Promoter Eddie Hearn "does not believe" Conor McGregor will attend Katie Taylor fight tomorrow night

British promoter Eddie Hearn has said he does not expect Conor McGregor to attend tomorrow night’s fight between Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron at the 3Arena in Dublin, amidst concerns regarding the martial artist's involvement in the event.

The Matchroom boss has also stated that he does not think the riots in central Dublin on Thursday night will affect the world title fight, which is scheduled for tomorrow, 25th of November.

April 30, 2022; New York, Katie Taylor after defeating Amanda Serrano at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

Current undisputed lightweight boxing champion Katie Taylor is billed to fight British light-welterweight Champion Chantelle Cameron in a rematch, following Taylor's first defeat at the hands of Cameron six months ago.

Conor McGregor has recently come under fire for posting incendiary remarks and stoking public disorder on social media during last night’s riots.

Earlier yesterday afternoon, five people, including three young children, were hospitalised in a suspected stabbing outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, an Irish-medium primary school in Dublin city centre.

Two of the injured people – a woman (30s) and a young girl (5) sustained serious injuries, and remain in critical condition An Gardaí Siochána said. A man who is believed to be responsible for the attack is currently being treated in the Mather hospital for serious injuries.

Speaking on Ireland AM this morning, Hearn said: “We will follow developments . . . and we will take instructions.”

He continued: “This is an opportunity for positivity, not just for the sport of boxing, but in this country you’re talking about one of your greatest ever role models, an iconic figure of sport.

“This is a celebration of boxing, this is a celebration of Irish sport as well. As always we follow the situations, we don’t feel it will affect the event tomorrow night and we hope that we can go ahead positively with a great event for Irish sport.”

Tánaiste Micheál Martin branded McGregor's comments "absolutely disgraceful" earlier today.

“There’s been many comments online I’ve watched of that type which are absolutely disgraceful and we have a parliamentary democracy and we value that. Martin continued. "The Irish people do as well."

Meanwhile, Leo Varadkar declined comment, but stated that new hate speech laws must be put in place.

“Isolated voices like that and voices that are essentially inciting hate and a degree to some extent incitement, are unacceptable.”

“I’m not going to get into any individual at this stage, I’ve seen that and I’ve seen what preceded it in the coming weeks. We have laws and we’re going to need stronger laws.

“I’m not going to get into any individual but incitement to hatred and incitement to violence is a reality within our society and we need to have the strongest laws possible so we can hold those who incite hatred to violence to account.”

Presenter Elaine Crowley said that, at the Taylor-Cameron fight in May, McGregor had previously “put himself front and centre”, adding, “I know he was sponsoring the event, but are we going to see that again?”

“I don’t believe so, no,” said Hearn.

Crowley added: “He’s been quite incendiary in his social media activity over the last 24 hours. No one likes to see what’s happened but his tweets last night were ‘Ireland we are at war’, ‘Do not let any Irish property be taken over unannounced.'

Several days ago, McGregor posted: “Ireland, we are at war.”

The MMA fighter wrote: “We are not stopping here until real change is implemented. We need safety. We need security. We need leadership.”

Do not let any irish property be took over unannounced. Evaporate said property. It’s a war.

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 22, 2023

As the riots came to a head and public property blazed on O' Connell street last night, McGregor responded: "you reap what you sow"

“He’s slammed the government. He said last night you reap what you sow. Are you concerned at all that his rhetoric, which has been widely criticised, are you concerned at all if he gets involved?”

Hearn said: “I don’t believe he’s attending the event. I don’t speak on his behalf. He’s obviously someone who has his own views, as everybody does.”

“So he won’t be there?” Crowley asked.

“I don’t believe so, no. For us, we just focus on the event.”