Hearn Vows To Secure Croke Park For Katie Taylor’s Finale
Eddie Hearn has doubled on Katie Taylor’s retirement fight being at Croke Park.
The Matchroom Boxing promoter declared the stadium his absolute priority for Taylor’s swan song, which is being targeted for July or August 2026. Taylor, now 39, confirmed in February that 2026 will be her final year in the ring. She has only fought in Ireland twice as a professional—both times at the 3Arena in 2023 during her rivalry with Chantelle Cameron.
To secure the 82,300-seat home of the GAA for a farewell event that Hearn predicts would be the “greatest sporting occasion in the history of Ireland.” Hearn noted that Taylor’s recent 3-0 trilogy sweep over Amanda Serrano—concluded on July 11, 2025, in a record-breaking Netflix global broadcast—has elevated her star power to a level where the financial hurdles of Croke Park may finally be overcome.
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“I just want to fight in Dublin to end my career. Obviously, we are still hoping for Croke Park, hanging on to a bit of hope that it can happen. Fighting my last fight in our most iconic arena, how special would that be? I think it would be absolutely remarkable if I was able to do that. I’m not sure if it’s going to happen or not. Either way, I’ll be ending my career here, and I’m very excited about that,” Taylor revealed
“That’s a…load of work to make sure that one of the greatest athletes of all time gets her ultimate dream. And I have to deliver Croke Park. I have to. If I don’t give this everything, if I don’t try my very hardest to make this a reality, I’m not doing Katie justice, and I’m not doing myself justice. Because this would be the greatest sporting event ever in the history of Ireland,” Hearn said
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The most logical choice is Chantelle Cameron. The two are currently tied at 1-1, with Cameron handing Taylor her first professional defeat in May 2023, and Taylor avenging it in. A trilogy bout would likely be for the undisputed super-lightweight (140 lbs) title. For Taylor, beating the only woman to ever defeat her—and doing so in the home of the GAA—would be the ultimate farewell fight.
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Caroline Dubois could also be an option. Dubois was elevated to full WBC lightweight champion in late 2024 after Taylor vacated the belt to focus on higher weight classes. Dubois has been vocal about Taylor “hoarding” belts in the past. At 39, Taylor would be facing a technical, heavy-handed southpaw nearly 15 years her junior. While it carries the highest risk of Taylor losing her final fight, it would be a massive domestic clash.
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Alycia Baumgardner is also a marquee name. “The Bomb” has spent years calling out Taylor, and as of early 2026, she remains one of the most recognizable faces in the sport. This fight would likely require a “catchweight” or Taylor defending her 140 lb titles. It is a “Super Fight” in every sense, pitting two of the top three pound-for-pound women in the world against each other.
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