Eddie Hearn outlines new Katie Taylor world title and homecoming fight plans
The Sky Sports cameras head to the York Hall in London tonight for the third installment of the JDNXTGEN series.
A few weeks ago Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn floated the possibility of Ireland’s Katie Taylor [6(4)-0] featuring on the card ahead of a world title fight in Las Vegas on November 11th, with an Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko heavyweight rematch topping the bill.
This, of course will not be the case. Klitschko retired last month and it now looks as though Joshua will defend his IBF and WBA titles against Kubrat Pulev on October 28th at the Millennium Stadium on October 28th – and Taylor obviously does not feature tonight.
Hearn has confirmed that it is therefore his plan for Taylor to fight for a world title in her next bout, and the Essex promoter already has her first two defences mapped out in his head.
The Matchroom boss told Irish boxing writers that “I want her to fight for a world title on the Joshua card on October 28th. We were looking at fighting early September, but she’s running out of people to fight and she’s ready to fight for the world title.”
It had been previously said by Hearn that Taylor would fight for world title honours in November in Dublin at the 3Arena, however this dream was extinguished during the Summer.
With Ryan Burnett winning world honours during the Summer, the potential of a Belfast double header with Taylor was floated by Hearn – but he has since reaffirmed his desire for a Dublin homecoming.
Indeed, the English promoter is hoping for a St Patrick’s Day extravaganza for Taylor’s second world title defence.
Hearn outlined how “when I bring her to Ireland, I think I want her to headline in Dublin. I don’t really necessarily want to put her on an undercard in Belfast.”
“That [Dublin] will happen, although not until next year. We’re going to box on October 28th, then I want her to defend the world title in America, and I’d like her to come back on Paddy’s Day weekend to fight in Ireland.”
“When I was out in America, obviously there were thousands of Irish, and I was getting mobbed with questions on Katie Taylor. When she’s boxing on the road you don’t necessarily see that, how big she is in Ireland.”
“We must take her back.”
Since turning pro at the end of last year, Taylor has raced to six straight wins. The Connecticut-based fighter has also picked up the WBA International title and is ranked #1 by the organisation.
#2 Anahi Esther Sanchez and #3 Cecilia Sofia Mena fight for the vacant belt next Saturday in Argentina.
