Final Bell at Croke Park as Taylor Unifies Super-Lightweight Division

Katie Taylor ended her professional boxing career with a unanimous-decision victory over Flora Pili at Croke Park in Dublin on Saturday. The Guardian reported that Taylor controlled the 10-round contest to become a three-time undisputed world champion in front of a crowd estimated at about 80,000.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFXAXar61RU

The judges scored the fight 100-90, 100-90 and 98-91 for Taylor. Pili entered the bout unbeaten, but Taylor's speed and movement kept the French challenger from taking control. In the closing seconds, with the outcome secure, Taylor traded punches with Pili against the ropes before the final bell ended her 27th professional contest.

Taylor entered the fight holding the WBA, WBO and IBF super-lightweight titles. Victory brought her the vacant WBC belt and completed the undisputed set at 140 pounds. Sky Sports also reported the unanimous result and confirmed that Taylor finished her career as a three-time undisputed champion.

The event marked the return of top-level boxing to Croke Park for the first time since Muhammad Ali defeated Al “Blue” Lewis at the stadium in 1972, according to The Guardian. After the decision was announced, Taylor placed her gloves in the center of the ring and arranged her championship belts around them to signal her retirement.

Taylor leaves professional boxing with a record of 26 wins and one defeat. She won world titles at lightweight and super-lightweight after turning professional in 2016. Her only professional loss came against Chantelle Cameron in May 2023; Taylor later avenged that defeat, ensuring she retired having beaten every opponent she faced.

Her career also included Olympic lightweight gold at the London Games in 2012, the first Olympics to include women's boxing. Saturday's victory supplied a decisive final result: Pili suffered her first professional defeat, Taylor unified the super-lightweight division, and the Irish champion closed her career on home soil with all four major sanctioning-body belts.