Katie Taylor will end her legendary boxing career at Croke Park on September 5th in front of an expected 80,000 fans. The 39-year-old Bray native admitted she "definitely going to have to hold back the tears" for the fight that will cap off an extraordinary career. Promoter Eddie Hearn predicts "there won't be a dry eye in the house" for this historic event, boxing's return to the venue since Muhammad Ali fought there in 1972.

Taylor's journey spans from her first sanctioned female amateur bout in Ireland at age 15 to Olympic gold and professional dominance. She broke barriers as a major reason women's boxing entered the Olympics and later became the first female to headline Madison Square Garden in 2022. The Croke Park bout represents her career pinnacle, surpassing even those landmark achievements as she seeks to retire undisputed in two weight classes.

Despite costs "twice as much as Wembley" and minimal financial gain, Matchroom Boxing is prioritizing legacy over profit. Hearn called fighting in front of 80,000 people "the greatest moment of our boxing history," acknowledging the event's importance beyond revenue. Taylor's fight against undefeated Frenchwoman Flora Pili will determine if she can regain the WBC light-welterweight title and complete her career as a two-weight undisputed champion.