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

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Sold out in 30 mins.

[CaptainSpacerod]

Tbf to Katie it’s not her fault that she excelled in a sport with a very low depth of talent in the female code. But that of course means that a much lesser level of skill and dedication is needed to become one of the best.

To my, admittedly uneducated eye, even at her peak she was nowhere near as technically accomplished as many British level male fighters so talk of her being Ireland’s greatest ever sports person must rankle with fans of McGuigan and Frampton

Nicely put

[gregregegg]

My opinion (probably not super popular) is katey was great for boxing but not great at boxing…

I have always seen her as a flurry arm puncher that just extended the punch counting game over a few more rounds in the pros. Can’t say I ever recall seeing her throw a meaningfull punch, or throw a proper well structured combo, or even move particularly well….

I had her losing a bunch more fights than the judges did. Persoon, all the seranos, cameron? Mabey even another… just never felt like what she was doing resembled hurtful punching at all. Did she ever knock someone down?

But, she made women’s boxing legit. So legacey wise incredible.

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Katie Taylor gets everything she hoped for in career finale

Katie Taylor knew this day would come.

The future first-ballot Hall of Famer is officially hanging up her gloves after one last bout, against Flora Pili for the vacant WBC junior welterweight title September 5 at cavernous Croke Park in her backyard of Dublin live on DAZN.

For years, Taylor (25-1, 6 KOs) has wanted to fight at the iconic venue – which has a capacity of more than 82,000 – but to no avail. So to have her final bout take place in a stadium she’s always revered, she was almost at a loss for words.

“This is the icing on the cake for me,” The Ring, IBF, WBA, and WBO junior welterweight champion told The Stomping Ground. “To end my career in our most iconic arena, this is the cathedral of Irish sports. There’s so much heritage and so much history attached to this stadium. I get a chance to end my career here. I have goosebumps, it’s incredible.”

Most fighters opt for an easy touch for their last ring appearance. Taylor (25-1, 6 KOs) wasn’t interested in facing an unknown who would likely give her little resistance. Pili (12-0, 2 KOs) isn't the biggest puncher in the world, but she's undefeated and ranked No. 5 by The Ring at 140 pounds.

And, as the IBF, WBA and WBO champ, she'll have a chance to become undisputed at 140, which adds further significance for her.

“Those were the conditions I wanted for this fight,” Taylor said. “I wanted to fight in Croke Park, I wanted a real fight, and she’s a real fighter. And I have a chance to become a three-time undisputed champion. She’s an undefeated fighter. I’m faced with a tough challenge here. It’s real risk. I need real hunger and real drive to actually win this fight.

"I need to prepare well for this fight. I can’t think of a better way to end my career by becoming a three-time undisputed champion in our most iconic arena.”

[MPW]

I understand the significance of Taylor's farewell fight and all that she has done for women's boxing, but the promoters/media really need to stop hyping this bout as though it were a legit 50/50 match up. It's not. As long as Taylor is on her feet at the final bell, she wins the fight.

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Katie Taylor vs Flora Pili: full undercard announced for Irish icon’s retirement fight

The full card has been announced for the Katie Taylor vs. Flora Pili event, including a fan favourite heavyweight star along with an upcoming welterweight world title challenger.

Female boxing legend Taylor finally gets her dream of competing at Croke Park in Dublin when she faces Pili in an undisputed super-lightweight title battle on September 5.

It will serve as Taylor’s final professional fight, as she draws the curtain on a remarkable career that has seen her also become undisputed lightweight champion whilst beating fighters such as Amanda Serrano and Chantelle Cameron.

The undercard for the event has now been revealed, featuring a heavyweight battle between Dave Allen and Irish fighter Thomas Carty.

Allen suffered a stoppage loss to Filip Hrgovic in May, but has already picked up a lowkey win since then, with another scheduled to take place on July 25.

Following that bout he will then turn his attention to Carty, who is bidding to rise up the ranks again after suffering a setback defeat to Dajuan Calloway in March 2025.

Elsewhere on the card, Paddy Donovan collides with Tyrone McKenna. Donovan became mandatory for the IBF welterweight title in May when he defeated Karen Chukhadzhian, with a clash against new IBF champion Liam Paro expected in the future.

First he will take on McKenna, who last time out was able to earn a stoppage win over Dylan Moran, and has also shared the ring with the likes of Jack Catterall, Regis Prograis, Lewis Crocker and Harlem Eubank.

Other fights announced for the event including Molly McCann vs. Sylwia Doligala, Taylor Bevan vs. Emmet Brennan, Joe McGrail vs. Matthew Boreland and Paul Ryan vs. Paddy Gallagher, while Adam Olaniyan and Bobbi Flood are also in action.

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HISTORIC NIGHT OF CELEBRATION FOR IRISH SPORT AWAITS AS UNDERCARD FOR KATIE TAYLOR VS PILI AT CROKE PARK iS CONFIRMED

The undercard for Katie Taylor’s final dance is confirmed as the fighting pride of Ireland get set for a blockbuster night in front of 80,000 fans at Dublin’s iconic Croke Park on Saturday, September 5 – live worldwide on DAZN.

The event, delivered by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing in association with Aiken Promotions, Brian Peters and Title Event Partner, Lidl Ireland, will see Boxing return to Ireland’s historic home of the Gaelic Athletic Association for the first time since the late, great Muhammad Ali famously fought there in 1972.

Legendary Taylor will be bidding to become a three-time Undisputed queen with the WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Titles on the line when she headlines against France’s undefeated Flora Pili.

And a bumper undercard awaits too – including an eagerly awaited Heavyweight clash between Dave Allen and Ireland’s own, Thomas Carty.

Allen (26-9-2, 20 KOs), who last summer upset Johnny Fisher in London, recently came up short in two recent huge battles with Arslanbek Makhmudov and Filip Hrgovic. But the Doncaster favourite returned to winning ways earlier this month with a points win over Ross McGuigan.

Carty, meanwhile, was successful in his last outing back in March when he defeated German Skobenko on points almost a year after his only career defeat to date when he suffered a severe knee injury during his American debut against Dajuan Calloway.

In an exciting all-Irish clash, No.1 ranked mandatory challenger for the IBF World Welterweight Championship, and Limerick’s own, Paddy Donovan (15-2, 11 KOs) meets Belfast’s battle-hardened Tyrone McKenna (25-6-1, 8 KOs).

Katie Taylor’s cousin – the former UFC star turned professional boxer – Molly ‘Meatball’ McCann (4-0, 1 KO) will be hoping to set the tone earlier in the night as she looks to extend her winning start to life with Matchroom Boxing when she faces Yorkshire’s Sylwia Doligala (8-2-2).

Rising Super Middleweight prospect Taylor Bevan (9-0, 8 KOs), who earlier this month celebrated a home win at Southampton’s St Mary’s, will be looking for back-to-back stadium show wins as he takes on undefeated Dublin fighter Emmet Brennan (6-0, 1 KO).

Liverpool Super Bantamweight Joe McGrail (13-0, 6 KOs) bids for WBA Continental Gold glory when he collides with Coleraine’s unbeaten Matthew Boreland (7-0, 2 KOs)

It’s Dublin versus Belfast as two Middleweight rivals in Paul Ryan (10-2, 4 KOs) andPaddy Gallagher (17-6, 10 KOs) go head-to-head.

Plus, two of Queensberry Promotions up-and-coming starlets look to shine on home soil as Dublin Heavyweight Adam Olaniyan (2-0, 2 KOs) and Dublin Super Welterweight Bobbi Flood (2-0, 1 KO) plan to get the home fans in the mood for a historic night for Irish sport.

Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn said: “With so much Irish talent on the undercard, it will be a special, party atmosphere at Croke Park before 80,000 fans get behind the great Katie Taylor for her final ever fight.

“I love the Allen-Carty fight. Two experienced Heavyweights, in a make-or-break fight, out to score an almighty win. Plus, Paddy Donovan fresh from his recent heroics in Germany looks to underline his status as Ireland’s No.1 Welterweight – and underline why he is next in line to challenge for the IBF crown.

“Molly McCann looked great in her recent win in Liverpool and she has a huge year ahead. But she will be over the moon to be on this card, especially with her cousin Katie Taylor headlining.

“Joe McGrail has got a tough test against Matthew Boreland in front of him but he is in a prime position to kick on in the Super Bantamweight division> And so too does Taylor Bevan, whose stock continues to grow after his hard-fought victory in Southampton.

“It will be a huge celebration for Irish sport and this card – live worldwide on the Global Home of DAZN – will certainly deliver for the 80,000 fans who pack into Croke Park on September 5”.

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[goose 5]

Nice undercard- if it's not ppv, I'll watch those bout and skip the main go.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Nice undercard- if it's not ppv, I'll watch those bout and skip the main go.

Unless it’s part of the DAZN Ultimate.

Do you have that?

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Mayo's Croke Park exploits not lost on Taylor

Katie Taylor admits she got a little "nervous" watching clips of Mayo celebrating their thrilling All-Ireland football final win over Kerry on Sunday.

It was a highly emotional afternoon at Croke Park as Mayo ended their 75-year wait for Sam Maguire success and with Taylor headlining the famous Dublin stadium for her fighting farewell against Flora Pili on 5 September, it is set to be another unforgettable night in Irish sport.

Having been part of some groundbreaking nights throughout her career which saw her win all there is to win as an amateur and professional, Taylor has one more box to tick and will do so against Pili with the undisputed light-welterweight championship on offer.

It was a day of unbridled joy for Mayo at the venue on Sunday as they ended a run of 11-straight defeats in the final since 1951, an occasion that has transcended Gaelic games and for Taylor, it has served as a reminded for her own big crossover night to come.

"I'm seeing the reaction of the Mayo supporters and it's remarkable to watch," the two-division undisputed champion said.

"It's been an amazing few days even watching the clips from that game and the reaction of the Mayo supporters - I'm delighted for them. The 75-year curse is over.

"I was watching a clip this morning and was thinking 'I can't believe I'm headlining here in a few weeks' with the noise, the atmosphere and how electric the stadium is.

"I actually had to turn the clip off as I was getting a bit nervous looking at the Mayo players celebrating and the emotions of everyone. Sport is so special."

'I'm enjoying my last training camp'

With her last dance just weekend away, Taylor is deep in camp with head coach Ross Enamait.

For a fighter, the daily grind in preparation for such a big night can be gruelling, but with this being the last time she go through it all, Taylor says she is "actually enjoying training camp this time".

"I said to my coach a few weeks ago when we started the camp that it would be the last time we're in the gym together so we should enjoy it," she continued.

"I am giving it my all one last time.

"Training camp is tough as it always is - I put my body through the trenches to prepare for a huge battle, but I am definitely looking forward to just enjoying my life after sport as it's all been one big training camp, so I will look forward to relaxing after this fight."

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Heavyweight Adam Olaniyan set to do something that no one has done since Muhammad Ali

Irish heavyweight prospect Adam Olaniyan is only two fights into his pro career, but already plenty are taking note of the heavy handed 20-year-old.

Managed by Brian Peters and promoted by Queensberry, Olaniyan bids to go to 3-0 (3 KOs) on Saturday in Dublin before setting his sights on the September 5 Croke Park bill.

The 6ft 6ins Dubliner made short work of veteran journeyman Viktar Chvarkou in June and reckons the Watford-based Kazakh might have been on the wrong end of some of the best punches he has thrown.

Olaniyan, who rates his jab has his best shot, said the right hand that brought about Chvarkou’s demise was the best he has landed to date.

“I've obviously had big ones in sparring, but, you know, sparring is different,” he said.

“I'd say in a fight that's been recorded, that's been live-streamed, I'd say that one [the right hand is the best]. There’s going to be a sparring story for everybody, but sparring doesn’t even compare to a fight, they’re two different things, really.”

Needless to say, he was satisfied with how he boxed in Southampton to dismiss Chvarkou but it wasn’t long before his attention turned to the next date. And after August 1, there’s September 5.

Is he taking some time to enjoy the journey?

“Of course, I’m a very appreciative person and I just like to look back on things and think about how far I’ve come and where I can be,” he said.

“But, yeah, it’s probably a combination of the two. I look back at it sometimes but then I’m like, ‘Well, I have this fight August 1st and then September 5th, so don’t want to look back at it too much because I’ll get caught up with it.”

But Croke Park, in particular is what dreams are made of, and the significance of his spot on the bill is not lost on the likable Olaniyan.

“To be honest, Muhammad Ali being the last heavyweight to fight there and then I’m going to be the next heavyweight after Muhammad Ali to fight there, he’s someone I've idolised, someone I’ve watched growing up for my name to be beside his, it’s a pinch me moment. I still haven’t really comprehended it, still don’t even know what to say. It leaves me speechless every time I think about it but, yeah, I’m looking forward to it.”

While Olaniyan has had little time to demonstrate his skills so far, he has shown his strength. That is an attribute he has had as long as he can remember.

“I think I've always been really heavy-handed, even as a kid, everything I touched, every toy I ever played with, I broke. My mum says it to me to this day, she's like, ‘I don't even know how strong I am.’ It was actually a funny story, we were wrestling on the schoolyard and there was this kid and I suplexed him and just picked him up and smashed him off the ground. We were like seven or eight and the teacher was like, ‘How did you even do that? You're eight years old.’ So I’ve always been pretty naturally strong, and obviously my dad, he's a big fella. He used to box and I actually remember the first time I sparred, that’s what they said to me. ‘You’re punching really hard, so just try to work on that.’ But obviously it's a strength so we try to work on the weaknesses, bring everything up to a level, really.”

And, at 20, it’s frightening how strong he could become. He’s not unlike Tyson Fury at that age; big, gifted and strong.

But Fury always talked about aesthetically pleasing heavyweights who were musclebound.

Olaniyan doesn’t care what anyone looks like. Winning and experience are the two things he cares about most.

“I’m not a bodybuilder, the most important thing for me is performance, it's getting the rounds, being strong, being fit, being sharp, being agile, though, I feel I haven’t really fully, finished growing yet, so I reckon I probably will develop an even more chiselled physique than I already do have. I'll definitely fill into my frame, get a bit bigger, get a bit stronger.

It is what it is. If you condition your body to do a certain thing, it will do it. If you condition your body to lift weights, you’ll look pretty good in the gym, but if you’ve been, like myself, training boxing, since you’re seven, you're going to know how to punch and land effectively.”

And that is clearly something Olaniyan does very well because, in the fight before Olaniyan, Chvarkou went six rounds with Matchroom’s young heavyweight prospect, Leo Atang.