Date and venue set for Katie Taylor’s Dublin showdown with Amanda Serrano

The dream of a homecoming fight for the world title in Croke Park fell through because Matchroom was not willing to meet the GAA’s rent cost for the stadium.

Eddie Hearn, the Chairman of Matchroom – who has promoted all of Taylor’s professional fights – has claimed that the GAA were demanding three times what it costs to hire Wembley Stadium for an arena fight.

The attendance at the 3Arena will be restricted to around 9,000 fans which means that tickets for the glamour show are likely to be very expensive.

When Taylor and Serrano clashed in Madison Square Garden last April there was a sell-out attendance of 19,187 with the gate receipts exceeding €1.36m which meant the average price of a ticket was in the region of €70.

The average price for the tickets for the May 20 show is likely to be at least double that figure.

While there will be bitter disappointment that the 80,000 sell-out show in Croke Park had to be shelved it will still be a historic occasion for professional boxing in Ireland as it will be Katie Taylor’s first time to fight on Irish soil as a professional.

The fight is dependent on Serrano beating Mexican Erika Cruz and becoming the undisputed World featherweight champion at the Hula Theater at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. Taylor will be ringside for the fight.

Serrano is hot favourite and provided she comes through, the rematch against Taylor will be announced in New York with another press conference planned for Dublin next week.

The original Taylor v Serrano fight was the first female contest to top the bill at Madison Square Garden.

It lived up to all expectations scooping numerous Fight of the Year awards as Taylor secured a majority win to remain the undisputed and undefeated lightweight champion of the World.

Now barring a last minute hitch Irish fans will finally get a chance to see the Bray fighter defend that title on home soil on Saturday May 20 in the 3Arena.