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Matchroom CEO hint at Katie Taylor's Croke Park deadline
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Matchroom CEO hint at Katie Taylor's Croke Park deadline

Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith has claimed that a decision on hosting a trilogy between Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron in Croke Park could be made in the next two weeks.

Bray native Taylor suffered her only loss of her professional career to England's Cameron in May at the 3Arena in Dublin. Cameron won via a majority decision and was the favourite coming into the fight. However, Taylor showed immense courage in the rematch and spirit to avenge her first defeat in the sport. She won by a majority decision to become a two-weight undisputed champion in the sport and has cemented her status as one of Ireland's best-ever sportspersons.

The win means that Taylor now holds the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO light-welterweight belts, and the likelihood of a rematch and trilogy fight is still on the cards.

A number of venues have been touted for the third fight, including Anfield in Liverpool, the Aviva, and Croke Park, the other Dublin venue.

Smith, the Matchroom Boxing CEO, has said the final decision will come very soon, as it will make the process of selling tickets and preparing for the fight easier.

"Both the fighters want to know what we're doing," said Smith. "The aim for us is to make Chantelle Cameron fight with Katie Taylor; it's not 100% confirmed yet or determined, but that's coming now in the next ten days, I'd say.

Katie Taylor celebrates her win over Chantelle Cameron, for the Undisputed Super-Lightweight World Title Fight at The 3Arena Dublin on November 25, 2023 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images)

"We've got to get something moving. If we're looking at May for a fight of that magnitude, it's got to be in the next ten days or two weeks before we get it over the line.

"As well, if we're going to do it in a stadium with the work that goes into it with the sale of that number of tickets, you can't leave it much longer than that."

Dublin will also see the Europa League final played out at the Aviva Stadium at the end of May. Other events, like the Leinster football decider and a Bruce Springsteen concert, will also be played in Dublin. Because of this schedule, the 3Arena, a venue that has already hosted two Taylor vs. Cameron fights, could be used again.

"We're in talks with Croke Park as well as the government," added Smith. "These conversations don't happen overnight. There's a lot of procedure you have to go through, but we're getting to a point of crunch time."