‘It doesn’t have to be Serrano’ – Recent rival not key to Katie Taylor Croke Park dream
Katie Taylor [21(6)-0] says she doesn’t need Amanda Serrano to sell out Croke Park.
The Irish fighter understands it takes ‘two to tango’ and that she may need some form of name to help her live her homecoming dream – but she argues there is more than one dance partner capable of performing on the big stage.
Serrano has been a constant in talk of a massive homecoming night for the Irish hero. Croke Park was provisionally booked for September, but with Serrano not willing to fight his year, Taylor was forced to explore other options and defends her lightweight straps against Karen Elizabeth Carbajal [19(2)-0] in London this weekend instead.
There are hopes a repeat of the ‘greatest women’s fight of all time’ can take place in the Spring of next year, but again Eddie Hearn revealed he sees seven-weight world champion, Serrano, as key to any Croker outing. The fact he is suing Serrano’s manager Jake Paul has Irish fight fans worried, but Taylor offers an alternative.
The Irish Icon, who many believe would sell out Croke Park twice over on her own, says she doesn’t need the ‘Real Deal’ to make Croke Park a real success.
“It takes two to tango, but I think there is no shortage of big fights out there for me. It doesn’t have to be Amanda Serrano,” she told Sean McGoldrick for the Independent.
“Obviously, I would love to have that big homecoming fight. We were in talks with Croke Park over the last few months . . . it can easily happen.
“So, that is an amazing thought for me – to have a homecoming fight in Croke Park, the biggest stadium in the country with 80,000 people. It would be a mega event – possibly the biggest event in women’s boxing so far.”
“That fight deserves to be @Serranosisters” – @EddieHearn on Taylor vs Serrano 2 and Katie fighting in @CrokePark
— Irish-Boxing.com (@Irishboxingcom) October 27, 2022
Tune in to https://t.co/iY1wy4NHML all week for #TaylorCarabajal content!@KatieTaylor @MatchroomBoxing #IrishBoxing pic.twitter.com/WDlkPQ2ku5
As well as Croke Park and fighting at home, Taylor is also has her sights set on a Las Vegas fight night and is even looking into appearing in Australia, possibly during the Women’s World Cup next summer.
“I would love to fight in Vegas. It is another mega place for boxing. All the big fighters have fought there. It would be amazing to take off my bucket list.”
⚖️ WEIGH-IN AND FACE-OFF 👀@KatieTaylor vs Karen Carabajal
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 28, 2022
👑 Undisputed Lightweight Championship#TaylorCarabajal pic.twitter.com/RFsvdZfQfn
In terms of possible Croke Park opponents MMA stars Holly Holm and Cris Cyborg have been suggested, the winner of Chantelle Cameron versus Jessica McCaskill is another to be mentioned, as is Estelle Mossely, the French fighter who holds an amateur win over Taylor and Anthony Joshua is a Natasha Jonas advocate.
