CONOR McGregor and Eddie Hearn today held crunch talks to save Katie Taylor’s Croke Park dream.
Our pictures show UFC brawler McGregor arriving for the showdown meeting at his pub in Dublin.
Conor McGregor arriving at the Black Forge
Katie Taylor is set to fight for the first time as a professional in Dublin on May 20Sportsfile – Getty
Top boxing promoter Hearn flew into Ireland to hold talks with the MMA star turned whiskey magnate in a bid to bring Taylor’s blockbuster rematch with Amanda Serrano to GAA HQ.
And the Irish Sun can reveal Hearn is hopeful he can plug the €700,000 funding gap to get Taylor’s Croker fight on.
Undisputed world champion Taylor is set to fight for the first time as a professional in Dublin on May 20, but it still remains unclear which venue between Croke Park and the 3Arena will stage the event.
Matchroom supremo Hearn had eyed the 80,000-plus seater Croke Park for the historic occasion but the masterplan was rocked after he revealed it would cost “three times” that of Wembley.
Amid a costs wrangle, Hearn signalled that Dublin’s 3Arena —with a vastly smaller capacity of 9,000 fans — may instead host the fight between Taylor and Serrano.
UFC multi-millionaire McGregor has since offered to help stump up the extra fees which largely stem from security costs, which the GAA believe Matchroom should cover.
Hearn and McGregor held funding talks at the MMA man’s Black Forge Inn pub in Dublin today.
Asked about getting a deal over the line, McGregor said: “We’ll see what happens.”
Hearn declared: “Good catch up with The Notorious MMA today – appreciate your support of the Champ Katie Taylor.”
Insiders last night told the Irish Sun there was “growing optimism” about the Croker extravaganza.
A source told us: “Eddie is hoping that after the talks (with McGregor) there might be a resolution for Croke Park.
“That’s the purpose of his (Eddie’s) trip to Ireland.
“But Eddie is increasingly confident he can deliver Croke Park for Katie.”
Hearn admits he is in a race against time to stage the fight for the women’s undisputed lightweight title at the home of the GAA.
But he is hoping talks with McGregor could help him host a Taylor bout at Croker in September if the clock runs out for the May date with Serrano.
Hearn said: “I spoke to him (McGregor) a few times.
“Our date is May 20 which is immovable because it’s built around the (broadcast partner) DAZN schedule.”
Speaking to RTE, Hearn said a 3Arena match could still go ahead in May with a Croker bout to follow in September.
Taylor and Serrano became the first women to headline Madison Square Garden in New York as the Irish superstar edged an epic bout with a split decision victory in April.
The Bray belter has been desperate to headline a historic rematch at GAA HQ.
Eddie Hearn and McGregor held Croke Park funding talks at the MMA man’s Black Forge Inn pub
UFC multi-millionaire McGregor has offered to help stump up the extra fees for Taylor’s Croker bout Read More