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Third massive all-Irish fight in the works for Katie Taylor homecoming card


The Katie Taylor Irish homecoming card at the 3Arena looks set to feature not one, not two, but THREE huge all-Irish fights.

You can be sure Brian Peters along with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom have done so much due diligence with regard to the mooted Katie Taylor homecoming that they are prepared for every eventuality. The numbers have been totted and cross-checked to such a degree that everyone involved can predict it will be a success across the board.

However it seems a key part of predicting a successfully received sell-out Sky Sports broadcast show is ensuring there is an unpredictable nature to the undercard.

Taylor’s manager Brian Peters knows all too well what it takes to put together a big show in Dublin. The Meath man was the business brains behind the rise of Bernard Dunne and his acumen was key ensuring those now legendary Point Theatre nights.

While Eddie Hearn brings the might of Matchroom and the panache of Sky to the table, the local knowledge of Peters and his right-hand man Tomas Rohan will be called upon much like Mark Dunlop has run point in Belfast.

So when Peters, who has returned to the forefront of the game after a sustained sabbatical, talks about the undercard you listen – and the main point he makes will excite Irish fight followers. Matthew Macklin’s former manager is adamant Ireland is next for Taylor and has described plans for the undercard to be populated with 50-50 fights.

Peters has reiterated Hearn’s earlier noted desire for a Jono Carroll v Declan Geraghty rematch and a middleweight clash between Luke Keeler and Conrad Cummings – as well as revealing that another all-Irish rematch is in the pipeline.

The final piece of a pretty perfect looking puzzle then is a rematch between lightweights Paul Hyland Jr and Stephen Ormond.

ormond hyland decision

The pair fought on the Ryan Burnett v Zhanat Zhakiyanov undercard at the SSE Odyssey Arena in Belfast back in October in what was one of the most controversial all-Irish fights in recent times.

Belfast’s Hyland [17(6)-0] won a disputed split-decision on the night to retain his IBF East/West Europe belt – however the vast majority of fans, pundits, and fellow fighters felt that Dubliner Ormond [24(13)-5(1)] deserved the nod.

‘The Rock’ was downed by ‘Hylo’ in the third round, but seemed to get the better of much of the rest of the fight, dominating the latter rounds.

While both seemed somewhat reluctant to rematch in the aftermath, a second fight now looks to be on the works.

Peters outlined how “we’ve got to get Ireland. Ireland is really next. We’ve got to do it – it’s really time. There are loads of good fights. You want Jono Carroll and Deco Geraghty on the undercard, you want [Luke] Keeler versus [Conrad] Cummings.”

“You want the Stephen Ormond [v Paul Hyland Jr] rematch; he got stiffed up in Belfast, disgraceful decision, what the hell, I don’t know how… But they’re the fights you want. They’re good fights.”

“You want to go into the bookies and see each fighter is even-money. If you’re going on a stage like this, that’s what you want.”

“Let’s be honest. I’d sit and watch those three fights.”

dpg

irishboxing

Integral part of the Irish boxing community for over 13 years

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