Eddie Hearn reveals likely venue and undercard for Katie Taylor world title defence

Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn has revealed further preliminary details of Katie Taylor‘s first world title defence next month.

Taylor [7(4)-0] defends her WBA lightweight title just seven weeks after winning the belt against Anahi Esther Sanchez in Cardiff.

The Wicklow boxer will engage in a voluntary defence on Friday December 15th in London, a fight date that comes right in the middle of the build up to the massive Sky Box Office heavyweight rematch between Tony Bellew and David Haye at the O2 on Sunday December 17th.

Hearn confirmed the show at a press conference in Dublin earlier this week, but no opponent, venue, or undercard had been finalised.

In terms of the woman in the opposite corner, it is widely expected that American Jessica McCaskill [5(3)-1(0)] will perform this role.

Hearn has now elaborated further, giving details on a likely venue and undercard for the bill – the first ever Sky Sports card to be headlined by a female boxer.

“I might do it at York Hall,” the English promoter told IFL TV recently.

“We’re struggling for a venue, really. I just thought, it’s probably like a 3,500 show, so why go to a five or six thousand [arena]? Why not put it on in the York Hall and stick all the Irish in.”

“It’s going to be a mad show,” said Hearn before outlining his vision for the card.

“You’ve got Katie Taylor defending her world title, we’re trying to make Jake Ball against Miles Shinkwin, you’ve got Lewis Ritson defending his British [lightweight] title, you’ve got Gamal Yafai defending his [WBC International super bantamweight] title, you may have Martin Ward for the European [super featherweight] title, you’ve got Lawrence Okolie, you’ve got Joe Cordina, because this is our last chance to get everyone out before the end of the year.”

At present it looks that there will be no Irish fighters on the undercard, which is a disappointment – although light heavyweight Shinkwin is of strong Cork stock and Ward is of Irish traveller heritage.

Belfast’s Paul Hyland Jr [17(6)-0] has spoken of his desire to challenge for Ritson’s belt, however the Lagmore fighter had his jaw broken by Stephen Ormond during their controversial fight last month and he looks set for a period out of the ring.

Watch Eddie Hearn’s interview with IFL TV in full below: