Advertisement

Everything you need to know ahead of Katie Taylor's final fight in Croke Park

From opening time to what else is going to be going on aside from boxing, here's everything you n...
Newstalk
Newstalk

11.11 5 Sep 2026


Share this article


Everything you need to know ah...

Everything you need to know ahead of Katie Taylor's final fight in Croke Park

Newstalk
Newstalk

11.11 5 Sep 2026


Share this article


From opening time to what else is going to be going on aside from boxing, here's everything you need to know about Katie Taylor's final fight in Croke Park.

Boxing fans from all over the world are getting ready to descend upon Croke Park to see the pioneer of women's boxing, Katie Taylor, enter the ring for one last time. 

The Bray native is hanging up her gloves after the title card fight, after kicking off her career in 2016. 

Advertisement

80,000 people are expected to see the Olympic gold-medal winner, but here's what those with tickets can expect from the Croke Park event.

Who is Katie Taylor Fighting?

Katie will be taking on French opponent Flora Pili. The 29-year-old is undefeated in 12 professional contests.

Pili is hoping to get her hands on Taylor's IBF super-lightweight crown and currently holds the IBO world championship.

Katie will also defend her WBA and WBO titles, and the vacant WBC belt is up for grabs.

Who else will be fighting in Croke Park?

Those on the undercard include Dave Allen vs Thomas Carty (heavyweight), Paddy Donovan vs Tyrone McKenna (welterweight), Molly McCann vs Sylwia Doligala (bantamweight), Joe McGrail vs Matthew Boreland (super-bantamweight), Taylor Bevan vs Emmet Brennan (super-middleweight), Paul Ryan vs Paddy Gallagher (middleweight), Bobbi Flood vs Jack Swallow (super welterweight), and Adam Olaniyan vs Matej Hudak (heavyweight).

What makes the undercard special for Katie Taylor specifically is that her cousin is Molly McCann, so there's two members of the family taking to the ring.

What time does Croke Park open and what time will the event end at?

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Newstalk (@newstalkfm)

Speaking on The Pat Kenny Show, Peter McKenna, explained: "So it'll open at four o'clock (4pm), [and the] first bout is on at ten past four (4:10pm).

"We're not really expecting most people coming until about maybe 6pm. I think that's the general kind of pattern because young children, you don't want to have them out for too long either. They get tired early.

"The curfew is 11 o'clock (11pm) and it's scheduled that everything will finish before then."

Will the bars be open during the bouts?

Mr McKenna explained that the bars will actually be closed before Katie takes to the ring, but "the usual" offerings will be available all day including "a drink for refreshments, burgers, takeaways, that type of activity."

What else is happening at Croke Park during the event?

There will be plenty of other kinds of entertainment aside from the boxing itself, with Mr McKenna explaining: "This is going to be a spectacle that Matchroom and Aiken Promotions really know how to put on. And I think [everyone there] are going to have a great time.

"What I think Peter and Eddie Hearn are looking to do is recognising that there's going to be a very, I suppose, not regular boxing crowd being there. How do you keep people entertained and interested?

"So there's stilt walkers, there's face painting, the Mary Wallopers and Westlife, as you say, and other kind of music interdisperse. And then there's some great bouts."

What's the weather going to be like?

Mr McKenna added: "I think we'll have one or two showers, but nothing this evening. So it's looking like to be a dry evening, which would be fantastic. But do bring... people should bring coats and prepare for Irish weather."

Met Eireann's Dublin forecast says: "Staying cloudy tonight and becoming damp with patches of rain, drizzle and mist spreading from the west. Some hill fog will develop also.

"The rain and drizzle will become more isolated overnight. Mild and humid with lowest temperatures of 15 or 16 degrees in moderate to fresh southerly winds."

Will people be able to watch from home?

RTÉ will broadcast the fight live on RTÉ and RTÉ Player from 8pm.

What time does Katie step foot in the ring?

The title bout with Katie Taylor and Flora Pili is slated to start at 10:08pm. The event will also be broadcast worldwide on DAZN.

Main image: Katie Taylor, Picture by: Alamy Stock Photo


Share this article


Read more about

Croke Park Katie Taylor The Pat Kenny Show

Most Popular