Katie Taylor vs Flora Pili: A Deep Look Into Taylor’s Farewell Fight in Dublin

What are the storylines for Katie Taylor’s final fight? Taylor will face Flora Pili (12-0, 2 KOs) as she concludes her career at Croke Park in Ireland.

Taylor (25-1, 6 KOs), a boxing treasure, is a no-doubt first-ballot Hall of Famer. Her opponent, Pili, is largely unknown, but given the circumstances I will get into later, could be good or bad. The bout ends an era. Taylor’s farewell, along with Amanda Serrano, her chief rival, fading away, marks the end of the first era of women’s boxing. Taylor went the Olympic route, whereas Serrano went pro. Together, they changed how people viewed women’s boxing.

Let’s look at some of the stories for this farewell.

A Pioneer In Every Sense

When Taylor started, you had women’s boxers who were fighting, but it wasn’t like it is now. She demanded respect. She wanted main-card spots and advocated for them. What pioneers often do is normalize what they fight for; Taylor did that.

It is a fitting tribute that her last fight will be her first in Ireland, and at Croke Park, a venue Conor McGregor once dreamed of headlining in his prime. Taylor never saw a ceiling or boundaries; she saw herself as worthy and made the dream possible. She truly is one of the most bada%s figures in the last decade.

Should We Be Scared?

As we do hot takes and remember Taylor’s greatness, should we be afraid? Remember when Miguel Cotto lost to Sadam Ali on his way out the door? Typically, fighters look bad in these situations; another example is Bernard Hopkins versus Joe Smith Jr.

Most observers are approaching this as a live concert experience in which Taylor will play “the hits” and send us home happy with a win. Let’s be a bit of a buzzkill. Taylor is 40 and fighting a young, undefeated fighter with nothing to lose. The closer the fight gets, the more I start to feel some fear.

Who Is Flora Pili?

If someone finds a think piece about her, please send it my way. Aside from some film study, I know nothing about her. She has a ho-hum amateur record and nothing notable in terms of wins as a pro. This is, in fact, only the second time she has fought outside of France. My gut tells me these are the reasons she was picked for the fight, but at 29 years old and armed with the chance of a lifetime, somehow the unknown fighter, Pili, is the x-factor for me.

If she has a high punch output, this fight could get weird.

Katie Taylor And Scar Tissue

Let’s not forget: Taylor has been in rugged fights with head clashes. Let’s not dismiss the fact that anything could happen, but the role of a good person working the cuts will be vital for a fighter at her age and could also be a factor for Pili.

The Scene More Than The Fight

Even if Taylor doesn’t win, it feels like the scene will be what matters. Taylor’s walk to the ring against Amanda Serrano was iconic. This feels like a moment for all of Ireland to embrace Taylor. Is it a rare fight where the result is secondary? I dare say maybe. It feels like everyone is tuning in to see Taylor make the walk one last time, in the most literal sense.

Lucas Ketelle

Lucas Ketelle is a boxing writer and podcaster who has appeared on various platforms throughout his career.

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