Tickets for what is expected to be the final fight of Katie Taylor’s professional boxing career sold out in less than 30 minutes after going on sale on Friday morning, highlighting the extraordinary level of public interest in the event.
Taylor is scheduled to face Flora Pili at Croke Park on Saturday, 5 September, in a bout that is being billed as one of the most significant sporting occasions of the year.
Demand for tickets was exceptionally strong, with tens of thousands of fans securing seats shortly after sales opened at 9am.
Within half an hour, all available tickets had been purchased, resulting in a complete sell-out of the stadium, which has a capacity of more than 80,000 spectators.
The rapid sell-out followed a series of pre-sale opportunities held earlier in the week.
According to Taylor’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, more than 40,000 tickets had already been sold before the general public sale began on Friday.
Even so, the remaining tickets disappeared quickly as supporters rushed to secure a place at what could be a historic occasion for Irish sport.
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The fight represents another major milestone in Taylor’s remarkable career.
The Bray native will have the opportunity to become a world champion for a third time, adding to an already impressive list of achievements.
Taylor currently holds the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) titles, while her opponent, Flora Pili, enters the contest as the holder of the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) championship.
Taylor has previously enjoyed memorable nights at Dublin’s 3Arena, but competing at Croke Park will provide an opportunity to perform on an even larger stage in front of a record crowd.
The event is expected to attract fans from across Ireland and beyond, further underlining Taylor’s status as one of the country’s most celebrated athletes.
Promoter Peter Aiken described the anticipation surrounding the contest as unprecedented, saying the event has captured the imagination of the Irish public.
He predicted that demand for tickets would rival some of the biggest entertainment events ever staged in Ireland, comparing it to the enormous interest generated by Garth Brooks’ concerts at Croke Park.
The fight will also mark the return of major boxing to the famous stadium for the first time since 1972, when Muhammad Ali defeated Al “Blue” Lewis there.
Despite the excitement surrounding the event, it remains unclear whether the contest will be available to watch on free-to-air television, with broadcast arrangements yet to be confirmed.
