Women's boxing trailblazer Katie Taylor wins farewell fight in front of 80,000 at Croke Park

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DUBLIN (AP) — Katie Taylor closed out her remarkable career with a dominant victory over previously undefeated Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans at Croke Park on Saturday.

The Irish boxer who won an Olympic gold medal and headlined at Madison Square Garden got her final career wish — to fight at Ireland’s sporting cathedral.

The 40-year-old Taylor dominated her French opponent over 10 rounds for a unanimous decision victory to retire as the undisputed champion at 140 pounds.

Taylor (26-1) added the vacant WBC super lightweight title to her WBO, WBA and IBF belts. The judges' scores were 100-90, 100-90 and 98-91. Pili's record is 12-1 with the loss.

In April 2022, Taylor beat Amanda Serrano at a sold-out Madison Square Garden in what was the first women’s boxing match to headline the arena. The pair have fought three times in total, with Taylor victorious each time, most recently in 2025.

Taylor won gold at the 2012 London Games.

Muhammad Ali touched down in the Emerald Isle in July 1972 for a 12-round non-title fight against Alvin “Blue” Lewis. It took place 16 months after Ali lost to Joe Frazier at Madison Square Garden.

Ali stopped Lewis in the 11th round in front of an estimated 20,000 fans.

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