Katie Taylor will close her professional career on September 5 at Croke Park, where she faces unbeaten French contender Flora Pili for the undisputed junior welterweight championship in Dublin.
Taylor already holds the IBF, WBA and WBO titles at 140 pounds, while the vacant WBC championship will also be on the line. A victory would make the 39-year-old a three-time undisputed champion and give her the opportunity to end her career in the stadium she has long dreamed of headlining.
“This seems like the perfect way to end it - by becoming Undisputed Champion again in our national stadium which has such a special place in Irish hearts,” Taylor said. “Fighting at Croke Park really is the icing on the cake.”
Watch Taylor vs. Pili presser highlights: Watch
Flora Pili enters the biggest fight of her career unbeaten and ranked among the leading contenders at 140 pounds. The 28-year-old Frenchwoman is the No. 1 contender with the WBC and IBF and sits No. 4 in the WBA rankings. She earned her position with a split-decision victory over Silvia Bortot to win the European title in 2023, followed by a majority-decision victory over Jelena Janicijevic to capture the IBO super lightweight title in December.
While Taylor has faced the biggest names in women's boxing throughout her career, Pili represents an unbeaten challenger looking to turn her opportunity into a career-defining upset. For Pili, the Croke Park showdown is a chance to go from highly ranked contender to undisputed world champion in one night.
“Katie Taylor is one of the greatest champions in the history of women’s boxing,” Pili said. “Facing a legend like her represents the biggest opportunity of my career.” Eddie Hearn called Taylor “the ultimate trailblazer” and said the Croke Park finale has been “years in the making.”
