On 5 June, the announcement we’d all been waiting for finally made its way to the headlines: Katie Taylor’s last fight will take place at Croke Park in Dublin. The colossus of a stadium usually reserved for Gaelic sports will be a fitting final stage for one of boxing’s greatest-ever athletes.

The 80,000-seater will host one of the biggest fights of the year on 5 September, with the Bray-native – which is just ten miles from the stadium – set to take on an undefeated up-and-comer. The prestige of the boxing alone makes it a very special occasion, but the promoters and venue should be exploring every avenue to make it even bigger.

Looking to Finish 26-1

 

From her years as an Olympic gem for the Republic of Ireland to headlining bouts in major arenas, Katie Taylor has greatly helped to raise women’s boxing up to the prominent position that it presently finds itself in. Her speed, power, and thudding combinations made every exchange more exciting than the last. Now, she gets her wish.

The 39-year-old will be battling in front of a sell-out home crowd to see off her decorated career with, hopefully, a 26-1 record. However, she hasn’t exactly picked the easiest of opponents. Up-and-comer Flora Pili will travel in looking to build on her 12-0 record and add to her IBO World super lightweight strap.

Even so, the undefeated pugilist from France is expected to be up against it. At 28 years old and seven bouts from May 2023 to now, Pili is still building her record, meaning that Taylor will be, by far, her greatest test to date. As Pili says, she’s “here to make a name for myself,” and that she certainly would if she spoiled the party in Ireland.

Maximising the Special Occasion

 

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Katie Taylor’s promoters and the venue look to be going all-out to make this one of the biggest nights in women’s boxing. Family tickets have been made available in alcohol-free zones of the arena, and fans will likely be welcomed to the colosseum after the bout. Even so, more can be done for this end-of-an-era occasion.

Easily the most straightforward and commonplace approach would be to run a bunch of promotions. Bonuses and promotions are essentially expected from customers these days, which is why competitive platforms across entertainment, like those offering bonus free spins for new players, have embraced this state of play.

Here, new players get a match of 100 per cent to their deposit and, if that deposit is £10 or more, they’ll also get 100 free spins. For an event like the Katie Taylor fight, free beverages with certain tickets, a small discount for signing up to newsletters and such, or even free ticket giveaways could all further boost this epic event.

Some businesses have been able to get their hands on some tickets that they’re bundling into free giveaways. Luxurious Giveaways is running a £1.99 draw for two tickets and an overnight stay, while Created in Ireland is running a free giveaway of two tickets. Of course, memorabilia giveaways, like signed gloves, would also be fitting.

Katie Taylor’s final bout will be one of the biggest events in boxing this year, and with a bit of extra work, those running the show could make it even more special for fans.