Ireland's Katie Taylor has finished her career as three-time undisputed after beating Flora Pili on points.
According to Sky News, the Irish great became a three-time undisputed world champion by overwhelming the previously unbeaten Frenchwoman over 10 rounds at Croke Park in Dublin on Saturday, September 5.
She dominated Pili 100-90, 100-90, 98-91 on the scorecards. Her victory saw the 40-year-old add the vacant WBC title to her WBO, WBA and IBF belts.
The match at the Gaelic games stadium, which Taylor calls the "Cathedral of Irish sport", drew 83,000 fans.
Taylor saluted the crowd after a final onslaught that saw Pili pushed to the ropes in a flurry of punches and said, "Croke Park! We did it.”
Katie Taylor's heartfelt gratitude
After the final fight, Taylor said, “Every one of you here helped me win. You were with me in London 2012, you got me through the heartbreak of Rio (2016, where she lost in the quarter-finals), you stayed with me when I turned pro, you travelled around the world to watch me, Boston, Brooklyn, Manhattan, now you're here with me."
Her farewell also brought top-level boxing back to Croke Park for the first time since Muhammad Ali defeated Al “Blue” Lewis in 1972.
After the interviews and emotional tributes and family embraces, Taylor walked around the ring before placing her gloves in the centre according to tradition.
"I don't know of any other country that would sell 80,000 tickets [for women's boxing]. Ireland is the only country. She was a very awkward opponent and a great opponent. Thank you very much to her for being involved in this epic night," she had said earlier.
She went on to win Olympic lightweight gold at London 2012, when women’s boxing made its Games debut, before turning professional four years later.
Taylor finishes her professional career with 26 victories and one defeat, having won world titles at lightweight and super-lightweight.
