Who, When, Where – Eddie Hearn outlines plan for Katie Taylor’s next fight
Nothing official has been announced, but it looks certain Katie Taylor is finally set for a massive homecoming.
Speaking after Taylor made her first successful of her WBA lightweight title with victory over Jessica McCaskill in the York Hall last night, promoter Eddie Hearn suggested Dublin has to be next.
Dublin and a 3Arena homecoming has been mentioned before and it was previously expected the Bray native would challenge for a World title in Ireland.
However, after fights around venues in Britain and America it now appears her second defence will play out in Dublin and at a venue Bernard Dunne so often thrilled at.
Hearn, who also looks after Ireland’s other World champion Ryan Burnett, hopes to bring the London 2012 Olympic gold medalist home in April for a unification against Victoria Noelia Bustos.
“I’d like to bring Katie to Dublin next. It would be a shame not to fight in Dublin. I don’t think it would make a lot of sense not to fight in Dublin,” he told Irish media afterwards.
“It would give Katie the chance to have Christmas and January off which I think she needs”
Pre-fight, Hearn had gone as far as to discuss possible homecoming undercard fights and it looks as if an exciting show is under construction.
A good undercard topped by Taylor in a unification fight seems to be the ideal scenario for the English promoter.
“The popularity, we’ve seen it in England and in Wales, has been incredible. If we can bring a unification fight, we’d love to do it. April would work really well because it would give Katie the chance to have Christmas and January off which I think she needs,” he reasoned
The WBA lightweight champion is keen to unify the division and Hearn would like to provide her with the chance to add the IBF title to her collection of honours.
Argentinean Bustos [18(0)-4(0)], who has held the IBF crown since 2013. is top of the next opponent wish list.
“We have tried to fight her before. She hasn’t wanted to fight, but in the past few days, they have shown signs that they want to take the fight next.”
The plans for Taylor to fight Bustos in Dublin in April mean it will be a massive month for Irish boxing, with Belfast star Carl Frampton fighting on April 7th, potentially against Nonito Donaire.
The Wicklow fighter’s homecoming will assumedly come in the weeks following Frampton’s next fight date at the SSE Odyssey Arena.