Katie Taylor still harbors hopes of a fight against Croke Park as she bids to become undisputed two-weight world champion in Dublin later this month.
Irish lightweight champion Taylor will face England’s Chantelle Cameron at welterweight on May 20 at the 3Arena in her first professional bout on home soil.
Taylor had hoped to fight Amanda Serrano at Croke Park in a rematch but security costs sabotaged that.
“I definitely didn’t give up [a Croke fight]“said Taylor, 36.
“I would love the opportunity to fight at Croke Park, our most iconic stadium, but these things are really out of my control.”
Although Croke was ruled out as a venue for a lightweight world title rematch with Serrano, the fight was still scheduled to take place in May in Dublin. However, the The Puerto Rican pulled out due to injury.
Cameron, the undisputed world light welterweight champion, who has won all of her 17 professional fights, then accepted a challenge from Taylor to fight in the Irish capital.
Taylor said the fight has the potential to be “the toughest of my career so far.”
“Those are the types of fights that I’m most excited about,” added Taylor, who has won his 22 professional fights.
“I’ve had my eye on Chantelle for a few years now, this is a fight I’ve always wanted. The motivation is higher than ever.
“It would have been a lot worse if I went from Amanda Serrano to a mandatory opponent, a fight I can’t really stand up for. It’s a fight where I’m really motivated and she is too.”
“This could be the greatest moment of my career”
Taylor, from Bray, has no illusions about the level at which she will have to play against Cameron, who became the first undisputed UK champion with a unanimous decision victory over Jessica McCaskill in November.
“I’m going to have to be at my best on fight night,” Taylor said.
“People are saying this fight will be even better than Amanda Serrano’s, so there’s a huge appetite.”
She added: “I have the experience of fighting on those big occasions. I have the experience of fighting when there’s a lot of pressure on my shoulders.
“I don’t really see it as anything too outrageous compared to what I’ve actually been through before. Every time I step into the ring, I feel like there’s a lot of pressure on me. “, said Taylor.
“I’m just carrying on with things, I’m looking forward to fighting, I don’t feel the burden right now. This might be the biggest moment of my career so far.
“It’s a big opportunity for me and I’m thrilled to have the chance to fight on home soil. A few years ago I didn’t think it would ever happen, so I’m so excited about it.”
