Thousands of fans filled Croke Park ahead of Katie Taylor’s long-awaited retirement fight against Flora Pili. The crowd included longtime supporters and young children who have followed Taylor’s career since her early days. The event marked a significant moment in Irish boxing, with over 80,000 expected to attend.
Taylor and Pili weighed in at Trinity College, Dublin, under the light-welterweight limit. The weigh-in was emotional for Taylor, who is set to retire after a storied career. Pili, the unbeaten French challenger, faces Taylor in what promises to be a historic bout.
The fight will take place at Croke Park, a venue steeped in sporting tradition. Paddy Gallagher, a Belfast middleweight, will face Paul Ryan on the undercard. Gallagher’s previous visit to the stadium ended in a ticket mix-up that led to a missed chance to see Oasis.
The event has drawn widespread support, with celebrities praising Taylor as an “Irish woman like never before.” The fight represents a major step for Pili, who has mostly competed in front of smaller crowds.
