Katie Taylor: Croke Park talks 'very, very positive'

"It feels like the only way to wrap it up would be to end my career on home soil and a big fight in Croke Park," said Taylor

The thought of hearing a sold out Croke Park singing 'Ole, Ole, Ole' gives Katie Taylor goosebumps. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Croke Park or nowhere is Katie Taylor's stance regarding the venue for what will be her farewell bout. Fighting at the Jones Road stadium has been a long-time ambition for the Bray boxer. Numerous attempts to stage a Taylor fight there have fallen short during her 10-year professional career. 

This occasion does feel closer to getting over the line than others. Talks between Taylor's management team and Croke Park officials have taken place with those discussions being described as "very, very positive".

"It would be an absolute dream," Taylor told The Claire Byrne Show on Newstalk about fighting at GAA headquarters.

"It feels like the only way to wrap it up would be to end my career on home soil and a big fight in Croke Park. And not just for me, but for everybody else that has spent their hard-earned money supporting me around the world. I want to put on a performance worthy of their support and encouragement throughout the years as well.

"I actually just even get emotional thinking about all the stadiums around the world with the song 'Ole, Ole, Ole'. Imagine hearing 80,000 people in Croke Park singing that song for my last fight. I get goosebumps nearly thinking about it, to be honest."

Taylor said her team are "working very hard behind the scenes to try and make that happen". 

"There's obviously so many considerations to make it happen," she continued.

"We're hoping to hear some news soon. And the meeting that we had a couple of weeks ago, Eddie Hearn and my manager Brian (Peters) were in Croke Park a few weeks ago and the meeting was very, very positive. So we'll see what happens."

The identity of her opponent matters less to Taylor than the venue. Holly Holm and Chantelle Cameron have both been mentioned as possibilities.

"I think Holly Holm actually has a fight herself next month," said Taylor.

"She has to obviously get through her fight first. But whoever it is, whether it's Holly Holm or whoever, I'm ready and willing to fight. Whoever that may be, I'll be ready for whatever opponent."

Taylor said she does "feel like it's time" to end her boxing career. On Monday, she launched Fizzique, a "healthy soda" created in partnership with Irish brand Sisú. 

"This journey has been so tough and so hard," she said. "And over the last year, I've kind of been thinking about the next steps."