All the talk has been about Katie Taylor this week – but the supporting cast for Saturday's historic extravaganza at Croke Park were keen to impress that it will be a monumental night for them too as the undercard spoke at today's final press conference in Dublin.
Over 80,000 fans will fill the iconic Irish stadium this weekend for legend Taylor's last-ever fight, when she challenges France's undefeated Flora Pili for the Undisputed Super Lightweight Championship – live worldwide on DAZN and non-exclusively in Ireland on RTÉ.
And with the news that Westlife will be the headline performance on the evening, a blockbuster undercard promises to make Saturday's show – promoted by Matchroom Boxing in association with Aiken Promotions and Brian Peters – the most memorable night of boxing to ever be staged in th Emerald Isle.
The chief support sees two Heavyweights collide as Britain's popular Dave Allen goes up against Dublin's own in Thomas Carty.
Limerick's No.1 ranked IBF Welterweight challenger Paddy Donovan looks to fend off the challenge of Belfast's Tyrone McKenna.
Unbeaten Southampton Super Middleweight Taylor Bevan meets undefeated Emmet Brennan, who leaves just 500m from Croke Park in the opening bout of the Main Card.
UNDERCARD PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL
Frank Smith, Matchroom Boxing CEO:
“It was years in the making to get here and it wasn’t always easy but things like this, greatness, isn’t always going to be easy. I’ve seen a lot of people get thanked for this over the week, but I really think there’s one person to thank and that’s Katie Taylor. When it came to making this fight, I remember speaking to Brian and Katie about three months ago and a lot of things in this life come down to money unfortunately but this fight came down to legacy and creating a moment that will never be forgotten. Thanks to Katie Taylor for saying, ‘yes, whatever it takes, I want to make this happen’. Every fighter in here is getting the chance to be involved in a moment of history and something that I don’t think we’ll ever see again.”
Paddy Gallagher:
“This is going to be a cracking fight. We get to open the show which is unbelievable as well. It’s going to be an aggressive all-action fighter against a slick counterpuncher. I think it’s going to be the bases of who’s better at their game and there’s no doubt in my mind that I’m going to win the fight. Once again thank you everyone who got me involved in this event. I’m really looking forward to it and it’s going to be an absolute spectacle. Enjoy the show all round. We’re first up. We get to fight, we do our thing and then we sit back and enjoy it all.
Paul Ryan:
“It means everything. It’s a privilege and an honour to be up here. Eddie talked about my ringwalk and what I wear, but I want everyone to know that I fight better than I walk. That’s going to be the real talking point of the night. It feels me with pride, and it really is a ‘pinch me’ moment to be up here but I’m going to grab this opportunity with both hands, and I’ll be here to stay. The plan is to open up doors now; we’re going to kick them down. We’ve been in with good lads, we’ve sparred George Liddard in this camp as well. We know how good we are. Now it’s time to take the platform and show the world how good we are.”
Bobbi Flood:
“This means a lot to me. In 2012 my mum brought me out to Katie Taylor’s homecoming after winning the gold and I had my red amateur kit on, my red gloves and my Irish flag. If you look on my mum’s old Facebook, she had a photo of Katie holding small picture of me when I was young that she had signed. She said, ‘watch this space’… to now being one of the first people opening up there, after Paul and Paddy of course. It’s unbelievable, it’s proper surreal. I’m going to put on a good performance. I’ve put the work in. I fought last month so I was still fit coming into camp. Feeling good, feeling strong, feeling sharp and I just can’t wait to showcase my skills on Saturday.”
Adam Olaniyan:
“It’s good. This is what I’ve always dreamed of, to be fighting on these big events, these big cards and getting these opportunities. Big thanks to Matchroom. It’s only the start of a great career. I’ve bigger ambitions and big goals for myself, of course like everyone else on this table. I’m looking forward to it. I’ve put the work in. I’ve been in camp really since January. I haven’t left the gym. I’ve been there with Paul and Ant every day since. I’m ready to put on a big performance and a big display of what we have been working on. Devastation, power, accuracy, speed – all that good stuff that we look for. I’m putting my name in the history books as the next Heavyweight to fight in this historic ground since Muhammad Ali – what an opportunity. I grew up watching Muhammad Ali. I grew up saying, ‘I want to do that, I want to emulate what he’s done. It’s not huge, I know, but for my name and his name to be in the same sentence, I’m lost for words.”
Matthew Boreland:
“This fight is just all to gain, absolutely nothing to lose. The pressure is on Joe. I’m just from a wee small town up the other side of the country. I just want to put it on the map. I’m just going to go in and give it my all and I’m going to prove I’m the better fighter. We’re going to see if he can get hit, if he’s got a chin. That’s what we’ll find out.”
Joe McGrail:
“It was just nice to remind people what I can do Jamie. Obviously I had a tough year out with an injury so it was nice to remind people. I’ll be looking to do the same on Saturday. I’m not really assed to be honest (on the pressure all being on him). It doesn’t make any difference to me Jamie. He’s just the next fella in front of me. I’m going to beat him and then I’m going to progress to bigger and better things.”
Molly McCann:
“I’m going to be the new Carl Froch. None of us have heard the end of him fighting at Wembley. It’ll be, ‘remember that time I fought at Croke Park in front of 80,000 people’. That’s my new one liner. I remember walking into a boxing gym and being turned away and being told I wasn’t allowed to box because I was a girl. I remember starting boxing, it was at the Golden Gloves gym. My coach brought in a camcorder, and on that camcorder, he said, ‘watch this girl, I’ve just seen her training with her dad’. It was Katie and Pete. I was like, ‘oh my god, I want to be like her’. 20 years later, here we are. There’s been moments in my career where I’ve bumped into Brian and bumped into Katie. We spoke about maybe one day turning over. It’s not lost on me I know how many girls and how many young men would kill to be in this position. I’m really aware of the honour and the privilege that it is. It’s like you’re walking on clouds every day. I’ve fought on massive stages before in my other careers, and I’ve maybe used all of my energy up in that week and been so ready. I’ve learnt from highs and I’ve learnt from the lows. The win isn’t just getting here and walking out. The win is the win when your hand is raised at the end of the fight. I’m very much aware nothing is done until it is done.”
Sylwia Doligala:
“I’m very thankful for this opportunity. Going from little, small hall shows onto this is just a dream come true for me. Especially fighting Molly, she’s such a known person. I believe it will be such a good fight. There will be some fireworks on Saturday night.”
Emmat Brennan:
“We were basically told if Taylor doesn’t win his last fight, then the fight is probably off. So, this fight was riding on him winning in Southampton, which he did. But for me that was more nerve racking than I’ve ever been in the ring because it’s such a historic occasion. As I mentioned to you the other day, it’s going to be a war of attrition from the first round. There’s a bit of a height difference; I’m not going to win this on the back foot. It’s going to be from the get-go. We know his style, he’s going to stand and fight as well. It's going to be a war of attrition and I’m going to come out on top.”
Taylor Bevan:
“I feel like I’ve really settled into the pros now and I’m learning every week in the gym with them. I just think I’m the better boxer all round. I think I’ve been super active since I turned pro. I’m the ultimate professional when it comes to training. I couldn’t have done anymore this camp. I know I’m going to get the best Emmat Brennan on the night because this is his dream come true but this is a dream for me as well boxing on one of the biggest stages in boxing in front of 80,000 fans. I’ve left no stone unturned in camp and you’re going to get the very best version of me on Saturday night.”
Tyrone McKenna:
“I’ve put myself through hell for this camp. I’ve taken myself away from my family, from my friends. Flew over to ‘the dungeon’ in Philadelphia. You take a West Belfast man and take him to North Philly, it’s a dangerous combination. It’s been tough. Sparring three days a week. This is the most I’ve ever sparred for a camp. It’s a world class gym and I’m surrounded by world class fighters. The coaching is world class. So, I’ve done absolutely everything for this fight. I know how good Paddy is. I’ve sparred him 100 times. I know I had to put in a world class camp and I did. I think Paddy is overlooking me. All I hear is, ‘Liam Paro, Liam Paro, Lewis Crocker’. You have to have your eyes on me. Get your mind right. I’m coming for you. You better believe it. I’m coming for you. I am going to drown you son, you’re not going to be able to breathe. You’re not going to breathe.”
Paddy Donovan:
“First of all this feels like more of a comedy show than a press conference. Well done Brian you’re doing a great job. First of all thank you to Matchroom, DAZN, Eddie Hearn, Frank and all the lads who made this show possible. It’s a great show and it’s a great event. I’m excited. It’s a big big opportunity for me and for Tyrone to showcase our skill on the biggest platform possible in front of 80,000 fans. It’s risky to take the fight being number one with the IBF but I’m excited. We couldn’t turn down the opportunity to fight in front of 80,000 fans. I’ve been putting in the hard work with Andy and my team. It’s my time. We want to bring big shows back to Ireland when Katie is gone and I’m going to be the guy to do it. I know Tyrone and I know the ins and outs of him. He can have all the training he wants; he can just be fit. I know the way he fights and his gameplan. There’s nothing going to change with Tyrone. He’s a scrapper. Tyrone knows exactly how good I am. He’s shared the ring with me many times and he’s going to find out I’m the best Welterweight out there.”
Thomas Carty:
“It’s massive. I could go on all day about what it means but it’s probably really hard to put into words. It’s something that I’ve tried to imagine a couple of times what it’s going to be like walking out but I just can’t. I’m really looking forward to Saturday night to see what it’s like. I think it will be very hard to beat. I don’t think we’ll ever see anything like this again in this country. Listen, I’m a fan of Dave. When I started boxing Dave was active. I remember all of his fights. I’ve been watching him the whole way through. More and more as I got on with my career, I started to think maybe there’s a chance me and Dave could fight. What better opportunity than Croke Park? Dave is no joke. I’m absolutely well aware what Dave brings to the table. I couldn’t have done anymore. Dave says at this level. I’m maxed out. I did everything that I could in this camp. I’m in a really really good position right now coming back from the injury. I’m probably better right now than I was beforehand. This is going to be my best fight on Saturday night, absolutely.”
Dave Allen:
“I’ve been a pro 15 years now. This is fight 39. After the Hrgovic fight all the feeling left me really for boxing. The feeling has left. I’m not here trying to resurrect a run at any titles. I’m here to fight really. That’s it. There’s no mad ambitions, there’s no anything really. I’m just here to have a fight and at this level I’m a proper handful. People say whatever about my weight, about my effort levels. When I get in the ring at this level, if you’re not Hrgovic, I’ll take some beating. I think you're a good fighter, but if you're not very good I'll f***ing flatten you, I always have. You're a proper solid bloke, I like you, but I'll flatten him, 100%. I don't have a doubt."
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