Irish boxing icon Katie Taylor is set to bring the curtain down on her extraordinary career on Saturday at Dublin’s Croke Park, facing undefeated French boxer Flora Pili in front of a sell-out crowd of 80,000 spectators, according to USA Today. The event marks the first return of professional boxing to Croke Park since Muhammad Ali faced Al ‘Blue’ Lewis there on July 19, 1972, and is on track to be the best-attended boxing match in Irish history, as reported by RTÉ.ie.
Katie Taylor Prepares for Historic Croke Park Farewell
Taylor enters the ring aiming to bow out as the undisputed super-lightweight champion of the world, putting her WBA, WBO, WBC, and IBF titles on the line. At 40 years old, the native of the seaside town of Bray has enjoyed a storied path in the sport, from disguising herself as a boy to secure junior fights to claiming gold at the 2012 Olympics, a defining moment for women’s boxing.
A Storied Legacy and Return to Irish Soil
Taylor’s journey to a Dublin homecoming has faced significant obstacles over the years. Professional boxing in Ireland was brought to a standstill following a 2016 gangland shooting at a weigh-in at the Regency Hotel near Croke Park. When Taylor finally fought in the Irish capital in May 2023, she suffered the sole defeat of her professional career against Chantelle Cameron, though she later avenged that loss in a rematch six months later.
Now, she stands on the precipice of a final retirement fight that has captured the attention of the entire nation. I'm not sure if there's any other country in the world where 80,000 people would turn up for a female athlete,
Taylor told reporters in Dublin. Among those watching from the Ard Chomhairle seats will be Paddy Doherty, an 81-year-old former international amateur light-middleweight who fought on the undercard of the 1972 Ali event.
Stacked Undercard and Entertainment Lineup
The historic evening features a packed undercard curated to support the main event. The full fight card for the evening includes:
* Bobbi Flood v Jack Swallow (super-welterweight) * Adam Olaniyan v TBC (heavyweight) * Paul Ryan v Paddy Gallagher (middleweight) * Taylor Bevan v Emmet Brennan (super-middleweight) * Joe McGrail v Matthew Boreland (super-bantamweight) * Molly McCann v Sylwia Doligala (bantamweight) * Dave Allen v Thomas Carty (heavyweight) * Paddy Donovan v Tyrone McKenna (welterweight) * Katie Taylor v Flora Pili (WBA, WBO, WBC, IBF super-lightweight titles)
In addition to the boxing action, music icons Westlife have been confirmed to perform as headline acts at the stadium, with the group expected to play a major part in Taylor’s ringwalk on Saturday night.
Broadcast and Viewing Information
For fans unable to secure tickets at GAA HQ, comprehensive broadcasting plans are in place. RTÉ will televise the action from Croke Park with coverage on RTÉ 2 running from 8pm to 10:30pm, alongside radio coverage on 2FM. International audiences can watch the event globally through DAZN on a pay-per-view basis. Taylor’s ringwalk is estimated to take place shortly after 10pm, pending the duration of the undercard bouts.
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