Taylor Wins Farewell Fight at Croke Park, Retires Undisputed — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Katie Taylor defeated France's Flora Pili on points at Croke Park to become undisputed light-welterweight champion in her final professional fight.
- Taylor, 40, retires with a 26-1 professional record, Olympic gold, and three undisputed titles across two divisions.
- The farewell card drew more than 80,000 fans to Croke Park in Dublin, with Westlife performing before the main event — a venue Taylor had long dreamed of fighting in.
- Unified lightweight champion Caroline Dubois called Taylor "one of the best to ever do it" and thanked her for "paving the way," while Claressa Shields told her to "ride off into the sunset."
- Carl Frampton said "there will never be another one like her," highlighting Taylor's unique bond with the Irish public, and Tony Bellew called it "an exit as beautiful, amazing and fitting" as he had ever seen.
- Barry Jones singled out Taylor's final 20 seconds, when she unloaded the rapid combinations that defined her career, while ringside observer Mikaela Mayer was moved by the image of Taylor placing her gloves in the centre of the ring.
- Bellew said there was "no way" Taylor would return to the ring, though he predicted she would remain in boxing by mentoring younger fighters.
Why it matters: Taylor departs as one of the most decorated fighters in women's boxing history — three undisputed titles across two weight classes, an Olympic gold medal, and a 26-1 pro record — and exits on her own terms in front of a hometown crowd of 80,000, a stage she had long pursued. Her retirement closes the defining era of Irish women's boxing and hands the spotlight to a generation she is credited with paving the way for, including current champions Dubois, Shields, and Baumgardner.
Ask SkimNews
