Katie Taylor bows out at the top with masterclass Croke Park victory
Katie Taylor places her gloves onto the centre of the ring after her undisputed super lightweight championship fight with Flora Pili. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
The fairytale is complete. Katie Taylor has retired as a three-time undisputed world champion after comprehensively beating France's Flora Pili by a 100-90, 100-90 and 98-91 unanimous scorecard in front of a sellout crowd at Croke Park.
She finished with the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO super lightweight titles and a masterclass. Kool & the Gang’s ‘Celebration’ rang out before the official result had even been announced. The only question was whether she had won every round.
In the end, there were no worlds left to conquer. This titan from Bray helped build women’s boxing into an Olympic sport before winning a gold medal, became a phenomenon in the paid ranks, headlined Madison Square Garden, fought historic trilogies, delivered a long-awaited homecoming, saw off the rivals to her throne and finally appeared at her nation’s most famous ground. She did it all.
It would be inaccurate to say any of it was overlooked. Even still, between paywalls, time zones and the obvious distance created by spending so much of her professional career abroad, the depth of what Taylor has achieved in Irish sport deserved a defining moment. This was it.
The national broadcaster’s presence in front of an empty Hill 16 was just one part of a larger mosaic. All day, various Irish celebrities from sport and the wider culture appeared on the big screen with well wishes and tributes. Andrew Scott, Fintan McCarthy, Tommy Tiernan, Jarlath Burns and more offered their praise. Even the weather cooperated. All the elements combined with more than 80,000 people at the GAA’s headquarters to the place into House Taylor.
The 40-year-old weighed in at 139.6 lbs, slightly lighter than Pili’s 139.9 lbs, but the gulf in talent was enormous.
“Let me just look around for a second,” she said as she stood in the middle of the canvas and wheeled around in joy.
“You were with me in 2012. You were with me through the heartbreak of Rio. You stayed with me when I turned pro. You travelled around the world to watch me. Cardiff, Manchester, Boston, Brooklyn, Manhattan and now you are here with me in this amazing stadium.” It was no surprise and yet it still deserved to be savoured: Croke Park looked utterly magnificent on this mild Saturday evening. A giddy crowd came from all over the country and beyond to celebrate an extraordinary legacy. Dublin-born heavyweight Thomas Carty’s walkout to a combination of ‘Grace’ and ‘Put 'em Under Pressure’ turned the dial on a raucous atmosphere. Not even the bizarre, early conclusion to that chief support, as Carty fell through the ropes in the first round to deliver a no-contest, could dampen the anticipation.
Westlife, the national anthem, a thunderous volley of Oles, it all felt gloriously surreal. Taylor’s final ring walk began at 9:56 pm, to the sound of ‘All Hail King Jesus’ with an accompanying fireworks display. She didn’t step into the ring until 10:01pm. This was an individual determined to drink it in. They finally traded leather at 10:10pm.
That round started with Taylor in centre ring, trying to establish her left jab. Her unbeaten opponent, decked out in blue and white, tried to counter-punch from the outside. In the second, a sublime combination after their first proper entanglement ensured the Irishwoman stayed comfortable. Her tactical genius was on full display here as she utilised all kinds of feints and head movement to combat the threat of some wild spinout hooks.
The left hand started to drop lower as Pili tried to take control. It proved futile. In so many exchanges, she was second-best. By the fourth, Taylor was cruising. She turned to look into the Cusack Stand before making for the corner and her trainer Ross Enamait’s instruction.
Evidently, that instruction was to start punching in fours and fives. Build the pressure, extend the gulf. The songs may change, but the soundtrack was the same. Now the chant was one name: Katie, Katie, Katie.
The away fighter was repeatedly beaten to the punch by a faster opponent. It should be said there is no shame in that. She was up against a genius determined to ensure all of her craft showed in her work. By the seventh round, Pili tried to move beyond simply surviving. It was her best stanza of the night. Her combinations became looser as a result and Taylor took that opportunity to deliver a sweet uppercut just before the bell.
Despite the extended build-up and the emotion of the day, Taylor was still able to demonstrate her trademark move: step, land a straight right, then move before any punishment could be administered in return. Belfast referee David Irving had to step in to sort out some minor skirmishes in the eighth yet, really, it all seemed so simple.
The final four minutes were sensational. It was a generational athlete truly going out at the top. She looked as sharp and slick as ever. As the final seconds ticked away, the champion let it all hang loose and swung wildly.
That emotional energy carried into the post-fight scene. Taylor looked around and thanked the various contributors to her career: her team, her “Irish mammy” and the rest of her family, and her enchanted supporters. She looked them all in the eye as she spoke before finally setting down her gloves. Everyone else still had their eyes fixed on one incredible athlete.
The one. The only.
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