Ireland’s Katie Taylor is set to bring down the curtain on her professional boxing career this Saturday at Dublin’s Croke Park according to Yahoo Sports. The 40-year-old fighter from the seaside town of Bray, just south of Dublin, will face undefeated French fighter Flora Pili in front of an expected crowd of more than 80,000 fans reported RTÉ. Taylor enters the showdown aiming to secure a fairytale finish and retire as an undisputed super-lightweight champion of the world.
Katie Taylor Prepares for Historic Croke Park Farewell Against Flora Pili
Taylor’s journey to this final bout has been marked by significant milestones in women’s sports. After capturing gold at the 2012 Olympics in London—a defining moment that contributed heavily to Ireland’s boxing legacy—she turned professional four years later. Alongside Amanda Serrano, she made history in April 2022 by becoming the first woman to headline a card at New York’s Madison Square Garden, winning a razor-thin split decision. Her path in Ireland faced temporary hurdles following a 2016 weigh-in incident at the Regency Hotel near Croke Park that brought professional boxing in the country to a standstill. When she finally fought in the Irish capital in May 2023, Taylor suffered the sole defeat of her professional career against Chantelle Cameron, though she avenged the loss in a rematch six months later.
Open Workout Brings Emotional Moments With Young Fans
During her final open workout at The Helix on Thursday, Taylor treated hundreds of gathered supporters to an intense pad session alongside her trainer, Ross Enamait detailed The Journal. Toward the end of the session, the light-welterweight world champion pulled off her mitts and invited 10-year-old Clodagh Keating into the ring. The young fan, who was kitted out in Taylor’s traditional all-black garb and had dressed up as her for three consecutive Halloweens, shared a moving exchange and delivered a series of right hands to Taylor’s gloveless palm.
Assisted by Cabra heavyweight Thomas Carty—who faces veteran Englishman Dave Allen in the chief-support bout at Croke Park—Taylor’s team brought the emotional fan across the barrier. Taylor raised Clodagh’s hand to rapturous acclaim, gifting her a new pair of boxing gloves and signing her tricolour bucket hat. To feel the atmosphere even in this small arena, I can’t imagine what Saturday night’s going to be like, and getting the chance to meet little Clodagh there, who got into the ring, this is what it’s all about for me,
Taylor told reporters as noted by Yahoo Sports.
Star-Studded Entertainment and Global Broadcast Plans
The farewell event at Croke Park will feature major musical entertainment, with iconic Irish group Westlife confirmed as the headline performers according to RTÉ. The band, who have sold more than 55 million records worldwide and performed six sold-out shows at the Gaelic Athletic Association headquarters, expressed pride in supporting the boxing pioneer. Additional entertainment acts for Saturday’s event are scheduled to be announced later in the week.
For viewers unable to attend the sold-out stadium, the Katie Taylor versus Flora Pili card will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN noted The Irish Times. In Ireland, the event will be shown live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, alongside live radio commentary on RTÉ 2FM reported RTÉ.
