Katie Taylor retires as world champion after Flora Pili victory

The curtain came down on Katie Taylor’s glittering boxing career as one final victory over Flora Pili ensured that she would bow out as a three-time undisputed world champion.

The Irishwoman decided to head home to Dublin’s Croke Park to bid farewell to the ring, and she added the vacant WBC belt to her three other titles with a unanimous decision win over the undefeated Pili in front of an adoring home faithful.

The 40-year-old was on top throughout, winning through 110-90, 110-90 and 98-91 on the judges’ scorecards, defeating the French fighter in style.

The former Olympic champion ends his journey with 26 wins and one defeat, which came in 2023 to Chantelle Cameron.

She is also a two-weight world champion, and she wowed the 80,000-strong crowd as she put on one final display of dominance.

Bowing out: Katie Taylor

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It was the sixth-biggest audience for a boxing match since the Second World War, and Taylor’s brilliance was on show from the second round onwards, following a scrappy first exchange.

Pili, the 29-year-old, grew into the bout and threatened in the middle rounds, but she was always behind on the cards and was ultimately outclassed throughout.

“We did it,” Taylor said afterwards.

“We brought boxing back to Croke Park. You were with me in London 2012, you were with me with the heartbreak of Rio. You stayed with me when I turned pro.

"You stayed with me, travelled around the world with me.

"And now you are here with me and it’s amazing. I don’t know any other country that would sell 80,000 tickets. Ireland is the only country. "