Katie Taylor Retires as Undisputed Champion With Croke Park Farewell Win Over Flora Pili
By Real Combat Media Boxing Editorial Staff
Dublin, Ireland, (September 5th, 2026)–Katie Taylor closed the book on one of the greatest careers in boxing history the way she always wanted to, as undisputed champion, on Irish soil, in front of her own people. Taylor defeated France’s Flora Pili by unanimous decision Saturday night at Croke Park to reclaim the undisputed super lightweight championship, then laid her gloves down at the center of the ring in a symbolic farewell before more than 80,000 fans, the largest crowd ever to watch her fight and the first boxing crowd at Ireland’s national stadium since Muhammad Ali fought there in 1972.
How the Fight Went
Taylor, 40, controlled the fight from the opening bell against the previously unbeaten Pili, using speed, angles, and thirty years of experience to keep her French opponent off balance for most of the ten rounds. Pili found her best moments in round seven, rallying with combinations that briefly rocked Taylor back, but Taylor answered immediately in round eight with a sharp combination that stopped Pili’s momentum cold, and closed the fight comfortably from there. All three judges scored it lopsided in Taylor’s favor, 100-90, 100-90, and 98-91, as she improved to 26-1 (6 KOs) and added the vacant WBC title to the IBF, WBA, and WBO belts she already held, becoming undisputed super lightweight champion for a second time in her career and a three-time undisputed champion overall across two weight classes.
Post-Fight: ‘This Was the Highlight of My Whole Career’
Taylor grabbed the microphone from her in-ring interviewer before she would let anyone else speak, turning a full circle to take in the crowd. “I just wanted to look around for a second,” she said afterward, “it wasn’t planned, I promise, it’s a spur-of-the-moment thing.” In her post-fight news conference, she called the night the single greatest moment of a career that includes Olympic gold and two Madison Square Garden headlines. “This was definitely the highlight of my whole career,” Taylor said. “That’s saying something. I didn’t think anything could get bigger than London 2012, then MSG came along.” She thanked Pili directly for her part in the night, calling her “a very awkward opponent, a great opponent,” and closed her boxing career the same way she said she’d lived it: “I certainly have no regrets.”
The press conference had its lighter moments too. Asked who should play her in a future biopic, Taylor didn’t hesitate: “I dunno, Saoirse Ronan, maybe? She has to start working on her neck, though. She has a bit of a skinny neck, and I have a big fat neck,” she laughed. Promoter Eddie Hearn, who had chased a Croke Park farewell for Taylor for years before finally landing it, paid tribute of his own, calling her one of the greatest fighters he’s ever promoted.
Full Fight Card Results
Super Lightweight (Main Event, Undisputed World Title): Katie Taylor (26-1, 6 KOs) def. Flora Pili (12-1, 2 KOs) by unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 98-91)
Welterweight: Paddy Donovan def. Tyrone McKenna by fourth-round TKO (2:33), stopped due to a cut
Heavyweight: Dave Allen vs. Thomas Carty, no contest, Round 1 (1:22), after Carty was punched behind the head and fell out of the ring
Super Middleweight: Taylor Bevan def. Emmet Brennan by sixth-round TKO (0:36), five knockdowns
Women’s Flyweight: Molly McCann def. Sylwia Doligala by unanimous decision
Heavyweight: Adam Olaniyan def. his opponent by knockout, improving to 4-0
Middleweight: Bobbi Flood def. Jack Swallow, improving to 4-0
Cruiserweight: Joe McGrail def. Matthew Boreland by stoppage
Watch
Katie Taylor’s Emotional Interview After Her Final Fight
Full Card Highlights: Katie Taylor vs. Flora Pili
