Taylor defeats Pili in emotional Croke Park farewell — SkimNews

Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Katie Taylor dominated Flora Pili in a unanimous decision at Croke Park, with judges scoring 100-90, 100-90, 98-91, headlining the first boxing event at the venue since Muhammad Ali’s 1972 fight
- Katie Taylor won the vacant WBC super-lightweight title and retired with a 26-1 professional record, cementing her status as a three-time undisputed world champion
- Croke Park hosted 84,000 fans for Taylor’s farewell, marking the largest crowd for a boxing event in Ireland and the first at the stadium since Ali fought Al 'Blue' Lewis
- Katie Taylor laid down her gloves in the ring after the final bell, followed by her team placing her six championship belts in the center, completing a symbolic retirement ritual
- Flora Pili was praised by Taylor as a 'very awkward opponent' who contributed to an 'epic night,' despite being outworked by Taylor’s speed, footwork, and combinations
Why it matters: Taylor retires at the peak of her influence, having drawn 84,000 fans to a historic Irish venue for a women’s boxing headline—proving the sport’s mainstream viability and setting a benchmark for athlete legacies. Her retirement leaves a void in global women’s boxing leadership.
Ask SkimNews



