Katie Taylor will bring down the curtain on one the 21st century’s great boxing careers when she faces Flora Pili for the undisputed super lightweight title in Dublin.
It is sure to be an emotional occasion in front of an 82,000 sellout at Croke Park when Taylor (25-1, 6 KOs) steps through the ropes for the final as a bona fide Irish sporting icon.
From her trailblazing exploits for women’s boxing as an Olympic gold medalist, to her unforgettable battles with Delfine Persoon, Chantelle Cameron and Amanda Serrano, Taylor’s status as a modern great is secure.
Will there be a final flourish, or can France’s Pili ruin the picture-book ending?
Katie Taylor vs. Flora Pili prediction: Who will win?
The planned boxing farewell doesn’t exactly have a great track record. Miguel Cotto’s last dance at Madison Square Garden in December 2017 saw him lose a unanimous decision and his WBO super welterweight title to Sadam Ali.
The great Bernard Hopkins had a more ignominious reverse when he suffered his only knockout loss in his final fight against Joe Smith Jr. ‘The Executioner’ was punched through the ropes, effectively starting his career beyond the ring when he landed outside it.
When Taylor won a portion of the super lightweight title for the first time in November 2019 against Christina Linardatou, she did so on the undercard at Manchester Arena when former lightweight world champion and local hero Anthony Crolla had his last dance. ‘Million Dollar’ was lacklustre and handed what was widely viewed as a gift decision over 10 rounds against Spain’s unheralded Frank Urquiaga.
Taylor has not boxed since arguably her crowning achievement last July – a third points win over Amanda Serrano, but easily her most comprehensive (leaving Mark Lyson’s peculiar 95-95 scorecard aside) to definitively settle the defining rivalry of this era.
Throw in the outpouring of emotion alongside the fact that Taylor turned 40 in July and it’s possible to envisage a hungry and focused fighter 11 years her junior springing an upset.
However, if Katie is anything like what she used to be, despite all the wars and miles on the clock, she will have too much for Pili. Her opponent is undefeated but has never boxed in anything like this company coming into a first contest outside of mainland Europe.
Andy Lee, the Irish former middleweight world champion and current esteemed trainer, noted on DAZN during this week’s open workouts that Pili looked front-foot heavy when shadow boxing and that she crossed her legs over when moving to the right.
Don’t cross your legs!!! https://t.co/ckynMsqFQy
— Andy Lee (@AndyLeeBoxing) September 2, 2026
Falling into a fighter of Taylor’s skill and blistering hand speed and coming up short in the face of her exemplary footwork is not a recipe for success and Dublin should get the chance to toast its great heroine long into the night.
SN prediction: Taylor via UD 10
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Katie Taylor vs. Flora Pili undercard
Here’s a breakdown of all the action on the Taylor vs. Pili card, which is packed with Irish talent
Dave Allen vs. Thomas Carty
- Division/Weight: Heavyweight
- Allen record: 27-9-2
- Carty record: 11-1
British heavyweight folk hero Allen has chalked up a couple of routine wins since the one-sided beatdown he suffered against the now IBF champion Filip Hrgovic.
Carty’s career was in jeopardy when he suffered an ACL injury during his only defeat to date against Dejuan Calloway in March last year. It means Saturday’s potentially fun slugfest could come down to who has the most left to give physically.
Paddy Donovan vs. Tyrone McKenna
- Division/Weight: Welterweight
- Donovan record: 15-2
- McKenna record: 25-6-1
Donovan returned to winning ways after his controversial back-to-back losses against fellow Irishman Lewis Crocker with an excellent 12-round win over Karen Chukhadzhian. Two knockdowns were decisive as the naturally stylish Donovan battled to a majority decision away from home.
McKenna won his rematch with Dylan Moran on the Donovan vs. Crocker 2 undercard at Windsor Park last September but is a heavy underdog here. Donovan is no longer IBF champion after being dethroned by Liam Paro and Donovan will have an eye on a showdown with either if he can take care of business.
Taylor Bevan vs. Emmet Brennan
- Division/Weight: Super middleweight
- Bevan record: 9-0
- Brennan record: 6-0
Bevan’s run of eight consecutive KOs ended in his previous fight when he eeked out a majority decision win over Ryszard Lewicki.
Irishman Brennan is the home fighter in every sense as he puts his undefeated record on the line a stone’s throw from his own house.
Joe McGrail vs. Matthew Boreland
- Division/Weight: Super bantamweight
- Joe McGrail record: 13-0
- Boreland record: 7-0
- Belts at stake: WBO Global
Liverpool prospect McGrail, the younger brother of former amateur standout Peter McGrail, puts his undefeated record on the line for the second time in 2026. He stopped Aaron Hayden halfway through his first 10-rounder to win the British Central Area title.
Boreland impressed when he defeated compatriot Ruadhan Farrell on the Crocker-Donovan 2 undercard and gets another chance on a big stage.
Molly McCann vs. Sylwia Doligala
- Division/Weight: Bantamweight
- McCann record: 4-0
- Doligala record: 8-2-2
Former UFC star McCann boxes over the eight-round distance for a second time as she looks to move into title contention
Doligala is on a fine run of form, having won each of her previous three fights and five of the past six.
Where to watch Katie Taylor vs. Flora Pili
Taylor vs. Pili will be available on DAZN worldwide, while free-to-air broadcaster RTE will also show the fight in the Republic of Ireland.
A DAZN monthly subscription is $24.99 on a 12-month contract or $34.99 month-to-month. The annual subscription is $249.99.
In the UK, 12-month access is £15.99 per month, with the annual saver £119.99 and £25.99 for a monthly pass.
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