Boxing Jun 03, 2026

Katie Taylor to face Flora Pili in farewell fight as WBC confirms fight ahead of Friday announcement

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Katie Taylor to face Flora Pili in farewell fight as WBC confirms fight ahead of Friday announcement

Undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor looks set to end her stellar career against unbeaten French fighter Flora Pili.

Taylor, 39, holds the IBF, WBA and WBO titles at 140lbs and will announce her farewell fight on Friday, with Dublin's Croke Park expected to be the venue.

Ahead of the announcement, the WBC appears to have confirmed 28-year-old Pili as her opponent. Pili (12-0) is the mandatory challenger for Taylor's IBF super lightweight title and the top-ranked contender for the now vacant WBC belt.

Champion Sandy Ryan is pregnant and has been made 'Champion in Recess' by the WBC, who has ordered Taylor to fight Pili.

Taylor was previously WBC champion but vacated the belt in 2025 to take a break from boxing.

It means Taylor has the chance to unify all the belts in her final fight and become an undisputed champion for the third time in her career.

The date and location of the fight are yet to be confirmed, but it is expected that Irish native Taylor will finally get her wish to fight at Croke Park.

Taylor's promoter Eddie Hearn told Your Site: "Croke Park is not done yet. But there is unbelievable momentum, as I said before, from the government, from Croke Park, from Katie Taylor, but more importantly, the people of Ireland. Everybody's just got this will-not-be-denied approach to making this happen.

"I have also brought it upon myself, having been there, having seen images of Katie Taylor, just to say we can't not do this. We can't walk away. Whatever the hurdles are, we have to jump them. Whatever the barriers are that are put up, we've got to go straight through them.

"This moment of watching her walking through the tunnel of Croke Park, in front of 80,000 people, would the biggest female event of all time. Forget female boxing, forget boxing, forget men's boxing, this is one of the greatest sporting events that the world will ever see.

"The absolute pinnacle of this woman's life, who has given every ounce of her soul to her country, to her sport, to break down barriers and to pave the way for every female fighter of her generation.

"There will not be a dry eye in the place when she walks out there. I want that moment. Selfishly, I want to stand in the ring and just watch and look around to see the moment that Katie Taylor walks out of Croke Park and ticks off the final box of her incredible career."

Watch Zuffa Boxing 07 this Saturday live on Your Site, with early coverage streamed from 5pm ahead of live action on Your Site Action, Your Site Main Event and Sky One from 7pm. or .

Tags:

boxing news

Share this article

Related Posts

Chris Billam-Smith: How 'luxury' fight week of home comforts has left boxer feeling 'pressure' for Bournemouth return

Chris Billam-Smith: How 'luxury' fight week of home comforts has left boxer feeling 'pressure' for Bournemouth return

Family time in fight week is a privilege that boxers rarely get to experience but is a "luxury" that Chris Billam-Smith isn’t taking for granted ahead...

Cheavon Clarke has no fear of Jack Massey, he's dodged death twice: 'Normally you're meant to flatline from that'

Cheavon Clarke has no fear of Jack Massey, he's dodged death twice: 'Normally you're meant to flatline from that'

Ask Cheavon Clarke how many times he’s died and his nonchalant reply is "a couple".Clarke might not be indestructible but the indomitable Olympian is...

Ryan Rozicki: Boxing saved me. I didn’t understand how hard I punched until it was almost too late

Ryan Rozicki: Boxing saved me. I didn’t understand how hard I punched until it was almost too late

Ryan Rozicki is coming to hurt Chris Billam-Smith. It's not personal. It's simply his craft.Rozicki comes to Billam-Smith's hometown to fight the form...

Chris Billam-Smith hits back at 'irrelevant' Ryan Rozicki warning after intense face-off ahead of cruiserweight showdown

Chris Billam-Smith hits back at 'irrelevant' Ryan Rozicki warning after intense face-off ahead of cruiserweight showdown

Chris Billam-Smith has hit back at Ryan Rozicki's "irrelevant" claim that the Canadian can prevent a hometown victory in Saturday's cruiserweight figh...

Oleksandr Usyk must defend WBC heavyweight title against Agit Kabayel next, says president Mauricio Sulaimán

Oleksandr Usyk must defend WBC heavyweight title against Agit Kabayel next, says president Mauricio Sulaimán

WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán has reiterated that Oleksandr Usyk will be stripped of his world heavyweight title if he does not face Agit Kabayel.Ka...

Zuffa Boxing is coming to Ireland for first time: 3Arena in Dublin to host historic Zuffa Boxing 10 show on August 8

Zuffa Boxing is coming to Ireland for first time: 3Arena in Dublin to host historic Zuffa Boxing 10 show on August 8

Zuffa Boxing is to host its historic first show in Ireland this August, live on Your Site.3Arena in Dublin will stage Zuffa Boxing 10 on August 8, wit...