Eddie Hearn: "This will be the greatest event in sporting history in Ireland"

Katie Taylor couldn't believe she sold-out Croke Park in under an hour

Eddie Hearn: "This will be the greatest event in sporting history in Ireland"

Katie Taylor says she has been “blown away” by the phenomenal support she has received after her historic Undisputed homecoming World Title clash with Flora Pili on Saturday, September 5 at Croke Park sold out just moments after going on sale.

A capacity crowd of over 80,000 people will pack into Dublin's iconic home of the Gaelic Athletic Association for what will be the Irish legend’s final fight, with every Super Lightweight championship on the line – live worldwide on DAZN.

Earlier this week, on Wednesday, an incredible 40,000 snapped up pre-sale tickets in record time via the Matchroom Fight Pass, Lidl Plus and Croke Park residents.

Over 20,000 were able to purchase tickets at an affordable price of under €40 for the event promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, in association with Aiken Promotions, Brian Peters and title event partners Lidl Ireland.

And within minutes of reaching General Sale on Friday, the remaining allocation were quickly seized by fight fans who can now look forward to witnessing history on September 5.

"It is incredible,” said Taylor, speaking to Matchroom Boxing.

"I woke up, because I’m actually in America now, and we’re five hours behind here, and I saw my phone. I couldn’t believe we are actually sold out.

"I’m blown away by it to be honest. I never could have dreamt this really. A packed Croke Park, it’s going to be an incredible event. What a way to end my career.”

Delighted Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn believes it is a testament to the love deserved for the greatest of all-time, backing the Irish queen to bow out in her September swansong by becoming a three-time Undisputed ruler of the world when she takes on France’s undefeated Pili.

"This will be the greatest event in sporting history in Ireland," said Hearn.

"I know it’s often promoter talk that we could have 'sold the place out twice', but a huge portion of those tickets were so highly in-demand. Genuinely, Katie could have sold another 50 or 60,000.

"But what we did with Katie, Peter Aiken of Aiken Promotions and Brian Peters, was to price them accordingly from €38 for the cheapest ticket and down to €32 for those family packages, which is really unheard of.

"It will be the greatest atmosphere of any boxing event I will have ever witnessed on September 5. Now Katie’s got to train hard and go out there to win this fight – live on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN."

News on a blockbuster undercard will be announced in due course, along with the Fight Week schedule, which will provide Irish fans another chance to see their hero Katie Taylor in the build-up.

Taylor completed a remarkable four-day promotional bus tour across Ireland on Tuesday, with the London 2012 Olympic Gold Medallist visiting communities, boxing clubs, schools, and media, starting out from her hometown of Bray, County Wicklow, travelling to places such as Cork, Donegal, Tipperary, Clare, Galway and more.

Now Taylor will focus on her training camp in the USA before she returns home for her dream date with destiny at Croke Park.