‘Without Doubt the Greatest Night of my Career’ – Eddie Hearn Hails Katie Taylor’s Croke Park Farewell
Aaron Dunne Reports from the Helix
‘Without doubt the greatest night of my career.”
For all the massive occasions Eddie Hearn has brought to fruition over the course of his many years at the helm of Matchroom Boxing, even he admits that Katie Taylor’s Croke Park farewell is by far his finest achievement. It so very nearly never came to be too.
As giddy and blushing as the unflappable English promoter has ever been seen, the emotion in the room – from both those on stage at Tuesday’s press conference and those in the audience – can’t help but get to everyone.
To think this night might not have happened is unimaginable now – but that was the reality for many years. But boy is it happening now. In no small part to a little bit of faith.
“Genuinely it’s the only place that I’m clapped!” The English promoter half jokes, “thank you.
“I think anyone that watched the promo this week (starring Dublin Hollywood star Barry Keoghan)… I’d be amazed if there was a dry eye in the house. I’d be astonished.
“Saturday will be, as far as I’m concerned, the biggest night of not just Katie’s career but the biggest night, I think, in the history of Irish sport.
“The biggest female sporting event of all time, and for me personally, without question, the greatest night of my career.
“I’ve never looked forward to a night like this in my whole life. I think what we’re about to witness is going to be one of the best occasions.
“Everybody that’s bought a ticket, everyone that tunes in, whether that be on DAZN or on RTÉ will never ever forget it.
“In sport there are sometimes these memorable moments that leave you on the edge of your seat…that make the eyes well up. The country of Ireland is gonna have a night it’ll never forget.
“Peter Aiken has been a blockbuster addition to the team. Don’t ever let anyone dampen your spirit or your belief about what’s possible. I was starting to get angry with myself, starting to think ‘maybe we can’t do this’. It won’t work. Maybe we wont sell 80,000 tickets.
“I was gonna give up, though I hate even saying it. It was Katie’s attitude that made it undeniable. And also Brian Peters’ attitude to say ‘I know my people, and I promise you they will come out and support Katie Taylor’.
“Brian put his genitals on the line, and without Peter I don’t think we’d be where we are. So thank you to you both.
“And credit to DAZN. To allow RTÉ to broadcast this fight, and rightfully so, on terrestrial TV, to the entire nation, is groundbreaking for the sport of boxing. It’s going to open huge unbelievable doors for the sport of boxing in this country.”
