Katie Taylor delivered her greatest victory as a professional boxer at the 3Arena last night, beating Chantelle Cameron in a rematch where she was given little chance by most. There were many key differences between the first fight and the rematch. From a production perspective, the absence of former MMA star turned entrepreneur and far-right agitator Conor McGregor was notable.
McGregor was a distracting presence ringside during May's bout. He was not present on Saturday night, after sending a number of inflammatory tweets as rioting broke out in Dublin on Thursday.
READ MORE: Katie Taylor Calls Out The Doubters After Performance Of A Lifetime In Cameron Rematch
The attention in the immediate aftermath from both Taylor and Hearn turned to a third Cameron fight at Croke Park. When asked ringside by Balls if McGregor would be involved, Hearn said he was not a spokesperson for McGregor and said presumed McGregor would be celebrating the result like an Irishman.
He's involved with a brand that sponsored the show and you know what they've really got behind our venture here in Ireland and behind boxing in general and are sponsoring and supporting a lot of fighters.
So, for that part of me, I thank them for their support.
He's got his own opinions.
He's got his own comments.
I don't represent him.
Everyone's got their own opinions.
I'm sure tonight, like every other proud Irishman, he will be in front of the screen somewhere watching Katie Taylor screaming the place down
We asked Eddie Hearn if Conor McGregor would be involved in a prospective Katie Taylor fight at Croke Park after his comments this week. pic.twitter.com/ymlzv4MCsp
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) November 26, 2023
About an hour later at the post-fight press conference, Hearn bristled at a question about McGregor from Sean McGoldrick of the Irish Independent. He said there'd be no more questions about McGregor during the press conference.
You can ask me away from the press conference, you can ask me after the press conference. I'll answer it.
Not in front of Katie today. This is her night and congratulations to the, one of the greatest athletes I've ever had to play.
🚫Eddie Hearn SHUTS DOWN questioning about Conor McGregor
In the post-fight press conference for Cameron Vs Taylor 2, Eddie Hearn becomes visibly annoyed and shuts down a journalist after they asked about the links to Conor McGregor after his recent comments online… pic.twitter.com/PVHPZP18JA— NoSmokeBoxing (@NoSmokeBoxing) November 26, 2023
There was a round of applause and the press conference wrapped on that question.
Interestingly, McGregor's long-time trainer John Kavanagh shared an instagram post ringside and said "it'd make you day dream about a McGregor - Taylor joint card in Croker.... imagine the scenes!"
Hearn will face plenty more questions about Conor McGregor
McGregor has put Hearn in a tricky position ahead of negotiations for a Croke Park fight. Hearn opened the door to conversations with McGregor last year in an eleventh hour bid to stage Taylor-Cameron I at GAA HQ. Hearn spoke repeatedly after the fight about the need for the Irish government to step in to help assure Katie Taylor gets her dream fight at Croker.
However one of the key sponsors of Taylor's previous two fights was claiming this week that Ireland is at war.
The cost of security was the key sticking point as negotiations broke down between Matchroom and GAA HQ. If there was a hesitancy from the GAA regarding a security risk with staging this fight, the scenes around Parnell Square this week - a firework's throw from Croke Park - won't have helped.
Hearn should brace himself for plenty more questions about Conor McGregor's involvement in a Katie Taylor fight at Croke Park - and they won't only be coming from journalists.
Katie Taylor, meanwhile, remains a figure of unity.
During her post-fight press conference last night, Katie Taylor took time out to say she was 'heartbroken' for the victims of the stabbing outside the creche in Parnell Square on Thursday.
She also extended her sympathies to families involved. pic.twitter.com/y3HEM7aVfi— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) November 26, 2023
