Katie Taylor is determined to reward a sold-out Croke Park with a fight to remember knowing that only victory over Flora Pili will make the occasion complete.
Taylor will embark on her final ring walk before retirement on Saturday night when she bids to become a three-time undisputed world champion by defeating unbeaten Pili of France.
It will be the first fight staged at the cathedral of Irish sport since Muhammad Ali stopped Alvin Lewis in 1972 and all 80,000 tickets have been sold for what promoter Eddie Hearn views as the “most special night the sport has ever seen”.
Taylor said: “It’s hard to prepare yourself for a moment like this. I’ve never had the experience of walking out in front of 80,000 people and I’ll be hearing the old ole, ole, ole one last time, seeing the tricolours around the place.
“I’m not sure how I’m going to feel, but I’m praying to God that he’ll give me what it takes to actually control my emotions on the night.
“I’m so, so grateful for the support. I’m blown away by it. It’s quite awesome and I want to put on a performance worthy of everyone’s support over the years.
“I’m trying not to reflect too much on it because I have a job to do and I’m very much focused on that.
“It’s too dangerous a sport to have your body in the ring and your heart outside it thinking of retirement.
“It’s not going to be a walk in the park because she’s here to win as well. She’s an undefeated fighter. I’m very, very aware of that as well.
“I’ve locked myself away in camp over the last few months in preparation for this fight. It’s going to be a tough fight for sure, but that’s when I’m at my best.”
Taylor’s light-welterweight WBO, WBA and IBF titles will be on the line against Pili, while the vacant WBC is also up for grabs.
The ‘Bray Bomber’ emerged as a trailblazer for women’s boxing when she won gold at the 2012 Olympics and has since enjoyed a storied career in her decade-long spell as a professional, including ruling the lightweight division.
Now aged 40, she is ready to bow out hoping that her final act in the ring will inspire young female boxers in the Croke Park crowd to better her achievements.
She said: “I started as a 9 or 10-year-old when I had to actually disguise myself as a boy to actually get a few fights.
“I was walking some boxing gyms as a young girl being sniggered at and laughed at because I was this girl trying to be a boxer. I had to earn people’s respect along the way.
“I’m so happy and delighted that these young girls coming through now don’t have to go through the same struggles or adversities that I had to go through.
“The door is actually open for them. You walk into every boxing gym now in the country, it’s packed with female fighters.
“I’m imagining all the tales and stories from the girls who were at a boxing event for the first time on Saturday evening.
“I’m imagining that one of those girls might follow me in this great, beautiful sport and might even surpass my achievements. That’s what legacy is all about. I can’t wait to hear those stories.”
