5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce - Katie's Last Dance

Episode Date: June 10, 2026

Will Croke Park ever see a bigger night than the one that awaits Katie Taylor when she steps into the ring for one final time? Buncey sits down with Katie to reflect on her remarkable journey, the long road to finally bringing this event to life, and what retirement might hold when the gloves are eventually hung up. We also hear from her manager, Brian Peters, who reveals how the team got the historic occasion over the line.

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It's been in negotiations for four, five, six, seven years, depending on who you believe. Katie Taylor will fight at Croke Park. There will be over 80,000 people there, and it will be on September. a fifth. What a fight, what a night, what a legacy, what a farewell. And it's time to sit down with Katie and her manager, and he doesn't often speak, Brian Peters. I'm Steve Bunce and this is Five Live Boxing. Katie, first of all, you've been on a bus and off a bus and on a bus and off a bus. You've seen a lot of Ireland. Has it been the last, I was going to say one or two days, but it seems to be about six days. Has it been? Yeah, it's been. It's been, it's been. It's

obviously been great, but I feel like I'm on a girl band on this party, this party bus for the last few days. It's been a crazy tour, obviously, for the last few days in preparation or just publicising this fight. I've never ever had to do this before. So this is obviously different. It's a different event. And to be headlined in such a huge venue at Crow Park.

I could do this every single weekend if I knew it was going to get Crow Park. So this is the price to pay, I guess. I have 12 more fans. Yeah, exactly. exactly I saw a picture about six, I don't know

a couple of months ago before it was announced way before it was announced with you out shadow boxing on the pitch obviously then you probably knew

it was going to be done what did that feel like being out on the middle of that pitch in shadow not being introduced to a crowd

but out on the pitch the shadow box what was that like? Yeah I obviously didn't know it was going to happen that was a few months ago and it wasn't

it wasn't actually going to happen back then and that was just a little event that was at and I ask could I go on to pictures

to Shadabox because this would be great for publicising Crow Park but just being in the

empty stadium in Crow Park it's very very surreal that I'm looking around the place imagine if I actually headline here

imagine if this was actually a possibility just an amazing venue and an amazing stadium and it's iconic in Ireland it's obviously

it's part of Irish culture isn't so the headline here is just incredible as you're walking through you come to the gates there, the door there, the media entrance, whatever entrance you come in,

do you get that sense, do you get that feeling? Because I get that when I go into some special venues, like Madison Square Garden. It's not the greatest venue in the world. It is the greatest venue. You know what I mean by that? So did you get that when you were walking through the gates

or doors at Croke Park that this is special this place? Absolutely. And you're looking around the whole stadium and you're like, wow, this is so big and so iconic. And then you're walking through the corridors of Crow Park. You see Mahmah have a little east poster in there. the last person fought there in 1972. It's history, isn't it?

And just absolutely it gives me goosebumps, honestly just thinking of it. And imagine that place packed out, imagine 80,000 people. And therefore, I hope so, yeah, I hope so. Because some of the packages, they're a family package

for a sort of like 115 euros. That's quite amazing. It is, it's amazing. And 25% of tickets apart, you're under 40 euro, and then there's salary tickets. There's so many, yeah, it's very, very affordable. There's alcohol, free zones.

Yeah, that's good. Amazing, yeah. What's that going on back there? Some of making a copy back there, don't worry about that. We've stolen some space today for a variety of reasons. Cote Park is about as good as it can get for you. I know it's something that you talked to me about when you left the ring against Serrano,

first time at Madison Square Garden back in 2022, and you just said, no, it's Cote Park next, which it wasn't, but it is there now. Well, I've got to thinking a little bit about some of the other places you've thought in Europeans' worlds or just in just normal fights. Where's the worst place you've ever thought? And so it could be a combination of food, venue, officiating, or just, where was the worst place you ever? Throughout my whole career as an Amistranos. And not even way, even one.

I mean, some of those amateur venues were remote. Hungary was pretty bad. The food was terrible. The hotel was terrible. The hotel was terrible. Yeah, I think so. Ukraine was pretty bad as well but that was

the amateur boxing for you though aren't you in these terrible hotels and you have to eat this terrible food and you're getting prepared for these world championships and European titles and people have no idea

what goes on behind the scenes you just see that the fighter going and stepping into the ring but I learned that after my first loss in the world championships as a 19 year old in Russia I went into

to that competition so weak because I had no food and I learned the lesson because ever since then I brought a suitcase full of food over those competitions so yeah yeah so I learned my lesson there do you watch back any not for documentary purposes but do you ever watch back some of those fights have you got them like

because generally the Irish team would have had someone recorded them so do you watch back those fights four twos and stuff yeah I don't really watch them back up I see some clips here and there of them but that's as far as it goes really I don't tend to look back too often either I'm trying to focus on what's ahead but it's also nice to reflect obviously as well

every now and then look back on what you've achieved and what's happened over the last few years and just even over these last 10 years as a pro so looking back as the pro in the end of the amateurs because it's the sort of ruffling and around the same weight if you squint it's the same thing person. I feel that. I mean, I look at the Olympic final, you're a bit younger, but even though it's, what, 14 years ago,

you don't look that much different. It's really, it's really kind of on. You're a bit ageless. You're a bit timeless and ageless. I age well. Brilliant. I mean, honestly, it's just, it's like, I'm looking at you now. And honestly, I don't see a massive difference between you now than you're in 2012 or 2013, 2012. Do you see it when you look in? Well, I wish I felt the same. Yeah, you've adapted to training to fit. Yeah, no, definitely.

No, I definitely, I mean, I don't know what to say to that, but I'm just constantly, I guess, in the gym and living a clean life, and that obviously it all helps. I am going to be 40 this year. It's crazy to think that my next fight will all be 40 years of age. That is that is ridiculous, isn't it? So that little girl all those years ago, K.D. Taylor, could she or he, as he was at the time,

He had he ever imagined that you'd be in the ring at 40 years of age? No, I don't think so. I couldn't have imagined this whole career in general, really. You know, headline in MSG, who would have thought that? Being on an undercard of Mike Tyson, who would have thought that? Even boxing in the Olympic Games. Through the full of that. When you started, that's the whole point, isn't it?

Exactly, nine or ten years of age. When women's boxing wasn't even a sanctioned sport in Ireland, who would have thought that. And then Crow Park. You know, that was basically the first time that conversation came up was four years ago after the first Serrano fight. And it was completely out of the picture back then. And then even after the last fight, I remember saying to my team in the hotel after that fight, guys, that's probably going to be it for me if I don't get crow park.

So I basically retired after the last fight. It was crow park or nothing? It was crow park or nothing. I actually had a conversation with my family the next morning at breakfast. and just saying to them that, you know, this is probably going to be the end of the journey. There's not much else to chase after. And we all just sat crying around the breakfast table

just recalling the whole career. And then here we are. Because in Kalani, when I was with you in that brilliant gig that you did in January, back then, I was kind of content and happy with you. I thought you were walking away because I didn't think we'd get Crowe Park. Exactly.

And I didn't think you were that unhappy about walking away then. Yeah. Had you decided then to walk away? I don't, you know, you didn't look. Yeah. I think you wanted Croke Park, but, you know. Yeah, yeah.

I would have, you know, it was Crowe Park or nothing, basically. And I just, I didn't announce my retirement because I was clinging on to a bit of hope that this could actually happen. Just, hot with your fingernails. And Brian actually ran me one time a few months ago. Oh, yeah, Brian Peters. he said, Katie, I'm going to give this crow parking one last go. I'm just going to give it one last go for you.

And then he was working tired of the last few months and trying to get this over the line. And fair play to him, you know, he got it over the line and only for him. Well, I would speak to Brian in a moment if he doesn't stop crying because obviously the press commerce to announce it. It took me 10 years to break Brian down. Yeah, exactly.

For the first time, no, he was he talking, but he's actually crying his way with all the emotion. Although I am told that he has been carrying a bag of chopped up onions, but that's neither here or there. I've actually never ever seen Brian Emotional. No. It's crazy.

I was like, well, this is real. It's raw. That's how much it meant that everyone down. That's how hard you worked for to get this over the line. Did you, what do you think did get it across the line?

Because really, this is no different than 2022, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. What do you, or do you know what it was? What's your gut feeling? Why are we in Croke Park? I think, obviously for a number of reasons.

Obviously, time and momentum was very, very important. But Brian Digg, make a genius move and getting Peter Aiken involved. He's an amazing promoter himself in the music industry. Eddie Hearns, obviously, has been brilliant as well. And to see his interviews over the last few months and trying to get this off the line as well, it's been fantastic. Just a combination of all those things, I think.

I think Brian could probably tell you a bit more about that. I'll try and glit if he's not quite. Yeah, exactly. So will there be, I mean, you're not going to promote you or the boxing. Might there be some musical acts? Yeah, I think there, yeah, it's going to be a crazy event, not a normal boxing event, of course. There's going to be world-class boxing on the actual night,

but I think you plan on having music acts as well on. It's going to be an amazing celebration, I think, of Irishness. And it's going to be a very unique event. And, yeah, I think it's going to be very special. Do you visualize your fights, Katie? I mean, you know, a week out, a day out on the day. Do you visualize them, like literally getting to the arena, your walk to the dress room?

And do you like to have a run through on the Friday or even on the day of the fight just so you know every which way you're going? Do you do that? Yeah, you obviously want to know where the dressing room is. It's important, isn't it? It is important, and it's good to be prepared to want any surprises, even on a fight night.

but I have pictured every now and now, even my ring walk and making my final walk to the ring. It's like, oh, I have to compose my emotions because it is a very emotional moment, I think, for me. Just my final fighting pro park has seen the whole crowd and even just seeing the tricolours around the place. I'm overwhelmed, really, with all the amazing support I've gotten over the years. People travelling around the world, they watch me fight, and then here they are in Crow Park. Eric. You can walk to them. Some of your fans can walk to.

Exactly. That's like Rocky. I mean, because I'm thinking about your entrances and I'm thinking about the two in Dublin and the Cameron fights. But more specifically the entrance, which I still was the greatest entrance ever, the first entrance for Serrano when you came out to the two of tune. It's the longest, longest ring walk ever was on. And you told me it would be and it was. And I think about that. So if you multiply that, I mean, that that can be quite dry.

draining now? Or can it be quite draining or is it part of your adrenaline feed? Yeah, I think for the first round of fight, I just wanted to take the whole, the whole like, um, event in because this was a history making night the first time myself, the first time females headline Madison Square Garden. So this was huge and even stepping into Manhattan that week, you've sensed that something was different about this fight. And so you're walking out, gosh, that was the first time I realized gosh. You're no rush them, were you? Yeah, exactly. But it was also the first time I realized, gosh, gosh. we've actually made it.

We were actually boxing this iconic venue. Madison's of Gregar. We sold it out. And so walking out, so looking around the place, wow, this is insane. We've actually done it. And so that was a really amazing moment.

When do you switch on fight there, or a big fight like that? Is there a switch in you when you, is it in the morning when you wake up? Or is it on the Thursday or the Friday? When do you switch? When do you get into, I suppose the cliché is fight more?

Yeah, I think when you enter into fight week you have a different focus I think I'm not a very nice person of fight week as you know Steve I do I'm not very I'm not very nice in fight week yeah I'm not very approachable

so I think I just kind of switch on and my focus is completely on the fight so this whole sort of coached and being at Croke Park and the formal announcement you're still squeezing in gym sessions you want to be back in Connecticut

in the gym, don't you? I mean, it's okay, you can say that. I know you've got nothing against Ireland, don't you love it? You want to be home in the gym now, like that? Yeah, I have a fight to prepare for basically. There's celebration, there's buzz right now, but I have to win this fight and I have to prepare for this fight, so yeah,

I'm definitely anxious to go back to the gym, but I have been squeezing sessions when I can, getting up at 5am in the morning, just to squeeze a session in before the crazy and stars for this day, but the urgency of the fight is here, and I have to prepare well,

I have to end my career well, and I have to win this fight. Now, in Fight Week, the Chantel Cameron, two fights for Chantel Cameron, the first Chantel Cameron fight, I think we all agreed you did too much, and you were too open, and you had a million pictures,

and you didn't say no, and you did everything. The return, you were changed. It was a change, Katie. It was a steely, ice cold Katie. Will we try and see a combination of the two, maybe? I think so, I think so. He said, hopefully. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah. No, I think so. I understand that this is a huge event. It's part and parts of the job to do a few interviews. And I think it went a bit too cold turkey in the second. It worked, didn't it? It definitely worked. But that was also a very, very important win as well. But I think the issue with the first fight was that I went in with a few little niggles, I shouldn't have even stepped into the ring that night. And that people don't even realize what I was going through.

You had no way of backing out of that fight. No way of backing out. Exactly. And even in a fight week, Brian was trying to convince me to put it out of that fight. I said, Brian, I cannot do that. I can adjust, I can adapt. I really felt like I could do that. But you obviously think you can do it and it doesn't work out.

And that's not taking anything away from Chantelle because she did her job great. Yeah, of course. But I think. Pantamine villain. She is. Yeah, exactly. But yeah, I think for this one at Crow Park, I have to be wide. of course I can't do too much but I have to do my job as well and I think people are smart enough

to realize that you can't be shaking hands and doing 5,000 selfies on the two days before the fly has there I've talked to your mother about this is there now that it's croak park and now that it's the end absolutely definitely the end is there a kind of weight lifted off your shoulders in a kind of way that's it I've got what I've wanted I've got what I couldn't have even dreamed about even 10 years ago definitely yeah is there sort of is there a sort of is there a sort of relief, is that the right word? Yeah, I think so. Even the relief of actually finally a fight date

because we were thinking over last week, so this is going to happen? What's the story with us? Have we got to fight this year? What's going on? And you're staying in the gym and you don't really know what's going on, but when the fight day is announced, your focus completely changes in.

So, yeah, it's a huge relief and just how incredible is this that I monitor around the country and a Katie Taylor bus, which wasn't my idea, by the way. I know it was a year.

That's the least Katie Taylor thing. Apart from the speedbow you bought and never used. The bus and the speedbow were the two least Katie Taylor things I've ever heard of. And that speedboat was a terrible mistake. It's fun though?

Yeah, it was fun. You have to sell it for a dollar, didn't you? Or something, you know what? Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. I've got to ask you about Florida Pealey. She's young.

To her, it's just good. As much as it's a dream for you, it's a dream for her as well. She's unbeaten. She's quite slick and she's quite, you know, she's perfectly good. And I guess it's the cliche is you can't overlook her, even though there's all of this other stuff.

You've also got a train to beat another woman coming out of the opposite corner. Yeah, I'm definitely not going to be complacent. And that's for sure. She's a live fighter. And I wanted a real challenge for my final fight. I didn't want to just a testimonial fight around. No, of course. That's different, yeah.

Yeah, I wanted a real challenge. And I wanted a crow park and I wanted a real fight. conditions were met. So she's a young, hungry fighter. She's 12 and 0. She's the IBO champion as well. The number one challenger for the WBC title. So this is

going to be a tough fight and I have to prepare for a tough fight. People will sit around talking about you for years and years to come. What will you be doing? What's going to happen with you in a year's time, two years time, three years time, four years time? More dogs? Kids?

Because you shouted a bit when I asked you the question about children before. Who I couldn't. Who knows, yeah. Yeah, who knows? I have to have that conversation with my husband first. Yeah, of course.

I am involved in, kind of, you know? Exactly, exactly. Yeah, I'm not too sure because he already has five kids. Oh, okay. But six is a magic now, but I'm just saying? Did you think so?

Katie Jr. But yeah, I'm not too sure what... I'm not too sure what the actual future looks like, but I'm sure we'll be doing lots of gigs around Clarene again. I'm sure I love you. So 1, 2, 3, any order of highs and lows.

What would be on your top three Katie Taylor moments? Yeah, I think number three will probably be the Chantal Cameron rematch, a very, very important win. That was a night, really. Yeah, but number two, probably the Amanda Serrano, MSG, fine, and then number one, the Olympic old man. metal. Get it. Yeah, so. That would have been mastery as well, right? Yeah, yeah. Amazing.

I was all those, it was a privilege. Yeah, thanks, Steve. Oh, man. I could touch the canvas at the camera on. Touch the canvas, man. Yeah, that's it. You've given me too much time. Too much time at night, too much time over the years. You're done. Thank you, so much, I want to see you. In the Range Rover Sport, performance is more than a promise. It's something you feel on every drive. With the choice of powerful mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines, range river sport responds instantly, bringing unbridled power and precise handling.

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That's Good Bad Billionaire from the BBC World Service. Listen now, search for Good Bad Billionaire, wherever you get your BBC podcasts. The Katie Taylor, there in just about as relaxed the mood as I've ever seen. Looking absolutely, looking like she could fight tomorrow, which I like, and obviously desperate to get to America and in the gym. Now, we mentioned there Brian Peters several times,

and that's because Brian Peters has been looking after Katie and managing Katie since he turned professional. But he's been around a million, trillion years. He was, I'm not sure if he was the promoter a record, but I call him the promoter of the Steve Collins, Chris Eubank, rematch at Parky-queaving Cork back in about about 2007 years ago

when Brian was probably about 18 or 17 years of age. He looks like that. Now, the reason why you've never heard Brian Peters before is he doesn't do interviews, but he has agreed today to do something. Of course, he did a little interview when the fight was officially announced. Well, we think he did an interview. Basically, he just cried.

Brian, I'm not quite sure where to start. I mean, we could start back in history. We could start with Katie. We could start with the tears. We could start with that. Eddie Hearn definitely put some onions under the seat that day. There was something going on. Is it chopped onions? I think it was my shirt, that fancy shirt. I think it was

pollen or I don't know. But certainly look, I suppose it was a it was a, whew, what was it, a number of things you know. Relief of getting this fight across the line. Yeah, relief of getting this across the line was certainly a big one. And again, even to tell the full story there, someday maybe,

but there's a couple of underused words in the English vocabulary where in this alternative reality sometimes we live in, it's hard to know. But they're all overused, but certainly momentum and timing. We had it after the first Serrano fight. Which is when we thought we were going to Croke Park. Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. Talked about it with me just now.

I have a picture somewhere where I write on it and sign that we're going to Crowe Park. I think it was October, November, 2022. Wow. So I promised Katie in writing then. thought we'd have been fighting Serrano then that was kind of the plan that was the plan lost momentum for a number of reasons

and then you need everything to align you need all your stars to you know we brought on board this guy Peter Aiken from making promotions he does 500 music guy yeah so he's going to be this is really an Irish cultural celebration

that's what we're trying to do a different we're talking to her just now yeah so it's going to be very different trying to get that three to Eddie Hearn and Frank Smith. This is, you know, and I know they've done them in front of the pyramids and they've done Times Square and they've done some, they've never done

anything like this. You know, the passion, the emotion, the love that's going to be on the screen. Nation awaits. So it's a very special, I believe it's going to be the greatest show on Earth. September 5th. You know, tickets go on sale this Friday. So there's a lot of people out there. Don't be what's happening. We're looking for tickets. Get on the ticket master.

We're talking about the tickets. I love all packages and the types of tickets. But Brian, did you, that was 2022, April to 5, October, you thought you had it or you were telling Katie you had it. Did you think it was absolutely dead? Because the Brian Peters I know doesn't ever believe in 100%. It was only of a 99.9% dead. And that meant there was 1.1% alive. Well, look, without getting into too much. And someday I will. Well, you can do, do you like? Well, it's, have we two hours? Have we two hours to tell it? And there might be a few blips. I don't know. Plastic. He has an old blip over there.

Beep, beep, or blip, or whatever it is. But, you know, the government was going to be involved. Yeah, that's what we all thought. Oof, you know, I was doing very well. And then the T-Shok changes, the government changes. Right when I was about 75, 80%. Oh, you were there. So Peter McKenna was with us in government buildings.

Yeah. He's the Croke Park chief executive. He's the executive. Yes, yeah. And, you know, like, again, like Crow Park guys, it's, you know, it's our cathedral, it's our Coliseum. If you'd given me, and, you know, I'm going to lose a few. If you'd give me a Viva stadium for free, I wouldn't have taken.

It's just, it's, you could cut an Irish person and they'll bleed JAA. They will bleed Crow Park. Like, it's, it's just so sacred. It's, it's, you know, you could read 10 books, 500 pages out there, and you'd understand 10%. Is there another place anywhere in a world like that, do you think? And because Wembley's a lovely stadium, but it's a new stadium. and I've been in the Azteca in Mexico That's not bad now

That's not bad I'm going to 43,000 I'm named after that But I'm just wondering About the cultural identity So I agree with you about I suppose the best way to answer that And you know

Peter Aiken He's a big hitter Eddie Hearn is a big hitter Which you know I was trying to give me a bit of praise I don't praise him too often But you got to say He is the greatest promoter

You know since P.T. Barnum And how good was he the other night there No note stands up and just wraps it off But he's been there from the start And like, you know Even from the first day we go into his office We didn't really know where we were going We didn't really know how we were going

Did you met Eddie at that point? So Eddie was kind of new on the scene a wee bit Because he's been around by then about three years Yeah so I worked with Barry I done my first show in 1993 I've actually done 86 or 90 shows total My first show actually at Wayne McCullough

Prince Nazim and Montel Griffin but maybe I'm going off course a bit here so back to that day we walk into the office there's Katie Bridget who has just been fantastic on this old journey Katie's mum and you know look I'm not sure what my reputation after the other night where it stands

but I'm supposed to be half in Tarryard in a way kind of a half tough guy and now everyone's giving me hugs when they see me but but I thought I was a half tough guy maybe it was only in my own head but but like you know

You've been trying to get interviews. So that was my first... Only for seven years, ten years, 15 years. I don't know, 15, 20 years, I think. So, Annette's getting some mileage. The text are still flying in, getting me. Todd Grisham just hit me with a haymaker there a while ago.

But so we went in that day. We really didn't know. And people tend to forget, you know, everyone has tried female box and it hasn't worked. It's worked because of Le La Lali. It's worked because who I hope to have involved, obviously over for this fight. I'm working on that also

to get Lail over here. I'll get a massive line up of the greatest feeling of boxing industry to say goodbye to the greatest feeling of boxing. To D, greatest thing. Yeah, you know. I'm writing scripts by the way.

Exactly, exactly. Now I'm jumping all over the place. You can bring me back here but I'm telling about five different stories here. I hope so. Yes. So sometimes I don't get the finish as you know, Steve.

I do know. Plastic Patty knows as well. Plastic Patty. I have a story going on with plastic patty for about two years there. but I suppose we went in that day and Eddie Hearn didn't really know you know with Adam

Adam Smith was great there on Sky Sports were great I was struggling with the boys trying to get you know it was only two minute rounds and say God you know try and put it up there where people get to see it

so it's different you know it's more like a sprint and they're trying to change and I don't know it's all daft 10 3s 12 2s 12 2s I can't keep up at it Trying to find a measure Exactly but if something's working

you know, if it's not broken, why fix it? Absolutely. So we went in that day, like, and I'll never forget, we were getting 10 grand a fight. A bit tight, actually, Eddie. You're a bit tight there. But anyway, sent a contract, we never signed it. Because I said, really, like, if, you know,

if this works, what's on that contract isn't worth a damn. And if it doesn't work, I might find you hard enough to get you, Eddie. But sends a contract through, we're getting, I think, yeah, 10 grand a fight for sure. I think about the third or fourth fight in, I'd tie down a sponsor. five, six hundred thousand and I know the answer

and Katie refuses it it was a gambling betting company and she wouldn't influence any young people you know and I've had crypto she refused she refuses an amateur to wear the skirt that IEba were trying to force on her exactly mini skirt

mini skirt yeah I wasn't going to go down the way of don't think she has a skirt or even if he highly's there I don't think she's got any wasn't happening no it wasn't happening so look we just one thing after another You know, I have to say we've been to the four corners of the planet with Eddie. Katie's produced every time.

Headline in Madison Square Garden. You go on all day, like fighting on Mike Tyson's undercard. I asked Katie a question about 15 minutes ago. I said, what does retirement look like for you, Katie? Where are you going to go? Now, I know you've got other fighters. By the way, some really good fighters around the globe. You've got them in there all like...

Eight different countries. Eight different countries. And all proper fighters. But there's going to be a big gap somewhere. where inside Brian Peters' his soul and heart when Katie does finally farewell at about

11 at night on the 5th of September when it's finally over. The fireworks are going off and you two are doing a bit of singing in the background and over there, I know you've pulled in Van Morrison, get the North involved. I mean, I know the kind of crack you're going to get up to. Trust me.

How does Brian Peters deal with that big void going forward, Brian? good good question yeah you hear that there plastic paddy hit me when I was down there says I cried possibly Is that what he said He cried? He kind of ran in and hit me a Hit me a homey back shot there

But look I suppose that just tells you What it means you know the passion It just tells you it's real you know there's after that Like working on a play at the moment With a guy called Andrew Flynn Which is very interesting works with Martin McDonough You know what that looks like Yeah great director so we're working on that

working on potential Netflix series Disney so there's a world of stuff So Katie doesn't vanish No, no no There's a lot of She just doesn't fight anymore Well she started

You know What I need Katie to do Is to attack the business world The way she did The sporting world You know With that tenacity And you know

That consistency But Kate can't do anything Half-hearted Can she Brian? Because I know when we did That show in Kalani You told me You mark my cards

A week before we did it She said she's treating This like a fight She needs all the notes, all the preps. I mean, she was, and I felt that on the day. Yeah. When we did the rehearsal, I mean, I remember talking to plastic paddy saying,

it felt like we were, you know, it was like she was getting ready for a fight, not an hour on the stage. And how good was her entrance? Oh, man, that was magical. I cried then. You cried then. Yeah, yeah. How come you got away with it? I held it better than you.

Did you? I have to get sunglasses with that to it. I don't know. I have to think of something. No, I just, you know, I just smiled. Crying and smile. But, like, look at her walk out. So what I'm trying to do is something similar.

that maybe the first half like a play we start in 1986 when she you know with music so still working on it and indeed with Cruden put from yourself Paddy plastic Patty you know he refused me he dropped me he would stud me up so he's not

he's not involved so we'll remember that just don't let me forget that down the road with him there but I suppose just this gig guys 25% of the arena is priced 40 euro and under unbelievable there's non-alcohol Lake Sones.

So I've interrupted him by. Tell me about the family package. Is it 150? So the family package, yeah. So it's 130 for family of four. Excuse me. 104. You know, so that's four.

And that's very important. If we don't get from 6 to 86 at this, if we don't get from every town in Ireland, we're just off a tour, 2,200 kilometers. You know, we had the press conference Friday. It was quite heavy. We've done some 17, 18-hour days. As we like to say,

there's life outside of Dublin. When people come to town, they focus on Dublin. Like we're going, just, we're in a school, and we're barely know we're in Kerry, we're in... How many countless? So we've done the 32 counties, which is quite something, which is quite something. It's heavy going now, every going.

It's an early start. But look, for something like this, you know, I believe it's going to be the greatest show on Earth, September 5th. It's an opportunity for everyone to, pay homage to to see a legend, an icon in the last dance, the last fight.

It's definitely going to be where were you when? One of them moments, you know what I mean? And Crow Park, even for anyone that hasn't seen Crow Park, it is a fantastic stadium. It's no disrespect to your little stadiums, Wembley and Tottenham and a few of them are.

But this is, this is, you know, this is fantastic. The undercard we haven't sorted yet, you know, going to have a couple of stages. There's going to be, like, The last man to fight there, a guy called Muhammad Ali. Now, we were just with Paddy Dockerdie today up in Dundee Gaul. Sorry, the last heavyweight to fight there was, the last man to fight there was Paddy Dockerdia.

Because he was in the fight after. He was in the fight after. And would you believe he just told me today that he was sitting there, gloved up watching Muhammad Ali. So I invited him down, he's going to come to it. Katie Taylor will be the first person fighting for a world title fight. Muhammad Ali actually didn't fight. You know, Joe Bugler was on that character.

John Conti, Pat McCormick. So it was a legendary guy, a guy called Buddy Suger, who's a great character, great character. But look, I think it's very fitting. And I suppose, look, we've always dreamed, you know, from Dallas, remember that the Cowboy Stadium in Dallas, you know, headline in Madison Square Garden, the three arena, like the pressure on Katie Taylor,

Chantel Cameron, Fair Place, you beat us. The pressure, like her legacy was on the line on that next fight. It was unbelievable, by the way people, you know, 20 minutes. Is there a sense? I know it's a massive fight and I take on board

everything you're talking about but is there a sort of sense that there's a weight off Katie's shoulder because she's getting what she couldn't have even dreamed about but then she has been dreaming about for whatever 10 years.

Is there a sense that because I'm talking to her there I know we're a long way out from the fight but I've been with her when she's a long way out from the fight she's even more relaxed than normal. She's even

and equally focused. Yes, no for sure but let's not forget this is one of the few occasions that you can talk about a woman's weight and her age without getting in trouble. This lady's 11 years younger than her. She's the chance, you know, Katie Taylor. To change her life forever as well. Her life has changed already. If she pulls out a win, wow, off to America for a mega fight. Everyone at one. Everyone wants her. This Katie Taylor is

trying to become three-time undisputed champion, which is never easy. Three times undisputed champion. So, you know, undercard, all that to come, all the music acts, how we're going to do. But we need a celebration of culture, arts, sport, music, you know, all of that. It's going to be very different. And that's why this Aiken Promotions, Peter Aiken on board, he's going to bring a showbiz element to it as well. Brian, it's going to be, well, a special doesn't quite cover it. It's been a pleasure. We're not finished yet, by the way.

Brian Peters, thank you very much. Pleasure. So that's it, September the 5th, Croke Park. And I've got to be absolutely honest of you. I've known Brian Peters for about 30 years. I never believed I'd sit down with him and get him to actually talk sensibly about something. He was brilliant.

Katie, well, she's just Katie. What a privilege. See you in September. That is the message. That is the story. It will be the farewell party to end all farewell parties. In boxing, most definitely. I'm Steve Bunce, and this is Five Live Boxing.

footballer is Leonel Messi. The winner is Chrisena Ronald. This is the story of the greatest rivalry in the history of sport. A rivalry that split football into two fates for a generation. There could be no

Oh Messi and Ronaldo are both great players. There had to be one that was better. They 100 million percent pushed each other to the next level. You know, we were the lucky ones who got to see it. I'm Steve Crosman. This is Sporting Giants, Messi v. Ronaldo. on BBC Sounds.

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