Katie Taylor is crowned undisputed champion for a THIRD time with unanimous decision victory over Flora Pili – as Irish boxing icon, 40, enjoys fairytale end to her career in front of 82,000 fans at sold-out Croke Park
There will never be another night quite like this for Katie Taylor… or, for that matter, for boxing itself.
Under the lights at Croke Park, in front of 82,000 delirious fans, Ireland’s greatest fighter walked into the ring for the final time and left it as a three-time undisputed world champion after defeating Flora Pili on points.
Taylor had dreamed of this moment for much of her life. She had spent more than a decade rewriting the history of women’s boxing, collecting world titles, conquering America, avenging the only defeat of her professional career and becoming the undisputed champion not once, but twice.
But nothing could have prepared her for this.
The noise inside Croke Park was deafening as Taylor made her final walk to the ring, the 40-year-old receiving a hero’s welcome before facing the undefeated Frenchwoman in the last fight of a career that has transformed boxing in Ireland and beyond.
And when the first bell rang, Taylor set about doing exactly what she had come to Croke Park to do.
Katie Taylor celebrated victory on her farewell fight to become a three-time undisputed champion
Taylor overcame the challenge of Flora Pili, who had been unbeaten in 12 fights as a professional
Taylor emerged to a stunning ovation at a sold-out Croke Park, with 82,000 in attendance
From the opening round, she demonstrated her speed deploying a lightning-quick jab despite being 11 years older than her opponent.
It was in the second round Pili really felt Taylor’s power after taking a strong right hand to the temple.
It got the fans excited but the Frenchwoman weathered the storm before receiving a slap across her face from her trainer in the corner as he urged her to ‘wake up’.
Knowing she was down heavily on the scorecards Pili showed conviction in the seventh round but it was never going to be enough to topple the Irish champion.
As the tenth and final round rang in, both fighters touched gloves as a sign of respect. The crowd cheered their champion home as she drew the curtain on her career.
Taylor did everything she could to get the stoppage in the dying seconds of the fight but she had to settle for a points victory.
There was a moment after the final bell when Taylor simply stood and took it all in.
The noise, the tears, the Irish flags, the thousands of people on their feet inside Croke Park and the knowledge that this really was the end.
Taylor’s husband Sean McCavanagh was among those watching on ringside at the venue
Westlife performed in the build-up to Taylor taking to the ring for the last time in her career
Michael Flatley was among the well-known faces in attendance on the historic night
She had wanted one final night. One final fight. One final chance to walk into the ring in front of her home crowd and remind the world exactly who she was.
She got all three.
Taylor leaves boxing as a three-time undisputed world champion, an Olympic gold medallist and one of the most important figures the sport has ever produced.
But her legacy cannot be measured in belts alone.
She changed women’s boxing forever. She gave a generation of young girls a reason to believe that they belonged in a boxing gym. She carried Irish boxing on her shoulders for years and became a sporting icon far beyond the ring.
And perhaps most fittingly of all, she signed off where she had always wanted to be.
At Croke Park. In front of her people. With another world title wrapped around her waist.
The final chapter could not have been written any better.
Katie Taylor came home, became undisputed for the third time and walked away on top.
A champion to the very end.
