Katie Taylor has said her upcoming Croke Park fight has given her family a boost amid a ‘very tough season’.
The Bray boxer’s fight in Dublin has finally been confirmed for September 5 after a press conference at GAA HQ on Friday.
She’ll face French fighter Flora Pili, and if she wins, Katie, who has been calling for her right to fight at Ireland’s biggest Stadium since her first win over Amanda Serrano in 2022, will retire as the undisputed super-lightweight Champion.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Katie highlighted how, while the fight’s confirmation is a big moment for boxing, it’s also a big moment for her family as they’ve been grieving two loved ones.
Katie said: ‘In the middle of all this, I also lost my sister-in-law, my grandmother, as well, and [it’s been a] very, very tough season.
‘And this does give the whole family a bit of a boost, I think, having this Croke Park moment.’
Katie has been a trailblazer in women’s boxing ever since she won the gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London, but even she couldn’t foresee what was ahead of her.
She said: ‘When I first had that meeting with Eddie [Hearn] 10 years ago, women’s professional boxing was pretty much non-existent.
‘We were making pennies, and here we are 10 years later; look at the progress that’s been made. It’s been amazing progress in one generation, and I’m so proud of where it’s gone.
‘Every single card right now pretty much has a female fight, and the strength in depth in female boxing right now is absolutely incredible.’
Katie is also looking forward to giving back to all her supporters who’ve travelled the globe over the years, as hopefully an over 82,000 sell-out crowd will be watching her take the ring one last time.
‘I just want to put on a performance worthy of their support and their respect for me over the years, really,’ Katie explained. ‘For all those people who dug deep into their pockets, spent their hard-earned money, travelling around the world to watch me box, I’m just so grateful.
‘Women’s boxing is where it is today because of their support as well.
‘I have a chance to step in the ring one last night to give them a performance, like I said, worthy of their support, and I can’t wait to hear those “Olé Olé Olés” again one last time.
‘It’s going to be an emotional night, going to hold back the tears.’
On that history-making night, now in the calendar for September 5, Katie also knows she has a lot to live up to with the history Muhammad Ali has in the stadium.
‘I have big shoes to fill don’t I? I look down the corridor, and there’s a big picture of Muhammad Ali, and to be following his footsteps is incredible. The greatest of all time.’
