Katie Taylor ended her professional boxing career Saturday night with a commanding points victory over unbeaten French fighter Flora Pili at Croke Park in Dublin, winning by scores of 100-90, 100-90 and 98-91 to become a three-time undisputed world champion, according to the BBC.
The 40-year-old added the vacant WBC belt to her existing WBA, WBO and IBF light-welterweight titles. Around 80,000 fans packed Croke Park for the occasion, making it the sixth largest recorded post-war attendance for a boxing event anywhere in the world.
Taylor turned professional in 2016 and retires with a record of 26 wins and one defeat. She is an Olympic champion and a two-weight world champion, and is widely credited as one of the pioneers of women's professional boxing.
The crowd that gathered was notably new to the sport. Around 80 percent of those inside Croke Park had never previously attended a boxing event. They came to honor a fighter who, as the BBC described, dragged women's sport from the margins and took an entire nation on her journey.
By early evening the stands were filled with green and white, with tricolors draped over shoulders. Chart-topping pop group Westlife performed at the event, singing World of Our Own and You Raise Me Up, with tens of thousands of fans joining in. An a cappella version of Grace, the Irish ballad linked to the 1916 Easter Rising, was also performed before the national anthem rang out.
Taylor emerged for her final walkout to the song All Hail King Jesus, a nod to the faith she has spoken openly about throughout her career. She stretched her arms wide, sang along, and tried to absorb every moment. Fireworks shot into the Dublin sky as she made her way to the ring.
Pili was overmatched throughout. Taylor used the footwork, speed and sharp pressure fighting that defined her career across more than two decades in the sport to dominate the bout from start to finish.
Promoter Eddie Hearn paid tribute to Taylor, calling her "Ireland's greatest sportsperson." After the final bell, Taylor took one last lap of the ring, waving to the crowd before ceremonially placing her gloves and belts in the center of the canvas.
