Katie Taylor Beats Flora Pili to Win Final Fight at Croke Park

Katie Taylor brought down the curtain on her storied boxing career with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Flora Pili at a packed Croke Park in Dublin. According to the New York Times, the 40-year-old Irish icon walked away from the sport in front of more than 80,000 spectators, securing the vacant WBC super-lightweight belt and bowing out as a three-time undisputed world champion. Judges scored the bout 100-90, 100-90, and 98-91 in favor of Taylor, who controlled the action throughout the contest.

Katie Taylor Concludes Historic Career With Unanimous Decision Over Flora Pili at Croke Park

The event marked the first time boxing was held at Croke Park since July 19, 1972, when Muhammad Ali defeated Alvin Lewis. Throughout the bout, Taylor utilized her characteristic hand speed, multiple-punch combinations, and in-and-out footwork to navigate Pili’s aggressive approach. In the final round, Taylor engaged in a late flurry of punches before embracing her opponent as the final bell sounded, finishing her professional career with a record of 26-1.

Katie Taylor celebrates in the ring after winning by unanimous decision with friends and family. Photograph: James — Photo: irishtimes.com

An Emotional Farewell and Historic Homecoming

Following the final bell, Taylor completed a solo lap around the ring, waving to the crowd and eventually laying down her gloves in the center of the canvas to mark her retirement. Members of her team followed by displaying her six championship belts. Speaking to the crowd during her post-fight interview, Taylor reflected on the magnitude of the attendance.

Katie Taylor holds the Ireland flag over her shoulders — Photo: BBC

Croke Park, we did it, we brought boxing back to Croke Park, Taylor told Sky Sports. “You were with me in London 2012, you got me through the heartbreak of Rio, you stayed with me when I turned pro, you travelled around the world to watch me, now you’re here with me. I don’t know of any other country that would sell 80,000 tickets, Ireland is the only country.”

The broadcast of the fight reached audiences globally through the streaming platform DAZN and was shown live on free-to-air television in Ireland, where dedicated alcohol-free family sections were set up inside the stadium.

A Trailblazing Legacy in Women’s Boxing

Taylor retires widely recognized as one of the greatest female boxers and top fighters in history, having fundamentally transformed women’s sport. Her amateur background included winning five world amateur championships and capturing gold at the London 2012 Olympics by defeating Russia’s Sofya Ochigava, making her Ireland’s first female Olympic boxing champion.

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After turning professional in 2016, Taylor claimed her first major milestone by becoming the WBA lightweight world champion in her seventh professional contest. She went on to achieve undisputed status at lightweight in June 2019 after defeating Delfine Persoon at Madison Square Garden. Her career also featured a landmark trilogy against Amanda Serrano, alongside a resilient comeback from her sole professional defeat against Chantelle Cameron in May 2023, which she avenged six months later to become a two-weight undisputed champion.

Reflecting on her career journey BBC Sport noted that Taylor walks away having beaten every professional opponent she faced, leaving behind a legacy built on pioneering the sanctioning of women’s boxing in Ireland and expanding the global profile of the sport.