'A sporting event like no other' - RTÉ to broadcast historic Katie Taylor fight at Croke Park
Declan McBennett said the broadcaster will also show the weigh-in and the pre-fight press conference.
Katie Taylor’s hometown fight at Croke Park will be shown live on Irish national broadcaster RTÉ, according to the station.
The 39-year-old light-welterweight will end her decorated career at the Dublin venue on September 5 knowing victory over Flora Pili will see her crowned undisputed world champion for the third time.
RTÉ’s head of sport announced on Wednesday morning that the broadcaster will stream the fight after months-long negotiations with DAZN and Matchroom Boxing, but refused to say how much it had paid for the rights.
Declan McBennett said RTÉ would also show the weigh-in and the pre-fight press conference.
He said: “I think there is a sense that this is somehow different. It’s a sporting event like no other involving an athlete like no other.
“It is, I think, by all accounts, going to be one of those national moments.
“RTÉ was there at the start of Katie’s journey as an amateur and we are delighted to be there for the final chapter,” Mr McBennett added.
“Katie is, and always will be, one of Ireland's greatest ever sporting icons and it is fitting that she ends her illustrious career in Croke Park in front of a full stadium and a national audience."
Against the iconic backdrop of the home of the GAA, Katie will defend her WBO, WBA, IBF and Ring Magazine titles and fight for the vacant WBC Super Lightweight Championship in a historic clash against France’s undefeated Flora Pili.
The legendary London 2012 Olympic Gold Medallist and two-weight queen of boxing (25-1, 6 KOs) returns to her home turf for what promises to be a memorable night as Katie makes a bid to become a three-time undisputed champion of the world.
The last time a professional boxing event was staged in Croke Park was July 1972 when Muhammed Ali famously took on Detroit heavyweight Al “Blue” Lewis in front of an audience of 17,000 people.
In footage recently released on her Instagram account, Taylor revealed she would have fought in Croke Park for free.
“Look at the life that (boxing) has given me and look at the memories that it’s given me. I just wanted to elevate the sport and pursue my passion and this is what I love to do.
“This is what I was born for and I’ve had a chance to headline these iconic arenas and be involved in these iconic fights. Just to open the door for the next generation of female fighters, that to me is everything. I’m just forever grateful.”
RTÉ will take DAZN’s feed of the event but will add its own presentation, including having its own personnel on the ground.
Asked on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland how much it had paid for the rights, Mr McBennett said it was “commercially sensitive”.
Pressed on whether Government support was being provided to RTÉ for the fight, he said it was not.
However, he acknowledged there were “probably areas elsewhere” in the organisation “that will maybe not have as much wriggle room as they wanted to”.
Further details of RTÉ’s coverage of the biggest fight in the history of the country will be announced in due course.