Taylor v Pili - Irish icon's farewell fight predictions
BBC Sport
BBC Sport
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Katie Taylor, an Olympic gold medallist and two-weight undisputed champion, bids farewell to her remarkable career on Saturday facing unbeaten French challenger Flora Pili before 80,000 fans at Dublin's Croke Park. Victory would crown one of Ireland's greatest sporting careers and make Taylor a three-time undisputed champion.
Katie Taylor brings the curtain down on a remarkable career on Saturday when she faces unbeaten Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans at Croke Park in Dublin.
Taylor is an Olympic gold medallist and two-weight undisputed champion who has won 25 of her 26 professional fights, with six victories by stoppage.
The 40-year-old has long dreamed of fighting at Croke Park and will finally get her wish in the final bout of her career.
French challenger Pili, 29, is undefeated in 12 professional contests, with two stoppage wins. She is former European champion, but has never faced anyone with Taylor's pedigree or experience.
Victory in the light-welterweight contest would provide a fairytale ending for one of Ireland's greatest sporting careers and see Taylor become an undisputed champion for a third time.
Can Taylor produce one final vintage performance on the biggest night of her career?
Or will the younger, unbeaten Pili spoil the occasion and pull off a mammoth upset?
BBC Sport spoke to figures from the boxing world to get their predictions for Saturday's fight.
"I've watched bits of Pili and she looks OK, but Katie is on a different level and should win, will win. It will be the icing on the cake for Katie to end a career that we may never see again from a fighter from these shores.
"It's a little harder for the women to get stoppages with the two-minute rounds, but I feel Katie may well find a finish in the later rounds."
Prediction - Taylor
"Boxing always has this way of throwing a curve ball, there's always a banana skin somewhere and this might be it.
"Katie Taylor hasn't fought for nearly a year-and-a-half when she had the trilogy with Amanda Serrano. She's 40-years-old, there's a lot of wear and tear and mileage on her. The same can't be said for Pili. She's fought a few levels down but she's unbeaten and will come with confidence.
"I think Katie will get it done but don't think it will be without problems, so Taylor to get it done on a close decision."
Prediction - Taylor
Taylor is an Olympic gold medallist and two-weight undisputed champion who has won 25 of her 26 professional fights, with six victories by stoppage.
The 40-year-old has long dreamed of fighting at Croke Park and will finally get her wish in the final bout of her career.
French challenger Pili, 29, is undefeated in 12 professional contests, with two stoppage wins. She is former European champion, but has never faced anyone with Taylor's pedigree or experience.
Victory in the light-welterweight contest would provide a fairytale ending for one of Ireland's greatest sporting careers and see Taylor become an undisputed champion for a third time.
Can Taylor produce one final vintage performance on the biggest night of her career?
Or will the younger, unbeaten Pili spoil the occasion and pull off a mammoth upset?
BBC Sport spoke to figures from the boxing world to get their predictions for Saturday's fight.
"I've watched bits of Pili and she looks OK, but Katie is on a different level and should win, will win. It will be the icing on the cake for Katie to end a career that we may never see again from a fighter from these shores.
"It's a little harder for the women to get stoppages with the two-minute rounds, but I feel Katie may well find a finish in the later rounds."
Prediction - Taylor
"Boxing always has this way of throwing a curve ball, there's always a banana skin somewhere and this might be it.
"Katie Taylor hasn't fought for nearly a year-and-a-half when she had the trilogy with Amanda Serrano. She's 40-years-old, there's a lot of wear and tear and mileage on her. The same can't be said for Pili. She's fought a few levels down but she's unbeaten and will come with confidence.
"I think Katie will get it done but don't think it will be without problems, so Taylor to get it done on a close decision."
Prediction - Taylor
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Tags:#الملاكمة#كاتي تايلور#فلورا بيلي#أيرلندا#كروك بارك#الرياضة
Source: BBC Sport
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