We hear from commentators and undercard fighters ahead of a night of action at Croke Park that means so much to so many
Katie Taylor is most certainly the main event, but Saturday night’s Croke Park card features some big domestic dust-ups and big opportunities for home fighters.
Here’s what the undercard fighters and boxing personalities have to say ahead of a huge night in Irish sport.
Adam Smith, the voice of boxing
“It will be a starry night, and I think all of the fighters who are fortunate enough to play their part in it are just super excited. The matches are great, the prospects are hot, the challenges they’re going to face, many of them are difficult. I think the Irish crowd, not just for Katie, obviously the 80,000 there and the millions that are going to be watching, for her and the finish to her extraordinary, unbelievable journey.
“It’s just it feels like a celebration of everything great about boxing, and that’s what Katie is and has always been. She’s been a trailblazer, an iconic figure, the most humble woman you can imagine, which is why she’s got the love of the Irish nation. People are going to be tuning in to the fight, and they don’t even like boxing, they just love Katie Taylor.”
Thomas Carty, ahead of his co-main event battle with Dave Allen
The Carty party is back in Dublin and after a lengthy lay-off due to injury, this is a dream come true for the Phibsborough native.
“When I turned pro I remember saying to myself, ‘If I fought somewhere like the Red Cow or one of those venues where boxing had been, I’d be so happy’. Now I think I’ve fought in the 3Arena four times, MSG, the O2 arena, and now Croke Park.
“The landscape of boxing in Ireland now in 2026 compared to when I turned over pro in 2020 is night and day, and it’s great to see it, and it’s great to see the young people in the gym now have something to aim towards and somewhere they want to be.”
Dave Allen was his typical self, talking down his own career before saying he would smash Carty, but the Irishman says none of that matters when the gloves are on.
“I’m not one for talking in hypotheticals. Postmen deliver post, we’re fighters. Like Roy Keane says, it’s my job. I wasn’t really listening to him, I couldn’t care less, he could have been speaking a different language. We’ll see fight night.”
Bobbi Flood, ahead of his fourth professional fight against Jack Swallow
What a year for 21-year-old Flood. Now he’s facing his fourth professional fight in a place that means so much to him, and the man known as ‘Flash’ was emotional ahead of the bout.
“It means so much to me, from going to the Dubs games as a kid to now being one of the second fight at Croke Park on a massive show for an amazing human being in Katie Taylor, who I met at her Olympic homecoming in my amateur boxing career, it’s such a surreal moment.
“My granddad used to go to the Dubs games, my dad went to all the Dubs games, and now I’m fighting in Croker, madness. I’m always in the gym, improving as a pro all round, working hard and feeling fit and strong. Jack Swallow is going to come to fight, I’m going to meet him in the middle, and we’re going to have a go.”
Paul Ryan, ahead of a big domestic fight against Paddy Gallagher
Inspired by Ric Flair, ‘Ravishing’ Paul Ryan is looking to style and profile his way to a big win in the Croke Park opener, as the 11/2 European title prospect takes on Paddy Gallagher.
“I feel great. It’s amazing to open the card, and Matchroom said they want the crowd in early, so they need to put the best-looking man in Irish boxing on early. It’s a real pinch-me moment, and fills me with pride, to be a small part of the biggest card in Irish history.
“One fight at a time, but this is a big opportunity on a big platform. I’m going to grab it with both hands now. I’m going to put on a show and make a big statement.”
Ryan will become the first Irish boxer to fight in Croke Park since 1972, but, as he says, his granddad is trying to stake a claim to that accolade.
“My whole family are beaming demon with pride, and my late father would be so proud.
“I was talking to my granddad, and he was telling me I’m not going to be the first person to fight in Croker since Muhammad Ali. In the 1993 All-Ireland final, granddad had a fight with a few Galway fans in the stadium, so he has the title as the first man. I’m the first man to have a sanctioned fight. He got the win as well, so we’re gonna keep it going.”
Emmet Brennan, who has a huge opportunity against 8-0 Matchroom prospect Taylor Bevan
Brennan lives 400 yards from the iconic stadium, you can see it from his house, and now he has a chance to take out one of Eddie Hearn’s brightest prospects. The 2020 Olympian can’t wait.
“All the pressure is on him. I’ve two years left in the sport, I get to walk to the stadium and do what I do best,” says the 35-year-old.
“He loses this fight, and his Matchroom contract goes up in smoke because if you lose two fights with Matchroom, you are gone.
“I am going to be on the front foot from the get-go and he is similar; if you look at him, he doesn’t go on the back foot, you could do this in an eight-foot ring.
“It will be a war of attrition back and forth, and I really feel I’m going to just have too much for him; I’m too experienced. I’m 6-0 but I have a long amateur career behind me. He’s had problems with people my height and my stature, and he performs better against taller people.
“I’m only a kilo over a day out, it’s unheard of for us, so I’m going to have that energy going into later rounds, and I think I have too much for him.”