Eddie Hearn has played down the prospect of Katie Taylor's May bout with Amanda Serrano taking place at Croke Park but suggested a stadium fight could follow later this year.

Hearn announced earlier this month that the cost of staging the undisputed lightweight champion's rematch with the Puerto Rican at the GAA's headquarters was prohibitive and would likely take place at the 3Arena instead.

MMA star Conor McGregor subsequently offered to "sponsor" the estimated €500k security costs of hosting the fight on Jones' Road.

Hearn was in Dublin for talks today with the Irishman but told RTÉ Sport's Paul O'Flynn that he expected any Croker clash would likely take place in the autumn, with the May bout at the smaller indoor venue.

"There are a couple of phases to this. Number one, and the most important thing, is to bring Katie Taylor to Ireland. Number two, is to try and get her to fight at Croke Park.

"We talked about the numbers, cost, time-frame. The TV dates. We talked about the value also of fighting at the 3Arena. He has fought there himself, he said the atmosphere was unbelievable.

"I do think it's realistic for us that 20 May will be in the 3Arena. But I do think that a stadium fight will follow suit."

The 3Arena venue would only accommodate around 9,000 spectators as opposed to 70,000+ at Croke Park.

Hearn does hold out the hope that Taylor's dream fight may become a reality in September, with possible support from government and others, including McGregor.

"I'm not prepared to let it slip again. She must fight in Ireland on 20 May.

"But we want to work together to see how we can make it happen in a big stadium as well.

"All of Katie's fights now will be versus undisputed champions and hopefully we can finish her career, however many fights that may be, in Ireland.

"I don't see the need to go anywhere else."

Hearn had previously criticised what he felt was an excessive estimate from the GAA and a lack of Irish government support but suggested he has now accepted what will be needed to make an event as large-scale as a Croke Park fight would be a reality.

"I am a little bit disappointed that I feel there hasn't been a great deal of support for Katie Taylor," he said.

"But at the same time, there are other major events in the city that weekend so I understand it. The costs are the costs.

"At first when we received the costs, we thought there was a mistake on the email. But these are the requirements that we're being asked to put in place to stage the event there."