
Spoelstra: No need to penalize Ball any further
Erik Spoelstra supports no further penalties for LaMelo Ball after flagrant foul.
Eddie Hearn confirmed that the anticipated heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will not take place at Croke Park. Instead, Hearn is focusing on securing the venue for Katie Taylor's farewell fight this summer.
Hearn said Katie Taylor will be the star attraction for any boxing event at Croke Park this summer [Getty Images]
A heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua "is not going to happen at Croke Park", according to Eddie Hearn, who also confirmed he will have talks in Dublin on Friday to secure the stadium for Katie Taylor's farewell fight.
Last week, Croke Park stadium chief executive Peter McKenna suggested a long-awaited fight for Taylor at the 82,000-capacity home of Gaelic games could happen on a card shared with Tyson Fury.
'The Gypsy King' marked his return to the ring after 16 months at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, out-pointing Arslanbek Makhmudov over 12 rounds and immediately called for a fight with long-time rival Joshua who was present at ringside.
Although no contracts have been signed, a long-awaited fight between the pair may take place later this year, but it will not be in Dublin according to Hearn, who promotes Joshua and Taylor, who he says deserves to be the star attraction of any big night at Croke Park.
"There is nothing else on the agenda apart from Katie Taylor," Hearn said on Matchroom Boxing's social media channel.
"Anthony Joshua against Tyson Fury, for me, is not going to happen at Croke Park.
"Katie Taylor is not fighting on any undercard. If there is a fight at Croke Park, it should be Katie Taylor and Katie Taylor only.
"That is the whole story; that is the history, the legacy and nothing short of what she deserves, so on Friday, we will be at Croke Park to try and advance those talks."
Taylor has not boxed since defeating Amanda Serrano in their trilogy fight last summer [Getty Images]
Taylor, 39, has made no secret of her desire to fight in the stadium before she retires.
The Irishwoman woman has not boxed since her trilogy victory over Amanda Serrano in New York's Madison Square Garden last summer but has indicated she wants one final fight in Dublin this year before hanging up her gloves.
A two-weight undisputed champion, Taylor has fought twice in the Irish capital before, both at the 3 Arena against Chantelle Cameron after attempts to secure Croke Park fell through with security costs offered as a reason.
However, Hearn feels the time is right to try again and says he and his team will "do everything we can to make it happen".
"There's massive public demand and momentum for this to happen," he added.
"Katie Taylor has made it clear she wants to fight one final time. She has done everything in the sport you can do: she's European amateur champion, world amateur, Olympic gold medallist, world champion, unified champion and undisputed champion.
"She's sold out Madison Square Garden, boxed at Wembley Stadium, the Millennium Stadium, so this is the moment Irish sport stops and pays homage to not just one of the greatest people of all time, but one of the greatest athletes ever to come out of Ireland.
"She deserves this so much and we'll do everything we can to make it happen."
Eddie Hearn stated that the heavyweight showdown is not going to happen at Croke Park, focusing instead on Katie Taylor's farewell fight.
Eddie Hearn is planning to secure Croke Park for Katie Taylor's farewell fight this summer.
Katie Taylor is a prominent boxer, and her farewell fight is significant as it marks the end of her professional boxing career.
Tyson Fury returned to the ring after 16 months, winning against Arslanbek Makhmudov, and immediately called for a fight with Anthony Joshua.

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