It’s been known for quite some time now that Katie Taylor will soon be calling an end to her glittering, all-conquering, and sport-changing career. At the beginning of the year, she said that, before she bows out for good, she wants a rumble in Dublin, preferably Croke Park, but that 3Arena and Aviva Stadium are also options.

As time has gone on, it’s proven to be quite a long process to try to book Taylor’s first choice. Yet, we’re seemingly close to confirmation for the event. Before that’s finalised, however, the event runners and promoters should be exploring as many ways as possible to make this the biggest event possible in honour of Taylor’s career.

Continuing Taylor’s Legacy for the Next Generation

 

To say that Katie Taylor has been trailblazing would be an understatement. Great and appreciated female boxers came before her, but in terms of getting the spotlight on women’s boxing and promoting it as highly as the men’s bouts, few can even come close to achieving what Taylor has in her 25-1 pro career.

She transformed the sport, being a very likeable, understated Irishwoman out of the ring, and then a relentless, cyborg-esque wrecking machine on the bell. She delivered drama, intense action, and supreme boxing skills to make a spectacle worthy of any stadium. The Olympian’s final outing should lean into this fact.

It should be a special occasion that has Taylor inspiring the next generation one more time. A key way to do this would be to run a promotion on whatever platform the fight goes to. After all, promotions are a great way to invite newcomers to the scene, as is often the case across entertainment, from streaming to online gaming.

It’s why the relatively niche corner of online bingo offers free bingo spins to new players without wagering requirements. After the first deposit and play, the new player gets extra bonus funds and no-wagering free spins. The platform showing Taylor’s last fight should make it free-to-view, collect a huge audience, and rely a bit more on advertising deals. It’d be a fitting concept for the legendary boxer’s grand finale.

Closing in on the Dream Venue for Her Final Bout

Most recently, promoter Eddie Hearn spoke on the potential of Taylor getting her wish for her last bout to take place at the 82,300 capacity Gaelic games stadium in Dublin. He said, “We’re in a good place,” after staff had gone over to sort the potential operational side, but that “it’s not done yet.”

It was in this interview that Hearn revealed that Taylor said, if she doesn’t fight at Croker, she won’t fight again, having done everything else she’s wanted to in her superb career. She wants one more, the promoter relayed, and he’s “very hopeful” that it’ll come to fruition.

The interview did try to get some names out of Hearn for Taylor’s would-be opponent, but he wouldn’t be drawn on it. All he noted was that it wouldn’t be a mere exhibition fight and would be a real one. In the super lightweight division, right now, Taylor is head and shoulders above the rest, including Sandy Ryan and Estelle Mossely.

Were Taylor to step up to welterweight, she’d find stiffer competition in the form of Stephanie Pineiro Aquino, Mikaela Mayer, and Lauren Price. Regardless, though, pieces are yet to get into place to finalise the event, but from there, all involved should explore every avenue to make it as impactful and accessible as possible.