Eddie Hearn says Katie Taylor’s dream Croke Park farewell fight proves why Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury MUST be in UK

EDDIE HEARN says Katie Taylor’s dream Croke Park farewell fight only reinforces why Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury MUST take place in the UK. Taylor, 40, became the first boxer to headline Ireland’s 82,000-seat national stadium since Muhammad Ali in 1972. Katie Taylor retired after her dream Croke Park swansong fight Credit: Getty Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua could still yet fight at Wembley Credit: GETTY And she sealed an emotional swansong victory by beating France’s Flora Pili to become a THREE-TIME undisputed world champion. The historic occasion follows on the back of Hearn’s public pleas to convince organisers against hosting AJ vs Fury in New York’s Madison Square Garden. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! And he reckons Taylor’s send-off will only strengthen his case. He told SunSport in Dublin: “I mean, the timing couldn’t be better. “And, obviously I want to thank the people of Ireland, but I want to thank the people of Britain for getting behind Anthony Joshua and us in trying to bring this fight to Britain. “Because it means a lot to us, just like it meant a lot to the people there tonight. You can create moments like that that people will never forget. “Listen, MSG is a great venue, 20,000 is great, but to do it with 100,000 people in Britain where it should be, we are going to create a night that people will never forget. “And let’s just be real, this is where it should be taking place.” Most read in Sport BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS The Home of Boxing in 2026 There's a massive year of boxing ahead! It has already been a blockbuster year inside the ring, and it is not going to stop anytime soon! All eyes are focused on when Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will get in the ring, with the pair due to finally settle their decade-long rivalry. Conor Benn fights for his first world title one week later against Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas – it is The Destroyer’s second bout for Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing. October’s action doesn’t stop either, with Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois facing off in the rematch of their thrilling fight in May, while Canelo Alvarez returns against Christian Mbili on Halloween. Here’s all the big fights coming up… September Sat 12 – Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia – DAZN Sep 12 – Jai Opetaia vs Noel Mikaelian Sat 19 – Isaac Cruz vs Nestor Bravo – DAZN October Sat 3 – Ben Whittaker vs Conor Wallace – DAZN Sat 17 – Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 – DAZN Sat 31 – Canelo Alvarez vs Christian Mbili – DAZN *If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue. Joshua, 36, and Fury, 38, have both signed to fight each other but AJ’s deal states the bout MUST take place in the UK. Although broadcaster Netflix and Saudi boxing financier Turki Alalshikh want to take the clash Stateside to capitalise on greater US viewing figures. Hearn has been negotiating a revised contract to allow for a fight in America – but has stood firm on his desire to keep it in the UK. And with the backing of British fans, Saudi-based entertainment company Sela – helping stage the event – green lit Hearn to re-open talks with Wembley. But it would come at the cost of the bout starting around 2am – to also accommodate US viewers. Hearn added: “Thank you to all the people that have supported it because you’ve got the attention of Sela. “And those talks now are really heating up and moving quickly about a possible Wembley fight.” Hearn is set for talks with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan as he looks to seal a dramatic U-turn for the Battle of Britain to stay on home soil. He said: “It’s Anthony’s insistence that the fight takes place in Britain – otherwise everyone would have just given up. “But now we’re in a situation where Anthony Joshua has basically made these people change their mind and realise how important a fight in Britain is to him and to our country. “And I think what AJ’s done is he’s seen the support that he’s been getting and how important it is to people, and it’s making him feel good. “It’s making him feel like, ‘Yeah, let’s bring it home.’ Now they just want to explore now the possibility of a slightly later time. “We’re going to catch up with Sadiq Khan earlier in the week and try and push it forward. We’re going to have to drive it, right? “Because they’re not, you know, they still want the fight in America. “But if we can make it happen, if we can show them what’s possible, then we’ve got a great chance.” Comment now