Katie Taylor acclaimed becoming a three-time undisputed world champion in her farewell fight at Croke Park as the most special moment of her decorated career. Taylor outclassed Flora Pili in a unanimous points victory in front of a crowd of 80,000 to ensure her three decades as an amateur and professional boxer ended in fairytale fashion. Wild celebrations followed the announcement that she had overwhelmed the previously unbeaten Pili 100-90 100-90 98-91 on the scorecards. For Taylor the feeling of signing off in front of her fans bettered winning Olympic gold at London 2012, headlining Madison Square Garden and her trilogy against Amanda Serrano.
The 40-year-old said: “This was definitely the highlight of my whole career. “I didn’t think anything could get bigger than London 2012 and then MSG came along. “I didn’t think anything could get bigger than that first fight with Serrano and then here we are at Croke Park. “I ended my career on top, like every athlete wants to do, on my terms, and I ended it as the undisputed champion.
“That’s exactly how I wanted it to end. It was so important to me all along to end my career well.” Taylor thrilled Croke Park with a spine-tingling ring walk and also delivered in the ring by outclassing Pili across all 10 rounds. She finished the fight by launching an all-out assault in the final 10 seconds that was roared on by the crowd and once the bell sounded, she smiled and hugged her opponent knowing she had thrown her final shots. Taylor said: “This night was everything I expected and more.
Thankfully I was able to hold my emotions together because I was getting emotional all week speaking about this event. “And over the last few months, the preparation for this has been so emotional. But the atmosphere was so special. It was beyond my wildest dreams.
It was unbelievable. “What an amazing night. Looking back on an amazing career, this was just a dream ending to a dream career for me. What a way to end.
“I don’t think there’s another country in the world that would sell 80,000 tickets for a female athlete. I’m convinced Ireland was the only country that would actually do that. “What a way to end this amazing journey. I started off this career and I had the dream of becoming an Olympic champion.
“I achieved that, but then these last 10 years have been beyond my wildest dreams. It’s been a remarkable 10 years.” “We went into this event and I said this will be the greatest atmosphere and greatest occasion boxing has ever seen and Croke Park, you did it tonight. “There were 83,000 people in here tonight and they are still here. I wasn’t supposed to do something we haven’t done before.
This is a woman who refused to take no as an answer and banged on every door. She’s the greatest Irish sportsperson of all time. “She made this happen. She made it happen because the entire nation supported her so proudly.”
