KATIE TAYLOR’S team said “cheers” to Conor McGregor — as his drinks brand will sponsor the boxing superstar’s homecoming bout — but warned: “It’s not the McGregor show.”
Taylor will finally box in Ireland for the first time ever as a pro when she takes to the ring at Dublin’s 3Arena on May 20.
The Bray bomber will attempt to become a two-weight undisputed champ when she challenges light-welterweight queen Chantelle Cameron from Britain.
But promoter Eddie Hearn said it is very much “The Katie Taylor Show” despite McGregor’s cash injection.
Hearn explained: “Like I said, it’s not the Conor McGregor show.
“He reached out to help in any way and if he is to support the event commercially, fantastic but it’s obviously the Katie Taylor show.”
UFC star McGregor’s Proper 12 brand sponsored the Tyson Fury v Deontay Wilder II clash in Las Vegas in 2020 — plastering its logo in the centre of the ring — and Hearn could cut a similar deal.
But the Essex fight boss is adamant he does not need a hand bringing eyeballs to the event.
Hearn insisted: “No, when we say ‘adding his name to fight’ we mean one of his companies, one of his brands, may sponsor the fight. That’s as far as it goes.
“We don’t need him to sell the fight out. We don’t need him to be part of the promotion.
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“I just take people as I find them and I see a genuine character that really is excited by the event and wants to support Katie so you are not going to see him at press conferences and walking out Katie Taylor.
“It’s not that kind of association. It’s, ‘if I can help’.”
Asked if she was happy for dad-of-three McGregor to be involved in her homecoming, Taylor looked to her promoter before smiling and shrugging: “Yeah.”
MMA superstar McGregor publicly offered a cash injection in a bid to get the GAA HQ bout over the line but while that plan failed to materialise, for now, his immediate involvement appears to have been copper-fastened.
‘The Notorious’ heads up the Proper 12 whiskey brand and has recently launched Forged Irish Stout.
Matchroom Sport boss Hearn — who flew to Dublin for talks with McGregor last month at his Black Forge Inn — says they are ready to do business.
Hearn explained: “We’re talking still and genuinely, forgetting the PR and promotion of it, he has a couple of brands that are Irish-based that would fit very well with the show.
“Behind the madness, he is also a massive fan of Katie. He genuinely wants the best for her. And he genuinely wanted to help with the Croke Park stuff. He’s just excited.
“Like every fight fan, he can’t believe it’s on. He was like, ‘Oh they’re going to fight at The Point?’ and I was like, ‘No it’s not, it’s the 3Arena’ — and he was like, ‘No it’s not — it’s The Point’.
“And he was talking about the atmosphere there and stuff, so yeah, we expect him to be involved.
PLAN B
It had originally been hoped that Taylor’s Irish bow would take place at Croke Park in a rematch with Puerto Rican Amanda Serrano. But while the venue and opponent have changed, the date has not.
Hearn continued: “Even through the whole Serrano stuff, he was messaging me non-stop, following it on social media, ‘so what’s happening now?’
“Then it was like, ‘wow, I can’t believe it’s still on — so what’s the plan?’
“He genuinely –— away from the publicity and stuff like that — cares that she’s coming home to fight. He’s been to her fights before and he’s a big help and supporter.”
Meanwhile Taylor laughed off the idea of asking Roy Keane to walk her to the ring on the night.
The Manchester United and Ireland legend is one of her heroes — and he is a huge admirer of the champion boxer. But, asked if he might be willing to accompany her on the lonely walk to meet Cameron, she grinned: “I’m not sure he’s the type of guy that would want to do something like that!
“Every now and then he sends me a message after a fight so that’s really, really cool.
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“Roy Keane’s my favourite athlete of all time. His mentality is second to none, he’s someone I really admired and looked up to growing up.”
Taylor added: “This is a fight I’ve wanted for a long time. This is one of the best fights in boxing, two undisputed champions going head to head. It is going to be an amazing night and amazing celebration. Pro boxing is coming home.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
