Katie Taylor retires as three-time undisputed champion after commanding win at Croke Park

Katie Taylor finished her professional boxing career on September 5, 2026, with a decisive victory over Flora Pili at Croke Park. The event was billed as Taylor's final fight and served as a large-scale celebration of her career. It was the first major boxing headliner at Croke Park since Muhammad Ali fought there in 1972.

Taylor boxed largely off the front foot in the opening rounds, establishing range with jabs and one-two combinations. Audience reaction was loud and sustained, with chants and songs as Taylor built an early lead. Pili had moments, including a strong finish to the third round and some mid-fight aggression, but she never reversed the momentum.

After the final bell, Taylor gave an extended post-fight address in which she individually thanked contributors to her career and publicly introduced her husband, Sean, for the first time. Promoter Eddie Hearn entered the ring draped in an Irish tricolour and invited Taylor to leave her gloves in the centre of the ring — a traditional signal of retirement — which she did. Taylor then circled the ring to acknowledge the crowd.

The event combined competitive sport with ceremony. For Taylor it was a professional send-off that also acknowledged a long trajectory in boxing: amateur success, professional titles and a high-profile final performance. The crowd size — reported as about 80,000 — amplified the occasion and framed the night as one of Irish sporting scale.

What this means for Taylor and the opponent

Taylor retires as an undisputed champion for the third time in her career. The win cements an emphatic conclusion to her time in the ring: a controlled, technical performance that delivered clear scorecards and a public retirement ritual.

Flora Pili leaves with the experience of sharing a headline night on a vast stage. While she was unable to change the outcome, her role in the event means she will be remembered as Taylor's final opponent on a major card.

• Taylor controlled range and tempo early and maintained composure across ten rounds.
• The unanimous scores indicate a decisive victory rather than a narrow or controversial result.
• The post-fight ritual — the gloves left in the ring and the public acknowledgements — made the retirement official and ceremonial.

Taylor walked out of the ring after lapping Croke Park, soaking in the crowd chant and leaving her gloves in the centre of the ring. That image framed the end of a 30-year boxing story with a clear competitive finish and a public farewell.