Taylor confirms Croke Park showdown with Pili in potential career finale
The 39-year-old’s bout against undefeated Flora Pili on 5 September 2026 is widely expected to conclude her decade-long professional career.
Irish boxer Katie Taylor has officially confirmed she will face undefeated opponent Flora Pili at Dublin’s Croke Park on 5 September 2026. The bout is widely expected to be Taylor’s final professional fight, potentially concluding her 10-year career. Taylor, aged 39, will defend her unified super-lightweight titles and compete for the vacant WBC belt.
The confirmation was made during a press conference in Dublin on Friday, marking the culmination of long-standing efforts by Taylor’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, to secure the iconic venue. Hearn had previously campaigned for the Croke Park location but noted the significant difficulties involved in bringing the event to fruition. The successful negotiation allows Taylor to fulfil a long-held ambition to compete at the stadium.
This contest will represent only Taylor’s third professional bout in Ireland. Her previous two home fights occurred in 2023 against Chantelle Cameron. In their initial encounter, Cameron outpointed Taylor to secure her only professional loss. Taylor avenged that defeat in a rematch, a victory that crowned her the undisputed super-lightweight champion and built upon her previous reign as undisputed lightweight queen.
Since the Cameron rematches, Taylor has maintained a strong record, defeating Amanda Serrano twice by points. These victories have established a 3-0 overall record against Serrano. Taylor enters the upcoming bout seeking to regain her undisputed status at super-lightweight while defending her current unified belts.
Pili enters the ring with an undefeated record of 12 wins and 0 losses. Taylor, who turned professional in 2012 after winning Olympic gold at the London Games, holds a professional record of 25 wins and 1 loss, with 6 knockouts. While the bout is expected to be her final fight, her retirement has not been officially confirmed as a permanent decision post-bout.
