Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has shared his regrets about not bringing Katie Taylor to GAA headquarters sooner, especially given the overwhelming ticket demand for her farewell fight at Croke Park. The 40-year-old fighter will fulfill a lifelong dream on Saturday night in Dublin, aiming to become a three-time undisputed world champion against the undefeated Flora Pili.

A sell-out crowd of 80,000 is expected to witness this historic event, though Hearn believes even more tickets could have been sold. Previously, concerns about financial viability, significant security costs, and logistical complexities had deterred him from organizing Taylor's Croke Park debut—an oversight he now regrets.

Hearn stated:

If Croker would have originally gone ‘Yes, this is going to be massive’, I would have gone ‘Wow’ and we would have done it.

He expressed disappointment in himself for allowing doubts to influence his decisions, reflecting on how he was dissuaded by others over the years. Hearn noted, "We’re getting hundreds of messages every day from people saying ‘Please, I want to bring my daughter’. It’s heartbreaking, in a way."

As the nation prepares to honor one of its greatest sporting icons, Hearn emphasized that Taylor must stay focused and not let the emotional atmosphere distract her from her goal of winning the undisputed world light-welterweight title. He remarked, "Katie’s fighting a young, strong girl who likes to trade, so there needs to be a switch from the euphoria."

Taylor understands the gravity of the fight, stating she needs to prepare for an all-out war, which is her natural fighting style. This farewell bout is not just a career milestone but also a testament to her legacy in Irish sports.