Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Robert Hynes

Katie Taylor offered 'biggest fight possible' at Croke Park

Katie Taylor has been offered the opportunity to face Natasha Jonas at Croke Park next year by the English fighter's promoter.

Jonas added the IBF light-middleweight belt to the WBO and WBC straps she already held with victory against Canada's Marie-Eve Dicaire over the weekend.

Taylor became just the second person to beat Jonas in the professional ranks with victory over her behind closed doors during the Covid lockdown in 2021.

READ MORE: Eddie Hearn says he needs Irish government's support as he gives update on Katie Taylor Croke Park fight

Jonas and her team would now love another shot at the Bray Bomber and are open to facing Taylor at Croke Park next year.

Promoter Ben Shalom told Sky Sports: "I think we've seen she's the one who has pushed her [Taylor] so, so close in a difficult environment, behind closed doors - perhaps, now looking back, not at the weight she feels most comfortable a. I think she deserves a rematch and I think that's the fight British fans would be most excited about.

"She just wants the big names now. She's achieved all she could, and she's done everything since she became one of the first Olympians we've ever seen in women's boxing.

"To achieve her dreams to become unified world champion, it's just the big names whether it's Shields, McCaskill or Taylor. For me, McCaskill and Taylor make the most sense."

Natasha Jonas (Getty Images)

Shalom said after Jonas' win on Saturday that he feels a rematch between her and Taylor is the "biggest fight possible" out there.

He explained: "That for me is the fight that's going to get the most attention from the casual fans, from the biggest audiences. I think it's the fight that will get the biggest audience at this time with the support Natasha's had on Sky and obviously where Katie Taylor's at. So hopefully they may be sensible on the other side and we can make that fight.

"It has to appeal to Katie. We respect Katie Taylor massively. She will have seen Tasha Jonas' ascendancy over the past year and I think if she wants a legacy fight, if she wants the biggest fight possible and she wants something to take home that fans can really buy into then I think Tasha Jonas is the fight.

"I think I would not be averse to Natasha Jonas going to fight Katie Taylor at Croke Park."

Ben Shalom, CEO of Boxxer, with Natasha Jonas (Getty Images)

Jonas' trainer Joe Gallagher echoed those comments, but said they could also do it at Anfield in the Liverpudlian's home city.

He added: "Katie Taylor, we'd love to see that rematch, there's talk about Croke Park, let's do it at Anfield. Natasha Jonas is the one that's come closest to beating Katie Taylor, when you go look at the scorecards."

Amanda Serrano remains Taylor's top choice for a Croke Park bout next year, while Northampton's Chantelle Cameron is another option that could see the undisputed lightweight champion move up to 140lbs to try and become a two-weight undisputed champion.

READ NEXT:

Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.