Katie Taylor Retires From Boxing as Undisputed Champion After Dominant Win Over Flora Pili

Katie Taylor could hardly have written a better ending to her boxing story. The Irish icon defeated Flora Pili at Croke Park on September 5, 2026, then walked away from the sport as an undisputed world champion.

Taylor beat the previously undefeated French challenger by unanimous decision in Dublin. Two judges scored the fight 100-90, while the third handed in a 98-91 card after ten rounds controlled largely by Taylor.

The victory gave Taylor the vacant WBC super-lightweight title alongside her WBA, WBO and IBF belts. More importantly, it allowed the 40-year-old champion to finish her career holding the division’s major world titles. Around 80,000 fans packed Croke Park for the farewell, with some reports putting the attendance at 83,000. The enormous crowd turned Taylor’s final fight into a national sporting celebration rather than a routine retirement bout.

Croke Park had not staged a major boxing event since Muhammad Ali fought Al “Blue” Lewis at the stadium in 1972. Taylor finally brought boxing back more than five decades later. This time, an Irish woman stood at the center of the stadium with the entire night built around her.

Katie Taylor Had Too Much Speed for Flora Pili

Pili arrived in Dublin with youth and an unbeaten record on her side. The 29-year-old entered the biggest fight of her career with 12 professional victories and a chance to spoil one of boxing’s most carefully planned farewells.

Taylor never allowed that upset to gather much momentum. The Bray fighter controlled the distance, moved quickly around Pili and repeatedly landed before the French challenger could answer. The familiar hand speed remained sharp in Taylor’s final appearance. Quick jabs and combinations frustrated Pili, while smart footwork prevented the challenger from setting up sustained attacks.

Pili continued moving forward and found occasional success. She applied stronger pressure during the seventh round, but Taylor quickly regained control and avoided serious trouble as the fight moved toward its final stages. Taylor’s experience became especially clear when Pili tried to close the distance. The Irish champion either moved away, tied up the challenger or fired combinations that stopped Pili from building consistent pressure.

There was little suspense when the scorecards arrived. Taylor had clearly done enough, and the 100-90, 100-90 and 98-91 scores confirmed a convincing final victory.

An Emotional Farewell at Croke Park

Katie / IG / Taylor officially announced her retirement and later placed her gloves in the center of the ring, with her championship belts arranged around them.

The simple gesture carried plenty of weight after almost three decades in boxing. Taylor had started competing long before women’s boxing enjoyed its current audience, money, television coverage or place at the Olympic Games.

Croke Park also gave Taylor the farewell she had wanted for years. The Irish champion had already fought on huge stages, but competing at the famous Dublin stadium remained one of the final goals left on her list.

“The people of Ireland gave me a dream end to a dream career,” Taylor told the crowd after the fight. Taylor won Olympic gold at London 2012 and later headlined Madison Square Garden against Amanda Serrano in a landmark moment for women’s professional boxing. “I ended my career on top,” Taylor said after the victory.

Katie Taylor Changed Women’s Boxing Along the Way

Katie / IG / As a young fighter, Taylor sometimes competed under the name “K Taylor” because girls were not allowed to take part in sanctioned contests.

Taylor and her father, Pete, later became important voices in the push for women’s boxing to receive official recognition in Ireland. Her amateur career eventually became extraordinary. She won five world championship gold medals before capturing Olympic gold in London, helping make women’s boxing a major part of Ireland’s sporting conversation.

The professional stage gave Taylor another chance to break barriers. She turned professional in 2016 and captured the WBA lightweight world title in only her seventh paid fight.

Taylor eventually became undisputed lightweight champion before moving up in weight. The titles kept coming, but some of her biggest achievements involved the stages she helped open for female fighters.