Katie Taylor Reclaims Undisputed Super-Lightweight Title in Farewell Win at Croke Park

Katie Taylor ended her career by reclaiming undisputed status at super-lightweight, beating France’s Flora Pili by unanimous decision Saturday night at Dublin’s Croke Park in front of more than 80,000 fans. The victory gave Taylor all four major belts at 140 pounds again and capped a long-anticipated homecoming at Ireland’s biggest stadium.

Sky Sports reported the judges scored the fight 100-90, 100-90 and 98-91 for Taylor. Entering the bout, the Irish fighter held the WBO, WBA and IBF super-lightweight titles, while the WBC belt was vacant. By defeating Pili, Taylor retained her three titles and added the WBC championship to become undisputed champion in the division again. Sky Sports reported her professional record improved to 26-1 with six knockouts.

The night carried significance beyond the result. It was the first professional boxing event staged at Croke Park since Muhammad Ali fought Alvin “Blue” Lewis there in 1972, according to Croke Park and multiple media reports. Taylor had long been linked to a major homecoming at the Dublin stadium, one of the country’s most important sporting venues.

Afterward, Taylor reflected on the scale of the occasion. “I'm blown away to be honest. I've dreamed of this day for years now... This is beyond my wildest dreams. I'm just so grateful - what a way to end this career,” she told RTÉ post-fight. In comments to DAZN reported by Sky Sports, she also said: “Croke Park, we did it, we brought boxing back to Croke Park.”

Taylor, one of Ireland’s most prominent athletes and a defining figure in women’s boxing, won Olympic gold for Ireland at the 2012 London Games and turned professional in 2016. She became undisputed lightweight champion in 2019 before moving up to super-lightweight. In May 2023, she suffered the first loss of her professional career against Chantelle Cameron in Dublin, then avenged that defeat six months later to regain undisputed status in the division.

Pili arrived as an unbeaten French challenger, widely reported as 12-0 with two knockouts, and was billed in event materials as the IBF mandatory challenger and the WBC’s top-ranked contender. Several reports described Saturday’s bout as relatively one-sided, but Pili entered with an unblemished record and official challenger status. The WBC title was available because, according to the sanctioning body, Sandy Ryan had been made champion-in-recess because of pregnancy, prompting the order for Taylor and Pili to fight for the vacant belt.