Katie Taylor vs. Flora Pili

Undercard Press Conference!

(September 3rd) Today's  Katie Taylor vs. Flora Pili undercard press conference live from Dublin, Ireland was less about hostility and more about the magnitude of sharing an historic Irish boxing event. The prevailing theme was opportunity: young Irish prospects, established names, and crossover star Molly McCann all stressed that boxing in front of more than 80,000 people could be a career-defining moment. 

Matchroom CEO Frank Smith said staging Taylor’s Croke Park event had taken years and was ultimately driven by legacy rather than money. He credited Katie Taylor for being willing to do “whatever it takes” to make it happen.

Irish promoter/manager Brian Peters heavily backed his fighters, particularly heavyweight Adam Alin and Taylor Bevan. He even offered to double Emmet Brennan’s purse if Brennan defeats Bevan—adding real extra intrigue to their unbeaten showdown.

Fighter Quotes

Paddy Donovan

“Risky, risky to take the fight being number one by the IBF, but excited. We couldn’t turn down the opportunity to fight in front of 80,000 Irish fans.”

“I’m going to beat you and then we’re going to move on to become a world champion. But you’re first and I’m going to deal with you good and proper.”

“I am going to drown you, son. You’re not going to be able to breathe.”

“Tyrone is at the end of his career. So, let him collect his payday and let him go back down to Belfast.” 

Tyrone McKenna

“The best. I put myself through hell, like hell, for this camp.”

“I think Patty’s overlooking me… You have to have your eyes on me. Get your mind right.”

“I can say I’m going to box. It doesn’t matter. We all know what’s going to happen. I’m going to go out there, I’m going to have a war and we’re going to see what he’s made of.”

“That was five years ago, our last spar. I had an unbelievable camp over in the dungeon. I’m going to be a completely different fighter than he knows.”

Dave Allen

“I’m not here trying to resurrect a run at any titles. I’m here just to fight, really. That’s it.”

“If you’re not very good, I’ll flatten them. I’ve always, all my career, flattened all of them.”

“You’re going to box me off for four or five rounds and then the finals start round six—and it’s going to be horrific for you, for both of us. But I’ve been there. That’s the difference.”

“I want to get to 40 and that’ll do me… 40 and out, one Carty and one more.”

“I’m not what I used to be… but I’m still strong, durable, and can punch.”

Thomas Carty

“It’s massive… I’ve tried to imagine a couple of times what it’s going to be like walking out, but I just can’t.”

“I’m a fan of Dave… I remember all his fights. What better opportunity than Croke Park?”

“Dave’s no joke… I couldn’t have done any more. I’m in a really, really good position right now.”

“If you think that I’m up to the standard and the level of Johnny Fisher, you have another thing coming, bro. It’s not a Johnny Fisher fight. It’s Thomas Carty.”

Taylor Bevan

“I just think I’m the better boxer all round.”

“I’ve been super active since I turned pro. I’m the ultimate professional when it comes to training.”

“I know I’m going to get the best Emmet Brennan on the night because this is his dream come true, but this is a dream for me as well.”

“I’ve left no stone unturned in camp and you’re going to get the very best version of me Saturday night.”

Emmet Brennan

“It’s going to be a war of attrition, and I’m going to come out on top.”

“It’s going to be a firefight from the start. I can’t win this fight on the back foot. It has to be forward fighting.”

“We’ve seen in Taylor’s last fight—he was very, very good—but there’s occasions where the pressure did get to him.”

Molly McCann

“I remember walking into a boxing gym and being turned away and being told I wasn’t allowed to box because I was a girl.”

On first seeing Katie Taylor

“I was like, ‘Oh my God, I want to be like her. I want to be like that.’ Twenty years later, here we are.”

“The win isn’t just getting here and just walking out. The win is the win when your hand is raised at the end of the fight.”

“You look at Saturday night: it’s one woman leading a whole nation, and she’s changed the face of it. Why can’t that be you?”

Sylvia Doyle

“Very thankful for this opportunity… going from a little small show onto this, it’s a dream come true for me.”

“I believe there will be such a good fight. There will be some fireworks on Saturday night.”

Joe McGrail

“It was just nice to remind people what I can do… obviously, I had a tough year out with injury.”

“He’s just the next fellow in front of me… I’m going to beat him and progress to bigger and better things.”

Matthew Bolland

“This fight’s just all gain. Absolutely nothing to lose.”

“The pressure’s on Joe… I’m just going to go and give it my all and prove I’m a better fighter.”

“We’re going to see if he can get hit, if he’s got a chin. That’s what we’ll find out.”

Adam Alin

“This is what I’ve always dreamed of—to be fighting on these big events, these big cards.”

“I’m ready to put on a big performance… devastation, power, accuracy, speed.”

“I want to be world champion now… Obviously, I have to take it slow. I have to serve my apprenticeship.”

“You can’t skip those necessary steps.”

Bobby Flood

“This means a lot to me… [Katie Taylor] said, ‘Watch this space.’ To now being one of the first people opening up the show… it’s unbelievable. Proper surreal.”

“I’m feeling good, feeling strong, feeling sharp. I just can’t wait to showcase my skills on Saturday.”

Paul Ryan

“I want everyone to know that I fight better than I walk. So that’s going to be the real talking point of the night.”

“The plan is to open up doors and now we’re going to kick them down.”

Paddy Gallagher

“It’s going to be an aggressive, all-action fighter against a slick counter-puncher.”

“There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m going to win the fight.”

Frank Smith — Matchroom CEO

“It was years in the making to get here and it wasn’t always easy, but things like this—greatness isn’t always going to be easy.”

“This fight came down to legacy and creating a moment that will never be forgotten.”

“Thanks to Katie Taylor for saying, ‘Yes, whatever it takes, I want to make this happen.’”

On Molly McCann: “She’s shown now that she can go all the way to the very top.”

On Allen–Carty: “These are the kind of fights… you want to see. Heavyweight boxing—you never know what’s going to happen.”

Brian Peters — Irish promoter/manager

On Adam Alin: “Louisville, Kentucky, United States had Muhammad Ali, and I think Jobstown, Dublin, Republic of Ireland has Adam Alin. I think he’s going to be something very special.”

On Bevan–Brennan: “In the next 16, 18 months, [Taylor Bevan is] going to be Commonwealth, British, European champion.”

To Emmet Brennan: “If you beat Taylor Bevan, I will double your purse.”

On the bill: “You can’t beat the heavyweights… I think everyone’s in for a treat. I think it’s going to be the greatest show on earth.”

Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026

Venue: Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland (82,000 seats)

Promoter: Eddie Hearn – Matchroom Boxing

Titles at Stake: vacant WBC, IBF, WBA, WBO, IBO super lightweight

Media: DAZN

Katie Taylor and challenger Flora Pili workout ahead of their huge headline fight in Dublin.

Katie Taylor and unbeaten French challenger Flora Pili take center stage at the final press conference ahead of Saturday’s undisputed super-lightweight championship clash at Croke Park in Dublin.

Katie Taylor is days away from the final fight of her historic career—and the final word before fight night comes Tuesday at the Taylor vs. Pili press conference.

Taylor, the reigning WBA, WBO and IBF super-lightweight champion, meets mandatory challenger Flora Pili for the vacant WBC belt and a chance to become a three-time undisputed world champion. The 39-year-old Irish icon will attempt to cap her farewell bout in front of a massive home crowd at Croke Park, while the unbeaten Pili, 12-0 with two knockouts, arrives determined to spoil the storybook send-off.

Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan, 15-2, 11Ko's

VS

Belfast, Northern Ireland, Tyrone “The Mighty Celt” McKenna, 25-6-1, 8Ko's

Welterweight — 10rds

Wales, Taylor Bevan, 9-0, 8Ko's

VS

Dublin, Ireland, Emmet Brennan, 6-0, 1Ko

Super Middleweight — 10rds

Joe McGrail, 13-0, 6Ko's

VS

Matthew “Bam Bam” Boreland, 7-0, 2Ko's

Super Bantamweight — 10rds

David “White Rhino” Allen, 27-9-2, 20Ko's

VS

Thomas “The Bomber” Carty, 11-1, 9Ko's

Heavyweight — 10rds

Molly “Meatball” McCann, 4-0, 1Ko

VS

Sylwia Doligala, 8-2-2, 0Ko's

Bantamweight — 8rds

Paul “‘Ravishing’” Ryan, 11-2, 5Ko's

VS

Paddy “Pat-Man” Gallagher, 17-6-1, 10Ko's

Middleweight — 8rds

Adam Olaniyan, 3-0, 3Ko's

VS

TBA

Heavyweight — 4rds

Bobbi “Flash” Flood, 3-0, 1Ko

VS

Jack “Mad Dog” Swallow, 4-13-1, 1Ko

Super Welterweight — 4rds

Fighters scheduled for this historic bill.

Katie “The Bray Bomber” Taylor, 25-1, 6Ko's

VS

Flora Pili, 12-0, 2Ko's

Super Lightweight WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO & WBC World Titles -10rds

For All Ireland “Once Upon A Time”

Epic New Katie Taylor Promo!

(September 2nd) Most journeys begin at home… The rare ones end there too. The golden girl from the Emerald Isle has changed the sport forever.  Watch as Barry Keoghan paid a rousing, heartfelt tribute to Ireland’s greatest ever athlete, Katie Taylor as her historic farewell inches closer.

Katie Taylor s Flora Pili Final Press Conference!

(September 1st) Eddie Hearn hosts the final press conference in Dublin for Katie Taylor's farewell fight against Flora Pili this Saturday at Croke Park, Dublin live on DAZN.

Katie Taylor Gets Emotional As She Reflects

On Her Career In Latest Episode of Ordinary People!

(August 31st) Toasting s'mores by the camp fire and singing ’Sweet Caroline’, Katie Taylor gets emotional as you’ve never seen before as the legendary Irish fighter reflects on her storied career in Matchroom Boxing's latest episode of Ordinary People.

This Saturday – live worldwide on DAZN and non-exclusively in Ireland on RTÉ – Taylor will bring the curtain down in front of 80,000 at Dublin’s iconic Croke Park when she challenges France’s undefeated Flora Pili for the Undisputed Super Lightweight Championship.

And as Taylor counts down her final days as a professional fighter, she took time out from her last-ever training camp in Connecticut to host SJA Award winning broadcaster Jamie Ward in a fascinating behind-the-scenes interview.

In it the London 2012 Olympic Gold Medallist and two-weight Undisputed World Champion receives a call from Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn, who reveals that she has completely sold out her farewell.

And Taylor takes a trip down memory lane to recall the inspiring message from her mother Bridget in which she was told she was “destined for greatness” – and she opens up on how she will truly fill when she takes her final ring walk on what promises to be a tear-jerking occasion this Saturday.

“People are asking me whether this will be a sad moment for me,” said Taylor.

“But it’s not going to be sad at all. It will be a moment of joy, especially as I look back at my whole career. The emotions I will be feeling on fight night will be very happy emotions. I’m very, very grateful.

"I just have a heart full of gratitude that this career is ending on such a high-note, please God. [Croke Park] is my dream venue. And this really is the stuff of dreams."

By the close, Matchroom’s message was clear: Taylor’s farewell is being presented as more than a title defense. It combines an emotional goodbye from Ireland’s most celebrated boxer, an unbeaten challenger with everything to gain, and a stacked undercard designed to showcase Irish boxing to a massive new audience.

With more than 80,000 expected at Croke Park, Taylor vs. Pili has already been framed as one of the biggest sporting events ever staged in Ireland — and, as Taylor repeatedly reminded the room, “a real fight.”

Katie Taylor vs. Flora Pili

Undercard Launch Press Conference!

(June 30th) Katie Taylor vs. Flora Pili undercard launch press conference live from Dublin, Ireland. Matchroom Boxing formally launched the undercard for Katie Taylor’s farewell fight at Croke Park with a packed press conference in Dublin, framing the September 5 event as both a championship showdown and a landmark occasion in Irish sporting history. Taylor will face unbeaten French challenger Flora Pili for the undisputed super-lightweight championship in what has been billed as the final fight of Taylor’s professional career.

The event will mark only the second professional boxing card ever staged at Croke Park since Muhammad Ali fought Al “Blue” Lewis there in 1972.

Speaking at the launch, Taylor described the opportunity to close her career at Ireland’s most iconic sporting venue as the fulfillment of a long-held ambition.

“It’s beyond my wildest dreams,” Taylor said. “This is the most iconic moment of my whole career.”

The undisputed champion also emphasized that she did not want a ceremonial finale, but a meaningful challenge.

“I wanted to be in a real fight with real risk that gives you the drive and the hunger to go again. I have that in Flora. This is a real fight.”

Matchroom confirmed that the winner of Taylor vs. Pili will leave Croke Park as the undisputed super-lightweight champion, adding further significance to what is already being promoted as a historic farewell.

Flora Pili enters the bout unbeaten at 12-0 (2 KOs) and viewed the assignment as the biggest opportunity of her career. “It’s a dream come true to fight Katie Taylor,” the French challenger said.

While Pili is not known as a heavy puncher, her undefeated record and ability to go rounds consistently have made her a credible threat on the biggest stage of her career.

Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that more than 80,000 tickets were sold within 24 hours and claimed internal research showed that the overwhelming majority of attendees will be watching boxing live for the first time.

“Over 95% of people filling the arena had never watched boxing before,” Hearn said. “This is our opportunity for boxing to showcase this great sport in front of a new audience.”

Trainer Andy Lee described the occasion as something larger than a normal fight card. “It’s hard to put into words the magnitude of what this means. It’s hallowed turf for us. It’s the home of Irish sport.”

Katie Taylor Reacts To Sold Out Croke Park Date!

(June 13th) Katie Taylor says she has been “blown away” by the phenomenal support she has received after her historic Undisputed homecoming World Title clash with Flora Pili on Saturday, September 5 at Croke Park sold out just moments after going on sale.

A capacity crowd of over 80,000 people will pack into Dublin's iconic home of the Gaelic Athletic Association for what will be the Irish legend’s final fight, with every Super Lightweight championship on the line – live worldwide on DAZN.

Earlier this week, on Wednesday, an incredible 40,000 snapped up pre-sale tickets in record time via the Matchroom Fight Pass, Lidl Plus and Croke Park residents.

Over 20,000 were able to purchase tickets at an affordable price of under €40 for the event promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, in association with Aiken Promotions, Brian Peters and title event partners Lidl Ireland.

And within minutes of reaching General Sale on Friday, the remaining allocation were quickly seized by fight fans who can now look forward to witnessing history on September 5.

"It is incredible,” said Taylor, speaking to Matchroom Boxing.

"I woke up, because I’m actually in America now, and we’re five hours behind here, and I saw my phone. I couldn’t believe we are actually sold out.

"I’m blown away by it to be honest. I never could have dreamt this really. A packed Croke Park, it’s going to be an incredible event. What a way to end my career.”

Delighted Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn believes it is a testament to the love deserved for the greatest of all-time, backing the Irish queen to bow out in her September swansong by becoming a three-time Undisputed ruler of the world when she takes on France’s undefeated Pili.

"This will be the greatest event in sporting history in Ireland,” said Hearn.

"I know it’s often promoter talk that we could have 'sold the place out twice', but a huge portion of those tickets were so highly in-demand. Genuinely, Katie could have sold another 50 or 60,000.

"But what we did with Katie, Peter Aiken of Aiken Promotions and Brian Peters, was to price them accordingly from €38 for the cheapest ticket and down to €32 for those family packages, which is really unheard of.

"It will be the greatest atmosphere of any boxing event I will have ever witnessed on September 5. Now Katie’s got to train hard and go out there to win this fight – live on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN."

News on a blockbuster undercard will be announced in due course, along with the Fight Week schedule, which will provide Irish fans another chance to see their hero Katie Taylor in the build-up.

Taylor completed a remarkable four-day promotional bus tour across Ireland on Tuesday, with the London 2012 Olympic Gold Medallist visiting communities, boxing clubs, schools, and media, starting out from her hometown of Bray, County Wicklow, travelling to places such as Cork, Donegal, Tipperary, Clare, Galway and more.

Now Taylor will focus on her training camp in the USA before she returns home for her dream date with destiny at Croke Park.

Katie Taylor To Face Flora Pili

In Historic Farewell Fight At Croke Park!

(June 5th) A fairytale ending in the storied career of Ireland’s greatest ever athlete Katie Taylor is today confirmed for Saturday, September 5 – live worldwide on DAZN – at Dublin’s iconic Croke Park as she defends her WBO, WBA, IBF and Ring Magazine titles and fights for the vacant WBC Super Lightweight Championship in a historic Undisputed clash against France’s undefeated Flora Pili.