Katie Taylor prepares for her final fight against unbeaten Frenchwoman Flora Pili at Croke Park on Saturday. The 40-year-old Irish icon reflects on a career that broke barriers, from disguising herself as a boy to winning Olympic gold and undisputed titles. Taylor admits the weight of the moment is catching up, telling BBC Sport she is overwhelmed by the support.

She joked about flipping a table during media commitments, revealing a relaxed side rarely seen publicly. Her promoter, Eddie Hearn, choked up during the final news conference, admitting he will cry on the ring walk. Manager Brian Peters led a grueling 1,500-mile island-wide bus tour to promote the event, spanning all 32 counties.

Thousands mobbed gates at a Kilkenny stop, refusing to turn a blind eye. The fight weekend features coverage on Radio 5 Sports Extra from 19:00 BST and 5 Live from 22:00, with ringwalks for the main event expected between 22:00 and 22:30. Taylor faces Pili at Croke Park, bringing down the curtain on a transcendent career in front of 80,000 roaring voices.