Letter from Texas: First peek behind the curtain as Katie Taylor prepares for Friday fight night

Owner Jerry Jones staunchly defended his anti-curtain stance post-game: “Well let’s tear the damn stadium down and build another one? Are you kidding me? Everybody has got the same thing. Every team that comes in here has the same issues.” 

In an admittedly flimsy defence of a man who seemingly believes adding curtains and constructing an entire new stadium are similar exercises, sun isn’t always a guarantee here. As they say of the weather in Texas – if you don’t like it, just stick around. Last week parts of the northern state were under tornado watch.

The bright glare won’t be an issue for the foreseeable either. Taylor is set to take to the ring in the early hours of Saturday morning Irish time while the Cowboys next fixture is against their neighbours the Houston Texans in the same stadium two days later for Monday Night Football.

Friday is Netflix’s first boxing event. How did Katie Taylor become part of that? The origins of this staggeringly lucrative card are strange and surreal and typical of a sport charged with eccentricity. YouTuber Jake Paul’s pivot to boxing brought him across heavyweight legend Mike Tyson. That is nominally the main event.

Paul also promotes WBO and IBO featherweight champion Amanda Serrano, who played her part in a famous night at Madison Square Garden two years ago. This week Serrano took to social media to claim that they are set to make the biggest purse in women’s boxing history. Taylor will pocket over $6 million. Serrano said her cut is even bigger.

Paul versus Tyson is a grotesque but officially approved bout. 27-year-old Paul has gradually progressed from fighting fellow YouTubers to basketball players to retired MMA fighters to Tommy Fury, brother of Tyson and his one loss so far. He brings with him enormous publicity and backing. In the Netflix docuseries to promote the event, Irish legend and current USA Olympics boxing coach Billy Walsh spoke glowingly of Paul’s influence.

“He is actually publicising the sport; I think he is great for the sport,” said Walsh while Paul sparred with some of his Olympic boxers.

“Usually, media only turn up every four years. He has got a really good right hook, good power in that. He is a good athlete, a good set of cojones as well. That makes up for a lot when you get inside the ring.” 

Taylor versus Serrano features in the final ten minutes of the opening episode. The entire card will be run by Paul’s promotional company, Most Valuable Promotions. He has consistently heralded what both women have done for the sport.

“Both of those women are incredible,” he told the Netflix cameras. “Giving them a record pay day is massive. But in my opinion, Amanda won the first one. I believe she has the ability to rewrite what should have happened the first time.” 

In a YouTube interview this week, he doubled down, taking aim at Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn for failing to make the rematch happen sooner. Paul laid out a trilogy plan that included Croke Park and an invitation for Donald Trump. Paul is a big fan of the President-Elect and Trump is a fan of big fights.

For now, it is about Arlington. The retractable roof stadium can fit over 80,000, although an enormous portion of tickets were still available on Ticketmaster and SeatGeek early on fight week, starting at just $37.

The venue is midway between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth and surrounded by endless car parks. A curious thing, there is no direct public transport connection from Dallas downtown or Fort Worth to AT&T Stadium. Our Uber driver says it may have something to do with the 18 or so car dealerships along the three mile stretch from beyond AT&T Way. A manageable set of conditions for a local NFL game, a greater challenge for international visitors who will travel for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Finances dictate decisions. Reportedly Tyson has over 20 million reasons to take this fight. There are some safety stipulations such as two-minute rounds and 14-ounce gloves. The former Baddest Man on the Planet claims to have his own cause.

“I want to fight this young motherf*cker. They say ‘58, too old.’ No, I want to fight this guy and kick his ass,” he said in the Countdown series. The contest was originally set to take place last summer but had to be postponed due to a Tyson ulcer flare up. He lost 26 pounds during that ordeal.

Four months later, Tyson will take part in a showdown approved as a professional fight by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. He is willing to do it, they are willing to sanction it, and thousands will watch it. Tyson set out his outlook to Netflix for their promo. They know of the potential payoff and the price.

“I don’t want to die in a hospital bed,” he said. “I want to die in the ring.”