Katie Taylor vs Flora Pili Preview: The Final Chapter at Croke Park

On Saturday night, around 80,000 fans will pack the iconic Croke Park to witness one of Ireland’s greatest athletes call time on what has been a fantastic career. For Taylor, it’s an opportunity for a fairytale ending. For Pili, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.

For a number of years now, Katie Taylor has wanted the opportunity to fight at her country’s national stadium, Croke Park. Many times, this dream seemed too far-fetched, but Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing have delivered, and now it’s finally here.

The 40-year-old has had a career like no other, both as an amateur and as a professional. In 2012, she won Olympic gold, reaching the pinnacle of the amateur sport. But that was only the beginning.

As a professional, she has become one of the most successful boxers in recent years, becoming a two-weight undisputed champion and one of the most entertaining fighters in the sport. This weekend, she can once again become undisputed champion, which would be the third time she has achieved the feat.

In her 10-year professional career, the Irishwoman has had many defining moments, one of those being her first fight against Amanda Serrano at Madison Square Garden. The historic bout was the first women's fight to headline at the iconic venue.

The fight between the two was an all-time classic and one that lived up to the hype. Both champions had success, and after ten hard-fought rounds, Taylor won via split decision.

That historic night was four years ago, and Taylor is now battling against time. In those four years, she has been defeated by Chantelle Cameron but did avenge the loss in their rematch.

Can she deliver one more vintage performance to cap off her incredible career?

While Croke Park will be preparing to celebrate the career of Katie Taylor, Flora Pili arrives with no intention of playing a supporting role. With a victory over a legend, this could be her pathway into boxing superstardom.

The unbeaten IBO champion arrives in Dublin with a 12-0 record, seeking to become undisputed super lightweight world champion. In her short career as a professional, she has already made her mark and won titles along the way.

Her professional journey began in France in 2019, before she became national champion in 2022 following the birth of her daughter. Pili later added the European championship to her accolades a year later, beating Silvia Bortot via split decision.

Her rise continued, and in December 2025, she accomplished the biggest feat of her career yet, winning the IBO super lightweight title by beating Serbia’s Jelena Janicijevic via majority decision.

This weekend, she could spoil the celebrations and crown herself undisputed champion while announcing her arrival on the biggest stage. It is a tough ask, but there is no better time for the 29-year-old to produce a marquee performance that could alter her career forever.

Taylor will look to use her footwork and fast combinations on the inside before exiting exchanges without taking unnecessary punishment. Her jab could also be an important weapon in controlling the range of the fight.

With Taylor now in the later stages of her career, it may not be wise to stand and trade with Pili at mid-range, as the younger woman may have the advantage in this area of the fight.

For the challenger, Pili will look to make the fight physical, back Taylor up and exchange in close quarters. Taylor has thrived in these types of fights throughout her career, but at 40 years old, is she still the same dangerous champion she once was?

In the co-main event, we will see an all-Irish welterweight fight between Paddy Donovan and Tyrone McKenna. Donovan is on his journey back after losing two title fights to Lewis Crocker.

McKenna is the more experienced man and will look to emulate some of the success Crocker had. If that happens, we will find out whether Donovan has made the necessary improvements to get his hand raised.

We will also see the return of beloved heavyweight Dave Allen, who is looking to get a win over Ireland’s number-one-rated heavyweight, Thomas Carty. The Irishman is 11-1 with nine knockouts, so it won’t be a walk in the park for the man known as the Doncaster De La Hoya.

On Saturday night, Ireland will prepare to celebrate one of its greatest sporting icons, but Flora Pili has the opportunity to halt the celebrations and silence 80,000 fans inside Croke Park.

With Paddy Donovan vs Tyrone McKenna and Dave Allen vs Thomas Carty also featuring on the undercard, Taylor’s final chapter promises to be a memorable night for Irish boxing.