per cent of people coming to the show haven’t watched a live boxing event before. All the generations of families and communities will come. It’ll be special.

Is there any chance Taylor un-retires?

It’s always difficult for a fighter to walk away from the sport when they physically feel like they’ve got more to give. Her fights now turn into wars which is great entertainment but she’s in the trenches out there. This fight will be no different. If she performs really well, I’m sure she’ll sit at home in six months and think about it. This is the time to leave though as what more can she do? This is the last dance.

If Taylor wins, what are the chances you miss your flight home?

I don’t really drink anymore but if she wins, I’ll have to have a Guinness or two! My kids are coming and so is my