Talks are underway to stage a long-awaited heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua at Croke Park in Dublin, with September being targeted for the blockbuster fight.
Plans for the 80,000-seat stadium hinge on Fury winning his comeback bout this weekend and Joshua opting against a summer warm-up fight. Fury faces Arslanbek Makhmudov in London, his first outing since December 2024.
Joshua has only recently returned to training following a car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. His last fight came against Jake Paul in December.
If Joshua decides to take another fight first, organisers would push the proposed super fight towards the end of the year, possibly in the UK.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Croke Park chief executive Peter McKenna said the bout could pave the way for Irish star Katie Taylor to finally fight at the famous venue.
“The real hope is that we will get Tyson Fury here later on in the year. That would be such a world-billing event that we would be able to facilitate a Katie Taylor fight here,” he said.
“A lot of stars need to align. Katie’s manager needs to agree, Katie’s promoter needs to agree, and Tyson Fury’s promoter needs to agree.
“I am very confident that all three are coming to the sense that this is one of Ireland’s greatest sporting athletes and it would be such a ‘wow’ to have her here and for her to finish her career here.”
A meeting between the British rivals has been discussed for years but repeatedly stalled over purse demands and broadcast rights.
The Dublin plan would be backed by Saudi-owned production company Sela and promoter Turki Alalshikh, co-founder of Zuffa Boxing. Fury said this week he wants the fight next, though no agreement has yet been finalised.
Taylor, a two-weight undisputed champion, has fought in Dublin twice but never at Croke Park due to high security costs. With Fury and Joshua expected to sell out the venue, that hurdle is unlikely to remain if she appears on the undercard.
Her ambition remains to end her career with a farewell bout on home soil.
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