Katie Taylor brought the curtain down on her boxing career with a unanimous decision victory over Flora Pili at Dublin's Croke Park, ensuring she bows out as a three-time undisputed world champion.
Final fight in Dublin
The Irishwoman added the vacant WBC belt to her three other titles with the win over the undefeated Pili in front of a home crowd. The 40-year-old was on top throughout, winning through 110-90, 110-90 and 98-91 on the judges' scorecards.
The former Olympic champion ends her career with 26 wins and one defeat, which came in 2023 to Chantelle Cameron. She is also a two-weight world champion and wowed the 80,000-strong crowd with one final display of dominance.
Pili outclassed
The bout drew the sixth-biggest audience for a boxing match since the Second World War. Taylor's brilliance was on show from the second round onwards, following a scrappy first exchange. Pili, 29, grew into the contest and threatened in the middle rounds, but she was always behind on the cards and was ultimately outclassed.
"We did it," Taylor said afterwards. "We brought boxing back to Croke Park. You were with me in London 2012, you were with me with the heartbreak of Rio. You stayed with me when I turned pro. You stayed with me, travelled around the world with me. And now you are here with me and it's amazing. I don't know any other country that would sell 80,000 tickets. Ireland is the only country."
