Croke Park's last Irish boxer hails Taylor's farewell
Paddy Doherty, the last Irish boxer to fight at Croke Park in 1972, will attend Katie Taylor's farewell match at the same venue. The article reflects on the historical significance of the venue and the legacy of boxing in Ireland.
Why it matters
The event serves as a cultural touchstone for Irish sports history, bridging the gap between the era of Muhammad Ali and modern boxing icons like Katie Taylor.
When Katie Taylor steps into the ring tomorrow night for a momentous farewell - the last Irish boxer, who fought in Croke Park, 54 years ago, will be among the 80,000 spectators.
Paddy Doherty from Ballyshannon, Co Donegal will sit in the Ard Chomhairle seats with his family, at the invitation of the multi-weight world champion's team.
Doherty was on the undercard when Muhammad Ali faced Al 'Blue' Lewis in Croke Park on 19 July 1972, the only time the boxer known as 'the greatest’ fought in Ireland.
While Ali defeated Lewis in an 11th round stoppage in July 1972, Doherty subsequently defeated his opponent, Bobby Ruff from Wales with a second-round stoppage.
The Ali spectacle attracted 18,000 spectators. It was organised by Michael ‘Butty’ Sugrue, a circus strongman, entrepreneur, and boxing promoter from Kerry.
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