Not since the days of Bernard Dunne has Dublin seen a genuine Irish boxing star put bums on seats down The Point.
It was an unwanted and unfortunately-timed combination - recession, RTÉ's subsequent pull-out from the pro game, lack of Irish promoters, and frankly a dearth of Irish boxers with crossover potential - which saw the sport stagnate on these shores, but it all seems destined to change in the coming months. Or, perhaps more pertinently, professional Irish boxing will finally be provided with the opportunity to dig itself out of a hole.
With Katie Taylor confirming her decision to sign a professional deal with Matchroom Sport in the UK on Thursday, the chances of the capital playing host to massive fight cards once more has increased exponentially, and 'casual' boxing fans are excited again.
Their hopes received a boost this morning via promoter Eddie Hearn, who told today's Sunday World that, all going according to plan, he wants his new signing Taylor to fight for a world title on home soil next summer:
Katie will be making her professional debut at Wembley Arena on November 26 and I don't think it's unrealistic for her to be fighting for a world title in a Dublin stadium next summer.
If this goes as I think it will, we believe that in three or four fights, we could look at getting Katie into the mix for a world title fight. Should that happen there is no doubt in my mind that she could be the headline fight at a stadium in Dublin.
And while three or four fights may seem like a short introduction before fighting for world honours at professional level, Taylor's ability and the shallower pool of talent in the women's pro game suggest it's a real possibility.
That being said, she enters the paid ranks as a legend, so each opponent will be looking for a scalp of the 30-year-old Bray woman, who will announce the crucial component of this move which is her trainer at a press conference in the coming weeks.
But should all go well on November 26th at Wembley Arena, and in Manchester a fortnight later, Ireland could be set to host its second women's professional world title fight next summer.
