The Final Victory: Katie Taylor Outpoints Flora Pili at Croke Park

The Final Victory: Katie Taylor Outpoints Flora Pili at Croke Park

We didn’t think anything like this would happen. Women’s boxing was once stuck in the mire. A novelty act. At one time, women couldn’t even fight. In the UK, Jane Couch had to go to court to change that little detail. But Katie Taylor has taken her sport to another stratosphere. Even Taylor thought Croke Park was beyond her. But that happened also. Taylor has a way of making the impossible happen.

The emotional night is now in the books. As is the incredible trailblazing career of Katie Taylor. An incredible career ended on one incredible high. In many ways, a night of celebration. The fairytale ending.

Spare a thought for Flora Pili. The French fighter almost forgotten in the build-up to the Katie Taylor swansong. It was her big moment. Her chance to go undisputed. Her chance to fight Katie Taylor. Her chance to beat Katie Taylor. But it never looked likely to happen. Pili was a little better than most predicted. But not good enough.

It wasn’t quite vintage Taylor. The timing wasn’t what it once was. But it was enough. On this night, that’s all that mattered.

The final dance was a winning one. Taylor leaves the sport as the undisputed world super-lightweight champion of the world. The 40-year-old leaves the sport on top. Still the best female fighter on the planet.

Unanimous scorecards of 100-90, 100-90, and a little closer 98-91 gave the Irish hero her perfect send-off in front of over 80,000 fans in Dublin.

Taylor (26-1) started fast, breezing the opening two rounds. The third was a little closer. Taylor pulled away over the next two rounds. The sixth round was Taylor at somewhere near her best. A masterclass. Pili couldn’t lay a glove on her. Picking her moments to engage and when to stay on the outside.

Pili (12-1) found success in the seventh. Her best round. Landing good hard shots. But if Pili was hoping it would start a mini-surge, she would be disappointed. Showing remnants of her blistering hand speed, Taylor took the following two minutes with some ease. Any lingering hopes of the upset were extinguished right there.

Taylor boxed quite brilliantly in the ninth. She was just too quick for her opponent. Too good.

In the final two minutes of her career, Taylor enjoyed herself. Keeping her boxing together until the final ten seconds. Unleashing on her game opponent. The final punches of her wonderful career. The party could start, knowing the script had been followed.

It wasn’t just a fight. It was a moment in time. A night to celebrate the most important female fighter of the modern era. Taylor will be missed, but her side of the sport is now in a much better place because of her. Maybe that was her biggest victory. And the most important.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing