Katie Taylor has revealed she would have quit boxing if she not had the opportunity for a Croke Park swansong.
The 39-year-old light-welterweight will end her decorated career at the Dublin venue on 5 September knowing victory over Flora Pili will see her crowned undisputed world champion for the third time.
Taylor has not fought since completing a trilogy clean sweep over Amanda Serrano at New York’s Madison Square Garden last July and was prepared to walk away from boxing.
But Croke Park – which has not hosted boxing since Muhammad Ali’s victory over Al ‘Blue’ Lewis in 1972 – became available and Taylor now aims to add a fitting finale to her ring legacy.
“I’ve spoke to my family about going to Croke Park but never thought it was going to happen until a few months ago,” said Taylor.
“After the last fight I was thinking, ‘What else is there to chase after really?’ What can get bigger than Madison Square Garden?
“I had basically retired after the last fight. But I kept training, because in the back of my mind I was thinking about Croke Park
“Then my manager (Brian Peters) rang me up and said, ‘Croke Park is actually going to happen’. This is the stuff of dreams.”
Flora Pili provides Taylor’s opposition at Croker
If Croke Park has a special place in Irish sports history, so too has Taylor.
All 80,000-plus tickets for her final fight were sold within minutes following a massive pre-sale demand.
She said: “I’m actually blown away by by support. It’s been an amazing few weeks since the fight was announced, even on that bus tour going around the country. I felt like a pop star.
“It’s the fairy-tale ending I always wanted and I can’t believe it’s actually happening.
“It’s beyond my wildest dreams at this stage, but I still know I have a job to do.”
Taylor holds the IBF, WBA and WBO titles at 140lbs and now has the chance to complete the set as WBC champion Sandy Ryan and has been made ‘champion in recess’.
Unbeaten French fighter Pili is the mandatory challenger for Taylor’s IBF super-lightweight title and the top-ranked contender for the now vacant WBC belt.
Taylor said: “I have a real threat in front of me, someone who’s going to try and ruin the night for me. I’m prepared for that.
“She’s going to be raising her game, so I have to raise my game as well.
“I have the experience not to get complacent at this stage. I’m preparing for whatever comes my way on fight night, and I’m planning a career-best performance.
“This is another huge pressure night for me, but I love these kind of nights.”