Katie Taylor, the legendary Irish boxer, is set to end her illustrious career in style this Saturday, stepping into the ring at Dublin's Croke Park in front of a staggering 80,000 spectators. At 40, she aims to cap off her journey with a historic third undisputed world championship.
Her opponent, unbeaten French challenger Flora Pili, will be vying for Taylor's WBA, IBF, and WBO super-lightweight titles, along with the vacant WBC belt. A victory would cement Taylor's status as one of the greatest boxers of all time, having previously unified all four major belts at lightweight and super-lightweight.
Taylor's career has taken her to the world's most iconic venues, including Madison Square Garden, where she and Amanda Serrano made history in 2022 as the first women to headline a boxing card. She has also fought at Wembley, Principality Stadium, and the home arenas of the Dallas Cowboys and Boston Celtics.
However, this homecoming holds special significance. Croke Park, the cathedral of Irish Gaelic games, has not hosted a boxing event since Muhammad Ali's legendary bout in 1972. Taylor expressed her gratitude, saying, "I'm not sure if there's any other country in the world where 80,000 people would turn up for a female athlete."
Despite the celebratory atmosphere, Taylor remains focused on the task at hand. "It is too dangerous of a sport to have your body in the ring and your heart outside of it thinking about retirement," she warned, emphasizing the need for complete concentration.
Taylor's journey began at 15 when she competed in Ireland's first sanctioned women's boxing match in 2001. She later campaigned for women's boxing to be included in the Olympics, a dream realized at the 2012 London Games, where she won lightweight gold. Her professional record stands at 25 wins and one defeat, with the sole loss avenged against Chantelle Cameron in 2023.
Her impact extends beyond titles. At a public workout, 10-year-old Clodagh Keating was moved to tears upon meeting her idol. Taylor believes that seeing gyms filled with girls is the most rewarding aspect of her legacy, and she expects the emotional weight of her farewell to hit her after the final bell.
Source: www.aljazeera.com