Boxing
Five ways Taylor left indelible impact as star bows out
Garcia vs Benn live on DAZN PPV - September 12
Katie Taylor’s iconic career came to a glorious end on Saturday night as 80,000-plus fans crammed into Croke Park gave a hero’s send-off to their Bray warrior.
The 40-year-old, who ended her legendary journey by winning the undisputed super lightweight world championship for a second time, exits women’s boxing in much better shape than when she launched her career.
Taylor retires with final victory;
WATCH: Star salutes Croke Park with Pili triumph
Here, in celebration of Taylor’s glorious career, DAZN News looks back on five indelible marks the Irish superstar left on women’s boxing.
Leading the charge in ushering women’s boxing into the Olympics, capturing gold for Ireland
A decorated amateur, Katie Taylor wanted to see women’s boxing be recognized and represented by the Olympic Games.
She’d get that chance during a showcase in 2007 with essentially the fate of whether women’s boxing makes it to the Olympics resting in her hands.
“Eventually I was invited to box in Chicago in front of the Olympic committee to basically determine whether women’s boxing was going to be included in the Olympic Games,” Taylor said in an interview with BBC Radio Ulster.
She added: “I had to perform. And like I said, I wasn’t just boxing for me, I was boxing for every single female who ever dreamt of boxing in the Olympic Games.”
Taylor aced the pressure-cooker situation, leading the way for women’s boxing to be included in the Olympics. At the 2012 Olympics in London, Taylor boxed her way to a gold medal for Ireland, stamping her efforts and carving an open lane for other stars to shine.
Claressa Shields won gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics before becoming the first boxer ever to clinch undisputed glory in three different divisions.
Creating history for women’s boxing and raising its profile
The Irish sensation had a grueling majority decision win over Delfine Persoon at Madison Square Garden on June 1, 2019, but that bout served in chief support to Anthony Joshua the night he suffered one of boxing’s biggest upsets in a knockout loss to Andy Ruiz Jr.
Less than three years later, she’d be headlining ‘The Mecca of Boxing.' Taylor and Amanda Serrano became the first women’s boxers to headline Madison Square Garden in the illustrious history of ‘The World’s Most Famous Arena.’ They’d each receive a $1 million payday for the fight, which sold out MSG.
The actual bout was an instant classic, regarded to this day as the greatest fight in women’s boxing history and one of the best fights in boxing, period. Once again, Taylor was at the forefront, creating history and raising the profile of women’s boxing.
Avenging her only loss
Prior to running it back with Serrano, Taylor suffered her first professional defeat — at the hands of Chantelle Cameron by majority decision in May 2023. That the British boxer defeated the fighting pride of Ireland in Dublin sparked all the more urgency for a rematch.
Thirty-seven years of age at the time, Taylor faced questions about whether she could avenge her sole loss and snatch back the undisputed super lightweight world championship against a younger fighter.
Six months later, Taylor answered the call, slickly outboxing Cameron for a majority decision to return the undisputed 140-pound crown to Ireland and successfully avenge her only loss.
The retribution was important to Taylor’s legacy as she made sure to right the only wrong across her pro ledger.
Delivering the greatest rivalry in women’s boxing history
I first met and interviewed Katie Taylor back in the summer of 2018 as she was set to face Cindy Serrano, the older sister of Amanda Serrano. Even prior to defeating Cindy that October, Taylor sensed she was on a collision course with Amanda.
When Taylor and Amanda Serrano created history as Madison Square Garden headliners in April 2022, they offered fans breakneck, thrilling action for 10 rounds. The epic bout ended with Taylor eking out a split decision to retain her undisputed lightweight crown. But it wasn’t exactly settled. There was a yearning for more, especially after some fans and critics alike believed Serrano did enough to defeat Taylor, highlighted by dragging the boxing icon through a battering in the fifth round.
Thus, a rivalry was spawned, and it became the greatest rivalry in women’s boxing history.
Wanting to take the rivalry up a notch, the sequel was held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas — home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys — in November 2024. This time around, they were the co-main event to Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, a spectacle on Netflix.
Taylor and Serrano engaged in another 10 ferocious rounds of close give-and-take and take and all-around sweet science brilliance. Again, Taylor had her hand raised — this time by unanimous decision — to retain her now-super lightweight undisputed world titles. Again, some fans and media felt like Serrano did enough to win the fight, sparking a need for a trilogy.
Fans would get that third and final fight between the pair back where the rivalry started — MSG. The bout would headline the iconic New York City venue in July 2025 with Taylor outpointing Serrano via majority decision for a clean sweep of their rivalry — one that, through 30 incredible rounds, thoroughly elevated women’s boxing to heights the sport had never seen.
A final dance fit for a queen
As her career was in the twilight stages, Taylor spoke about her desire to have a final fight in Dublin’s Croke Park, which is known more for Gaelic Games than boxing.
However, with some work and persistence, Taylor got her wish last night in front of 80,000-plus roaring fans, following the global sports icon Muhammad Ali, who fought at the venue in 1972.
It was a send-off aptly fit for a queen of the ring, and Taylor responded by outpointing France’s Flora Pili to retire at 40 as a two-time undisputed champ at super lightweight. A legendary career and legacy completed.
Watch Garcia vs. Benn in the UK only on DAZN
Britain's Conor Benn looks to become a world champion for the first time against US superstar Ryan Garcia on Saturday, September 12. Watch the fight exclusively in the UK & Ireland on DAZN PPV or included in our Ultimate Tier subscription.
