Katie Taylor brings the curtain down on a remarkable career on Saturday when she faces unbeaten Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans at Croke Park in Dublin.
Taylor is an Olympic gold medallist and two-weight undisputed champion who has won 25 of her 26 professional fights, with six victories by stoppage.
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The 40-year-old has long dreamed of fighting at Croke Park and will finally get her wish in the final bout of her career.
French challenger Pili, 29, is undefeated in 12 professional contests, with two stoppage wins. She is former European champion, but has never faced anyone with Taylor’s pedigree or experience.
Victory in the light-welterweight contest would provide a fairytale ending for one of Ireland’s greatest sporting careers and see Taylor become an undisputed champion for a third time.
Can Taylor produce one final vintage performance on the biggest night of her career?
Or will the younger, unbeaten Pili spoil the occasion and pull off a mammoth upset?
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BBC Sport spoke to figures from the boxing world to get their predictions for Saturday’s fight.
Tony Bellew – former cruiserweight world champion
“Saturday is the perfect tribute to probably the greatest female boxer that has ever lived in Katie Taylor. Flora Pili has the perfect style that will make Katie Taylor look great.
“It’ll be a brilliant night and it will be capped off with a fantastic performance from Katie Taylor.”
Prediction – Taylor
Ellie Scotney – former undisputed super-bantamweight champion
“100% Katie Taylor wins. It will be a night where she captures the hearts of not just Ireland but so many nations. She is the purest of souls and that is so much more of boxing. I pray that when she leaves that ring she knows what she has done for the people who will come through in boxing.”
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Prediction – Taylor
Anthony Crolla – former lightweight world champion
“I think we see Katie rolling back the years and one more Katie Taylor performance. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a late stoppage and capped an unbelievable career. She will get a homecoming fit for a queen.
“I’m very jealous I’m not there but I’m not ruling out getting a flight there and doing an all-nighter and getting the 6am flight back home.”
Prediction – Taylor
Alycia Baumgardner – unified super-featherweight champion
“Katie Taylor is going to have an amazing performance and this is what she’s wanted at Croke Park. Taylor will give it her all during her last rodeo and will put on an amazing performance to get the win.”
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Prediction – Taylor
Carl Frampton – former two-weight world champion
“I’ve watched bits of Pili and she looks OK, but Katie is on a different level and should win, will win. It will be the icing on the cake for Katie to end a career that we may never see again from a fighter from these shores.
“It’s a little harder for the women to get stoppages with the two-minute rounds, but I feel Katie may well find a finish in the later rounds.”
Prediction – Taylor
Michael Conlan – world title challenger and former world amateur champion
“It’s going to be a very special evening and I think Katie wins by mid-to-late stoppage. She’s always been one to rise to the occasion and with this being her swansong, I think she will put on an unbelievable performance on an unbelievable night.
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“There will be plenty of tears shed in Croke Park and I can’t wait to witness the greatest ever athlete our country has produced, male or female, go out in style.”
Prediction – Taylor
Barry Jones – former super-featherweight world champion
“It will be a great send off for the great Katie Taylor. I don’t think Katie will have too much trouble with Flora Pili, who is decent but I think she will be overawed with the pressure and the combination punches.
“Katie rarely gets a stoppage but I think she will this time. It’s a clear win and she can sail off into the sunset as the greatest female boxer there has ever been.”
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Prediction – Taylor
Adam Smith – DAZN commentator
“Katie Taylor has her dream opportunity as she closes her unprecedented career. She has been the pioneer, standout female fighter and jewell in the Emerald Isle.
“Flora Pili will do her very best but I think Katie will come through to win, claim the undisputed title and bow out in style.”
Prediction – Taylor
Ade Oladipo – DAZN presenter
“Boxing always has this way of throwing a curve ball, there’s always a banana skin somewhere and this might be it.
“Katie Taylor hasn’t fought for nearly a year-and-a-half when she had the trilogy with Amanda Serrano. She’s 40-years-old, there’s a lot of wear and tear and mileage on her. The same can’t be said for Pili. She’s fought a few levels down but she’s unbeaten and will come with confidence.
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“I think Katie will get it done but don’t think it will be without problems, so Taylor to get it done on a close decision.”
Prediction – Taylor
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