KATIE Taylor's rematch with Amanda Serrano at Croke Park has been counted out.
The Irish News understands that the cost of hosting the eagerly-awaited rumble for the undisputed lightweight title at GAA Headquarters, or at any Dublin stadium, have proven too high for promoter Eddie Hearn.
It is understood that the cost of providing security for the fight in addition to those associated with stadium hire, logistics and production have scuppered what would be a cross-over global boxing event in the city.
Taylor and Serrano locked horns in a spell-binding, all-action clash at boxing Mecca Madison Square Garden in April last year which Taylor won on split decision.
Immediately there was talk of a rematch at Croke Park but, almost a year on, momentum has petered out and Serrano has dropped down to featherweight and will face Erika Cruz Hernandez at ‘The Garden’ on Saturday night.
Undisputed women’s lightweight champion Taylor has never fought on home soil as a professional and DAZN boss Hearn insisted late last year that his focus was “a million per cent on going to Croke Park”. However, he warned that the cost of staging the open air event was prohibitive.
Professional boxing in the Republic has been in limbo since masked gunmen ran amok at a weigh-in at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in February 2016. One man died and two were injured in the gangland-style hit.
There was a professional bill at the National Boxing Stadium late last year but a stadium show would obviously be a different proposition for the Garda Síochána who remain wary of the threat of further violence.
With Dublin shut down, fight fans have become accustomed to heading north in large numbers for bills in Belfast. Fighters from the Republic appearing on small hall shows at the Europa Hotel and the Girdwood Community Hub brought large travelling support with them.
