Katie Taylor vs Flora Pili predictions: Trailblazer Taylor set for a fitting finale

Katie Taylor vs Flora Pili date, start time & TV info 

Date Saturday, September 5
Starts 7pm; Main-event ring walk from 10pm
Venue Croke Park
TV DAZN

Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the final time this evening with a hometown undisputed title fight against the unbeaten Flora Pili at the iconic Croke Park in Dublin.

Taylor is defending her WBA, IBF and WBO super-lightweight world titles and the vacant WBC belt is up for grabs. Taylor, 40, has confirmed that she will retire after Saturday’s bout and has stressed she won’t be going back on that decision, so she has the chance to bow out as a three-time undisputed world champion on Irish soil.

Pili arrives with a 12-0 record and landed the IBO world title by outpointing Jelena Janicijevic in her last fight. There is no escaping the fact this is a huge step up for the challenger, who has fought outside her native France only once as a professional.

Best bets

Katie Taylor to win by unanimous decision
2pts 4-6 Paddy Power

Thomas Carty to beat Dave Allen
1pt 5-2 Paddy Power

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Taylor set for the perfect send-off

Katie Taylor enters the final fight of her storied career ranked as the number one pound-for-pound fighter by The Ring Magazine and with an almost perfect 26-1 record. 

The Bray Bomber’s sole blemish came via a majority-decision defeat to Chantelle Cameron in May 2023 but she exacted swift revenge on the English fighter six months later back at the 3Arena in Dublin.

Since then, Taylor has completed a trilogy with long-standing rival Amanda Serrano with two wins on points – she had previously beaten the American in 2022 at Madison Square Garden – and her three victories over The Real Deal, alongside defeats of Jennifer Han, Natasha Jonas and Delfine Persoon (twice), underline Taylor's credentials as an all-time great.

Her final opponent, Flora Pili, has passed every test she has faced but the 29-year-old simply hasn’t operated at this level before and taking on Taylor at a sold-out Croke Park is a challenge unlike any other.

If there is a chink in Taylor's armour then it is a lack of power. She has just six stoppages on her CV, the last of which came in 2019, and she’s never secured an early finish in the super-lightweight division. 

Pili has solid defensive skills and has never been knocked down, so she should be able to reach the final bell, but Taylor has all the skills and experience to claim a unanimous victory and, somewhat fittingly, bow out as an undisputed champion.

Paddy Power are offering 50-1 on Katie Taylor to win – click here to find out more

Carty can prove a hometown hero

Dave Allen's ten-round heavyweight bout with Thomas Carty serves as the chief support and the hugely popular White Rhino is a vulnerable favourite. 

Carty is rebuilding his career after losing his unbeaten record in a shock defeat to Dajuan Calloway – but there were mitigating circumstances as he sustained a severe knee injury. 

A native of Dublin, Carty will have the vast majority of the 80,000-strong Croke Park crowd behind him and Allen has struggled against southpaws in the past.

Carty is untested at this level but he is a slick fighter who carries serious power and he can get his career back on track by pulling off an upset.

Katie Taylor vs Flora Pili betting odds

Sign up to bet365 to bet on Saturday's huge fight at Croke Park. Here are the latest odds:

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FAQs

Where can I watch Katie Taylor vs Flora Pili?

Taylor vs Pili and undercard will be broadcast live on DAZN around the world. The fight is not listed as a pay-per-view event meaning viewers will require a DAZN subscription.

Where is Katie Taylor vs Flora Pili taking place?

Katie Taylor will bring the curtain down on her legendary career at the iconic Croke Park in Dublin.

What is the betting for Taylor vs Pili?

Katie Taylor is 1-20 to end her boxing career with victory over Flora Pili on Saturday night. Pili is 9-1 to cause an upset and the draw is 20-1 with bet365.

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