Katie Taylor vs. Flora Pili | DAZN - 5 September 2026

[rd350lc]

Who writes this?
Thouroughly deserved the win in Cameron 2.
Seriously, it was very close.

[SeanBrennan]

Who writes this?
Thouroughly deserved the win in Cameron 2.
Seriously, it was very close.

Matchroom

[SeanBrennan]

Taylor should have 4 losses. Her career is about as genuine as her dad’s denials that he’s not involved in drug dealing.

[rd350lc]

Who writes this?
Thouroughly deserved the win in Cameron 2.
Seriously, it was very close.

Matchroom

Explains it.

[MPW]

Taylor should have 4 losses. Her career is about as genuine as her dad’s denials that he’s not involved in drug dealing.

Agree about the losses. She clearly lost the first fight with Persoon, dodged a defeat against Jonas, should have lost the first Serrano fight (in close fights, she could have lost both of the rematches or won them both, which is what happened), should have lost the second Cameron fight. Like you, Sean, I believe Taylor should have at least three more losses on her record (Persoon 1, Serrano 1, and Cameron 2) with the possibility of three more on top of that not out of the question. However, she got the benefit of doubt in every close fight.

[TheLeprechaun]

She was also very very blatant with the head in the late rounds of fights when she was gassed and was doing the Amir Khan 1-2-1-2 type combo (her entire style) but she would then put the head down and go rushing into clinches. She always got away with everything.

[rd350lc]

And still sells out stadiums.
The Irish desperately need sports stars.

[Ruthless-RKO]

KATIE TAYLOR'S CROKE PARK DREAM: 'I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR THOSE STORIES'

As Katie Taylor closes the door on her own career at Croke Park on Saturday night, the Irish legend is hoping thousands more will open among the sold-out crowd at Croke Park.

Around 80,000 fans are expected to pack the Home of the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) as The Ring’s No. 1 pound-for-pound female fights for the last time.

Taylor (25-1, 6 KOs), The Ring, WBA, WBO and IBF junior welterweight champion, hopes to become undisputed for a third time as the vacant WBC title will also be on the line for her clash with undefeated Flora Pili (12-0, 2 KOs).

The 40-year-old has already changed the face of women’s boxing through her success as an amateur and a professional but she believes this weekend will provide her with one more chance to transform lives.

“I think it's actually hard to prepare yourself for a moment like this because I've never experienced that walking out in front of 80,000 people,” Taylor said at Tuesday’s final press conference.

“I'm not sure how I'm going to feel but I'm praying to God that he will give me what it takes to actually control my emotions on the night. It's going to be such a special night, a remarkable night but like I said I'm just going to be walking through the ring focused on the fight and there'll be enough time to reflect afterwards.

“But I obviously wouldn't be human if I didn't think about it at all and I'm imagining all the tales and the stories from the little girls who were at a boxing event for the first time Saturday evening.

“In my mind's eye I'm imagining that one of those girls might fall in love with this beautiful sport and might even surpass my achievements and that's that's what legacy is all about; just because one amazing September day in Croke Park they caught a dream and I cannot wait to hear those stories.”

Taylor is one of the most influential female athletes in history as a result of her success in the ring, but there was a time when she was not even welcome inside the boxing gym.

She added: "I'm looking back on my own I started as a as a boxer the 9 or 10-year -old where I had to actually disguise myself as a boy to actually get a few fights.

“There I was walking into some boxing gyms as a as a young girl being sniggered at and laughed at because who was this girl trying to be a boxer? I had to earn people's respect along the way.

“I'm so happy and delighted that these young girls coming through now don't have to go through the same struggles or adversities that I had to go through and the door is actually open for them. You can walk into every boxing gym now in the country and it's packed with female fighters. That to me is the greatest part about this legacy.

“Saturday night is going to inspire a new generation and I can't wait to hear the stories and the tales of the girls who took up the sport because in Croke Park something amazing happened.”

But Taylor also insists she is aware that getting too misty-eyed about the occasion could impact on her performance against 13/1 underdog Pili.

She said: “I'm trying not to reflect too much on it because I have a job to do and it's too dangerous of a sport to have your body in the ring and then your heart out of it, thinking of retirement.

“I have got a job to do. I'm very much focused on the job but I have allowed myself to think a small bit over the last few months about the last 30 years in the ring, all the amazing people I've met, all the amazing sparring partners I've met along the way, having a chance to meet the icons of the sport and having the chance to headline these amazing arenas.

“Now I get to end my dream career in my dream venue in Croke Park. This really is beyond my wildest dreams but the most important part of it is that I get my hand raised. I've been in training camp as usual, and it's business as usual for me because I have a real live opponent in front of me.

“It's not going to be a walk in the park as she’s here to win. She is a young, undefeated fighter and I'm very very aware of that.

“I've locked myself away over these last few months in preparation for this fight and it's gonna be a tough fight for sure but that's but that's where I'm at my best."

[rd350lc]

Isn't she 25:1 on to win this?

[forcefraser]

Happy for Taylor that she gets this opportunity to fight in front a huge home crowd and make some solid coin.

However, if people have been complaining about the commentary of Smith during recent events, just imagine what he will be like on Saturday.

Every superlative, every sickly smarmy comment will be on overdrive.

I don't think I can bear a full night of him. In fact I know I can't. I'll give it a miss

Smith has been gearing up for this one for months

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

media workout today

[mickey1975]

Happy for Taylor that she gets this opportunity to fight in front a huge home crowd and make some solid coin.

However, if people have been complaining about the commentary of Smith during recent events, just imagine what he will be like on Saturday.

Every superlative, every sickly smarmy comment will be on overdrive.

I don't think I can bear a full night of him. In fact I know I can't. I'll give it a miss

Smith has been gearing up for this one for months

To be fair to Smith, it will be an impressive sight. I was shocked how mad about her the Irish are.

[Ruthless-RKO]

ACTIVE AND DANGEROUS DONOVAN EXPECTS MCKENNA'S BEST ON CROKE PARK SHOW

Irish welterweight Paddy Donovan will look to build off an impressive road win over Karen Chukhadzhian, facing compatriot Tyrone McKenna on Saturday.

The Irish pair will meet on the Katie Taylor-Flora Pili undercard, shown exclusively live on DAZN at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland.

"I was grateful to be back in the mix to fight a world title eliminator," Donovan (15-2, 11 KOs) told The Ring on the topic of his last outing on May 15.

"Winning means fighting for a world title, [defeat] would have been game over. So the risk was big but going to Germany was a great experience, I handled the occasion pretty well."

"Without looking past Tyrone, this is a fight I should win. If I want to compete with the world's best welterweights, I have to be beating McKenna."

The 27-year-old southpaw has endured a difficult spell, losing a two-fight series with Lewis Crocker in circumstances that would have broken lesser men.

While ahead on the scorecards, Donovan hit Crocker after the bell and was subsequently disqualified when his opponent couldn't come out for the ninth round of their March 2025 meeting.

The two met in a rematch six months later where Crocker boxed a completely different style, one appearing to flummox Donovan. He twice had to climb off the canvas, in rounds three and five. Despite boxing well, those knockdowns proved decisive as the Limerick southpaw suffered a 12-round split decision defeat.

"[Trainer Andy Lee and I] went over the two fights, realistically I won 17 rounds and lost three but lost two fights," Donovan said. "I should be a world champion but unfortunately, I'm not, so the road continues to get there.

"You've got to take the highs and lows; gotta keep moving forward. I am a bit angry the way the fights turned out, but it's made me a better person, working harder and being more disciplined. It shows even when you're favorite to be world champion, sometimes God has other plans."

He'll look to make a statement by beating McKenna but isn't overlooking his countryman.

"Tyrone is a proud Irishman and it's never easy to beat a proud Irishman, fighting in front of 80,000 fans," he said.

"He's had a great camp with Jaron Ennis' team in Philadelphia and will be in gret shape. I want to see the best Tyrone, I know they say he's a bit past his best but I want to see his best as I'm hungry and dangerous."

All being well then he'll face Liam Paro for world honors early next year. The two-weight world champion outhustled Crocker to pick up the IBF title in Brisbane, Australia on June 24.

"We don't have a timeframe, but I know he has to have his voluntary fight soon. Whether it's [WBO champion Devin] Haney, George Kambosos or whoever, if it doesn't take place, I'll be mandatory straight away," he said.

"This McKenna fight has come at a great time for me, it's about keeping active, being in the gym and waiting for Paro to be ready for the fight."

"My goal is to fight Paro, become IBF world champion, then push on to fight the other beltholders. I'm very excited for what's ahead. I've had my share of ups and downs over the last 12 months, but am ready now to become world champion."

McKenna (25-6-1, 8 KOs) has been a professional since 2012. He won 16 of his first 17 fights before losing his unbeaten record in a 10-round decision against The Ring's No. 3 welterweight Jack Catterall.

Since then, he has slipped into the opponent role when he stepped up, notably suffering defeats against Regis Prograis (TKO), Crocker (UD10) and Harlem Eubank (TKO10). 36-year-old McKenna will end a year-long layoff here, having scored a seventh-round stoppage of Dylan Moran on the Crocker-Donovan II undercard last September.

[samwbr]

Is this show ppv?

[gregregegg]

I wasn’t expecting Dave to be favorite… do most of you think Allen will beat Carty?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Is this show ppv?

Pretty sure it’s regular DAZN sub

[Ruthless-RKO]

Katie Taylor at Croke Park with 80,000 fans - 'Claressa Shields couldn't'

Katie Taylor has won an Olympic gold medal, world titles in two weight classes and set a record unlikely to be surpassed for the most-viewed women's professional boxing bout.

She has also won a remarkable 19 world title fights, never avoided a rival and is an undisputed champion in two weight divisions.

That's a ridiculous list of achievements, yet the biggest legacy 39-year-old Taylor (25-1, 6 KOs) leaves as she retires after Saturday's fight is how she broke gender barriers to pioneer the mainstream rise of women's professional boxing, while inspiring a generation of girls and women.

Taylor has repeatedly proven that female fighters can draw massive, sold-out global audiences and has elevated the earnings potential of female professional boxers. She has achieved all of this without trash talk, prolific social media activity and an influential PR strategy. Taylor's long-time manager Brian Peters once aptly described her as an "extraordinary ordinary person."

"When I look back on my career, I suppose I didn't expect to achieve this much," Taylor said recently. Taylor's boxing journey began when she had to disguise herself as a boy to compete in her native Ireland after she first boxed aged 10. It ends at the sold-out 80,000 Croke Park stadium in Dublin, 15 miles from her hometown Bray. Taylor, who holds the IBF, WBA and WBO junior welterweight titles, attempts to become undisputed world champion for a third time vs. Flora Pili (12-0, 2 KOs), from France, with the vacant WBC belt also on the line.

Only Claressa Shields, who operates in heavier weight divisions, has been an undisputed world champion three times in women's professional boxing and Taylor's quest is typical of how she has continually chased new achievements and redefined the highest standards in women's boxing.

Taylor and Shields (18-0, 3 KOs), 31, along with Amanda Serrano (49-4-1, 32 KOs), 37, have been the biggest achievers in women's boxing. While Shields, from Detroit, has won titles in more weight classes (five), some like two-weight world champion Natasha Jonas argue Taylor has the greater legacy.

Jonas, who lost to Taylor at the 2012 Olympics and then again for the world title in 2021, told ESPN in 2025: "There was a massive increase in numbers of women who boxed after the 2012 Olympics, something like 70%, and we now have a lot more women boxing at the Olympics and the professional sport is a lot stronger than it was. There has been so much of an increase in participation and a change in attitudes to women's boxing since 2012 so Katie and Claressa's legacy is massive for me. Instead of people saying 'Oh it's only women's boxing' now it's 'that's a good fight,' there's no differentiation.

"When you look at the people who Katie has fought and beat -- Chantelle Cameron, Amanda Serrano, myself, Delfine Persoon, Jessica McCaskill -- in the top 10 then when you are looking at who has had the biggest impact on boxing, it has to be Katie [who has the biggest legacy]. Without Katie, because she was in the Olympic test event before 2012, because she was such a star going into 2012, and because she has attracted so much interest since, women's boxing wouldn't be as big as it is today.

"When I first got into the British Olympic boxing team, it was all about Katie Taylor, just like it was about Vasily Lomachenko at the time in the men's amateur sport. Then look at how popular she is as a professional and how many big fights she's had against the likes of Amanda Serrano. Katie is talking about fighting at Croke Park -- who else in women's boxing could sell out 80,000 as main event? Because Claressa Shields couldn't.

"The conversation around women's boxing and the attention around it, the interest that has been gained is a credit to the likes Katie, Amanda and Claressa, women's boxing owes them."

Taylor won her first world amateur title 20 years ago, after being the only girl in her local boxing gym.

Taylor once said: "When I started boxing, I had a lot of obstacles, I want to be remembered as the one who opened the door for those young girls so they could get through."

By the time Taylor boxed at the 2012 Olympics in London, the first Games to feature women's boxing, she was a hot favourite for the gold medal as well as being national hero in Ireland. Thousands of Irish fans somehow managed to get tickets for all her fights at the ExCeL where she won lightweight gold, a spine-tingling moment nobody who was there will forget.

Taylor's earnings, popularity and titles have since surpassed even her own expectations of her career.

Taylor told ESPN in 2019: "When I started I didn't know where it was going to go, what people's perceptions of women's professional boxing would be, but I've boxed in all these big stadiums and venues, like Madison Square Garden in my last fight, and one of the main things I wanted to do was to become undisputed world champion. This next chapter is going to be my greatest, yet the best is yet to come."

She was right.

Taylor has racked up some great wins over rival champions and others on the top 10 pound-for-pound list and avenged her only defeat to Cameron. But her three fights vs. Serrano, the greatest ever rivalry in women's boxing, stand out. Taylor and Serrano became the first women to headline a boxing card at the Garden in 2022. After a thrilling fight, a 2024 rematch that was streamed on Netflix and shattered records by averaging 74 million viewers globally, becoming the most-watched women's sporting event in U.S. history. The trilogy fight attracted six million viewers globally to Netflix last year.

"There shouldn't be any ceilings or limitations on girls pursuing greatness in sport," Taylor told DAZN in 2022.

"If you want to win an Olympic gold medal, you can do that. If you want to headline MSG, you can do it. If you want to become a champion, you can absolutely do that. There are no limitations. It's so important for every single girl to know they are good enough and to believe in ourselves. Believe that nothing is impossible.

"I think the most satisfying part for me is having an opportunity to inspire the next generation, and to have an impact on the next generation. I want these young girls growing up to surpass anything that I've ever done. And I think that's what real legacy is all about. I want to be there to inspire them."

Taylor will be remembered as one of leading figures in transforming women's professional boxing and lifting it into mainstream interest.

"The most satisfying part about this is that I've been able to change my sport," Taylor told Sky Sports recently. "People's perceptions of women's boxing have completely changed. When I turned professional ten years ago women's professional boxing was virtually non-existent. Now a few years later we are headlining stadiums in Madison Square Garden on huge platforms like Netflix and now I'm ending my career in front of 80,000 people at Croke Park, that's how far women's boxing has come. Every show now you are seeing women boxers, it's been amazing progress in one generation."

Lauren Price, the WBC, WBA and IBF world welterweight champion who was considered as an opponent to face Taylor at Croke Park earlier this year, told ESPN recently: "I remember seeing her when I had just started out at the World Championships in China in 2012 and she won the world amateur title and won the Olympic gold medal later that year. What she has done for women's boxing has been great and I've looked up to her over the years. I want to do something like she has done with the Irish fans with my Welsh fans. She deserves her farewell fight at Croke Park."

Taylor, who attributes her Christian faith as a major factor in her success, moved to train in Connecticut, United States, a decade ago and now lives there. Despite being hugely popular in Ireland, this will be only her third appearance there.

"I'm hugely grateful to be able to fight there, it's been a dream of mine to fight there for four or five years," Taylor said. "I have to keep control of my emotions and get the job done, I'm definitely going to be holding back the tears. It's not going to be a sad moment, but a moment of joy looking back on a whole career.

Whatever the outcome in the ring, Taylor's final fight promises to be emotional. Boxing will sorely miss her.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[forcefraser]

Cobbles Smith will be salivating already at the thought of what he is going to growl tomorrow night.

It could likely be in the top three nights for most cringe one liners and dramatic oversell for Smith

Their will be little to no mention about the three or four fights Taylor was extremely lucky to win.

I like Katie Taylor, but her record could and probably should have looked different than it does today

[Ruthless-RKO]

Live weigh in

[Ruthless-RKO]

Who is Adam fighting then?

[JamesPhilips]

Cobbles Smith will be salivating already at the thought of what he is going to growl tomorrow night.

It could likely be in the top three nights for most cringe one liners and dramatic oversell for Smith

Their will be little to no mention about the three or four fights Taylor was extremely lucky to win.

I like Katie Taylor, but her record could and probably should have looked different than it does today

Yup it’s gonna be pure horror… “iconic, legendary,, once in a lifetime Irish sensation who has done so much for women’s boxing, broken so many barriers on her journey….are we seeing history in the making tonight Barry? Anyone watching Katie fight tonight at Croke Park will be able to tell their grandchildren…. Yes I was there that night to witness greatness! Ireland’s best ever boxer or perhaps even best ever athlete Barry, takes her final bow in front of an adoring Irish crowd, its standing room only here! and the hairs are standing up on the back of the neck as KT starts her final walk to the ring as Ireland’s favourite daughter walks through a cacophony of noise and you can be sure Irish eyes will be smiling on this special night…. Only available on DAZN! And it’s no too late to sign up for DAZN ultimate package which offers 12 big pay per view shows for only £24.99 a month including the superfight between Britains own Conor Benn and the enigmatic, controversial but oh so exciting Ryan Garcia! Follow the instructions online to sign up! This really is unmissable entertainment isn’t it Darren?" Etc etc

I am gonna watch it just to torture myself…

[Ruthless-RKO]

Katie Taylor vs Flora Pili weigh-in results:

Taylor - 139.6 lbs
Pili - 139.9 lbs

[Ruthless-RKO]

10x2 undisputed junior welterweight title:
Katie Taylor - 139.6lbs
Flora Pili - 139.9lbs

10x3 heavyweight:
Dave Allen - 279.5lbs
Thomas Carty - 256.2lbs

10x3 welterweight:
Paddy Donovan - 146.3lbs
Tyrone McKenna - 146.8lbs

10x3 super-middleweight:
Emmet Brennan - 167.2lbs
Taylor Bevan - 169.3lbs