Katie Taylor fought her final professional boxing match on September 5 at Croke Park in Dublin, winning by unanimous decision over unbeaten Flora Pili to retire as the undisputed super-lightweight world champion [1, 2, 3, 4]. Taylor added the vacant WBC super-lightweight title to her existing WBO, WBA, and IBF belts, becoming a three-time undisputed world champion in the division [1, 2, 3, 4].
The victory concluded Taylor’s career with a professional record of 26 wins and 1 loss. Her opponent, Flora Pili, suffered her first defeat in 13 professional fights [1, 2, 5, 6, 4]. The judges scored the bout either 110-90, 110-90, and 98-91 [1], or 100-90, 100-90, and 98-91 [2, 3, 4].
An estimated 80,000 to 83,000 fans attended the event, marking one of the largest post-war boxing crowds and the first major boxing match held at Croke Park since Muhammad Ali fought there in 1972 [1, 2, 7, 3, 4]. Taylor said, "Croke Park! We did it. I don't know of any other country that would sell 80,000 tickets," and called it "a dream end to a dream career" [2, 3].
Taylor, 40, competed for nearly 25 years as a two-weight world champion and three-time undisputed champion. She won Olympic lightweight gold in 2012 and is regarded as a pioneer for women's professional boxing [1, 5, 7, 4]. Her farewell event also featured performances by Irish band Westlife and attracted many first-time boxing fans [1, 2, 8, 3].
Prominent boxers praised Taylor’s career. Caroline Dubois called her "one of the best to ever do it" [8]. Tony Bellew said, "She has just retired as the greatest champion ever" [8].
Taylor’s final fight at Croke Park on September 5 marked the closing chapter of her boxing career.
