Katie Taylor Crowned WBC Champion in Historic Farewell Fight

Katie Taylor left boxing on her own terms, in her own city, with her own belt raised high.

On a charged night at Croke Park, the 40-year-old Irish great dominated Flora Pili to claim the vacant WBC super-lightweight title, sealing a unanimous decision in front of 84,000 fans and walking away as a three-time undisputed world champion.

It was less a farewell fight than a coronation.

A Champion’s Last Stand

Taylor, already an Olympic gold medallist and a two-weight undisputed champion, stepped through the ropes knowing this would be the final time. The stakes were familiar: another world title, another historic stage. The emotion was not.

She controlled Pili from the opening bell, dictating tempo and distance, doing what she has done for an entire generation of opponents — taking away hope, round by round. The French-based fighter pressed, but Taylor’s timing and composure held firm, her experience etched into every exchange.

By the time the scorecards were read, there was no suspense. Only confirmation.

Unanimous decision. New WBC super-lightweight champion. Curtain down.

Legacy Sealed in Dublin

Croke Park, Dublin’s historic sporting cathedral, has seen its share of defining Irish moments. This one belonged entirely to Taylor.

She retires with a professional record of 26 wins and a single defeat, that lone blemish coming against Chantelle Cameron in May 2023. It never defined her. Nights like this did.

Across amateur and professional ranks, Taylor’s impact stretches far beyond numbers. She did not just win titles; she shifted the sport. She headlined arenas, dragged women’s boxing onto the biggest stages, and turned once-ignored bouts into must-watch events. The description that follows her now is not up for debate: widely recognised as the greatest female boxer in history and a trailblazer for women’s sport.

On Saturday, the sport gave something back — 84,000 voices, a capital city at a standstill, and a final image that will linger: Katie Taylor, gloves raised, world title on her shoulder, walking away at the very top.

She came as a pioneer. She leaves as an icon.