Katie Taylor primed for one last title shot in Dublin swansong

Katie Taylor will fight Flora Pili of France at Dublin’s Croke Park on Saturday, aiming to end her career with a final victory as the undisputed world super-lightweight champion. The 40-year-old bids for a “fairytale” send-off in front of an expected crowd of 80,000, after a journey that began in junior boxing where she once covered her hair and dressed as a boy to secure bouts. Ireland’s boxing success is tied to her legacy: 19 of the country’s 42 Olympic medals came in boxing, including her 2012 gold. Her only pro loss came in May 2023 to Chantelle Cameron, later avenged in a rematch, before facing Pili.