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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Kieran Cunningham

Katie Taylor has always had to fight for proper recognition in Ireland

IT'S become a tangled mess of a story so the best place to start is with a biscuit tin.

The year was 2012. The year that would see Katie Taylor shoot into the stratosphere.

Her fights at the ExCel Arena in London that summer on the way to Olympic gold were among the most raucous of sporting occasions.

READ MORE: Sports Minister Thomas Byrne rejects Eddie Hearns' claims that government didn't engage in talks on Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano

Indeed, the decibel counts were the highest recorded at those Games.

That's saying something, when you consider the impact made by Usain Bolt, as well as hometown heroes Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis at London 2012.

Remember how it was in that glorious summer?

Anyone lucky enough to have been present at any of her three fights in London will never forget the experience.

Rarely has any sporting event produced such an electric and emotional atmosphere.

So many got caught up in it. Wander around the ExCel Arena and you'd come across everyone from Barry McGuigan to Brian Kerr to Karl Lacey caught up in the moment. In Katie's moment.

It was no different at home. The country came to a standstill for her fights, with thousands turning up in Bray to watch her Olympic final on a giant screen.

But that was a tantalising glimpse of an alternative reality for Taylor.

The reality was more about biscuit tins and empty seats.

Taylor's first fight of 2012 could hardly have been more different to the ExCel mania.

It took place in a ballroom of the Royal Hotel in Bray in February. You dropped your money into a biscuit tin at the door and sat where you wanted.

There were other off-Broadway nights that year. One in Dungarvan where she fought in a room with breeze-block walls and basketball hoops at either end.

At the time, Taylor was a three time amateur world champion. Much loved, much praised, but few actually ever bothered going to watch her fight.

London 2012 was different, but there was no momentum from those Games.

Olympic gold medalist Katie Taylor (Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

The European Championships were supposed to be held in Dublin in 2013, but they were postponed for no apparent reason.

They were then switched to Bucharest instead, again for no apparent reason.

Other than exhibitions, Taylor's main event in 2013 was the low key EU Championships in the tiny Hungarian city of Keszthely.

The Bray woman won yet another gold but, on her return, made it clear that it was far from a career highlight.

“It was in a little tented area and there were only around 100 people there,” she said.

“It was really badly done. A lot of the main boxers were even missing from the competition.”

This is all to provide context to what has happened to the eagerly anticipated rematch of Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano in Croke Park.

Ultimately, it's about money. Nothing else. Ultimately, it's about the fear that you can't go from filling biscuit tins to filling the biggest stadium in Ireland.

Taylor's promoter, Eddie Hearn, went from saying the fight would be twice as expensive to host in Croker as Wembley to three times in just a matter of days.

Croke Park commercial director Peter McKenna responded with actual figures, which was welcome.

"The last time we talked to them properly was before Christmas. Our rent was coming in around €400k. I think the rent for Wembley is about £250k/300k (€280-355k). We are not colossally more expensive than Wembley.

"The real issue here is about security costs, which we felt the promoter should carry."

Boxing is a business that loves spin and gilding the lily. Just consider the most quoted line from legendary promoter Bob Arum - ''yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth''.

That is the reason why much of what is said by those in positions of power in the sport is taken with a pinch of salt.

There was a cabinet reshuffle recently and Jack Chambers was replaced as Minister for Sport by Thomas Byrne. Chambers had been very keen for Taylor v Serrano to take place in Croker. Byrne hasn't got involved since his appointment.

Katie Taylor celebrates beating Amanda Serrano with Eddie Hearn and Ross Enamait (©INPHO/Gary Carr)

It is argued by some that this is an event that deserves government support to make it happen in Croker, but is that really the case? You can make plenty of compelling arguments for sports funding to go to places other than millionaire boxing promoters.

But it's important too to point out that government funding has helped other events take place in the past - from colleges' American football to the women's Irish Open in golf.

Boxing is a hugely successful sport for Ireland at international level, but one that has suffered greatly because of Daniel Kinahan's involvement.

To kickstart the pro game again south of the border, the case for government help is valid or at least open to debate.

Taylor started 2012 with a biscuit tin as a box office. She finished that year as the most Googled name in Ireland.

She has never fought here as a pro, and that will end in May.

But there will be regret that she won't be following in the footsteps of Muhammad Ali by doing so in Croke Park.

Ultimately, the numbers didn't add up for those who are only in this game to make a profit.

And if you're wondering why security and insurance costs for a boxing bill in Dublin are so much higher than in other European cities, there's a two word answer.

Regency Hotel.

Two words that cast the longest of shadows.

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