Katie Taylor Leaving With A ‘Heart Full of Gratitude’

In a few days, Katie Taylor (25-1, 6 KOs) will defend her IBF, WBO and WBA titles, with the vacant WBC title also being on the line, against Flora Pili (12-0, 2 KOs) at Croke Park. With the fight paving the way for her retirement, there is only one thing Taylor can think of: the journey she has had.

In an emotional admission to Matchroom Boxing, she opened up about how she feels ahead of the fight.

“People have asked me about my last fight and if it’s going to be a sad moment for me. It’s not going to be a sad moment at all. It’s actually going to be a moment of joy, just looking back at the whole career,” she said. “And the emotions that I’m going to be feeling on fight night are not sad emotions. They’re very very happy emotions. And I’m very very grateful. I just have a heart full of gratitude. This career is ending on such a high note.”

Taylor has become remarkably at peace with retirement. After beating Amanda Serrano for a third time in July 2025, she said she felt there was “nothing much else to chase” and had essentially decided to retire, believing that headlining at Madison Square Garden had brought her career to its natural conclusion. She only kept training because she still had one dream she hadn’t fulfilled, fighting at Dublin’s Croke Park. When that opportunity finally became real, she decided it was the perfect reason to return for one final fight.

She married American real estate broker and property developer Sean McCavanagh in a private ceremony in early 2025. Through her marriage, she is also a stepmother to her husband’s five children. Taylor revealed that she was looking forward to spending more time with the family after retirement.

“I think it’s something every professional athlete thinks of every now and then. What’s life going to look like for me? My whole life has been one big training camp. It has been a life routine. It’s been a life of sacrifice. And usually, the casualty of that sacrifice is your relationships. That’s certainly been the case for me. So its going to be nice to just relax after retirement,” she said.

“Special Place”

Taylor sure seems to be on a high note, especially since her dream venue will be witness her last hoorah.

“This seems like the perfect way to end it, by becoming Undisputed Champion again in our national stadium, which has such a special place in Irish hearts,” she said after the fight announcement. “I’m so grateful that it’s happening, and I can’t thank the people of this country enough for the support I have received over the years. People have traveled all around the world to follow my career, and I’m hoping I can repay some of that with a big performance on September 5.”

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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