The Ring’s No.1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter will finally achieve a long-held dream of fighting at Dublin’s Croke Park, walking to fight France’s Flora Pili with the cheers of 80,000 fans and well-wishers ringing in her ears.

It should prove to be a fitting send-off for one of boxing’s most accomplished and unique characters. As an amateur, Taylor broke down barriers.

Back in 2001 she competed in the first women’s fight to be officially sanctioned by the Irish boxing authorities before going on to win five world championships and six European titles. Taylor also led the campaign for women’s boxing to be included in the Olympics, famously winning gold at the 2012 edition in London.

As a professional, she is a former two-division undisputed champion at lightweight and junior welterweight. Ring champion Taylor (25-1, 6 KOs) currently holds the WBO, IBF and WBA 140-pound titles. Saturday’s show will give fans the opportunity to say an emotional goodbye, knowing their hero still has important business to deal with.

Now 39, Taylor will be desperate to beat Pili (12-0, 2 KOs), add the vacant WBC title to her collection and depart the sport as undisputed 140-pound champion.

Taylor’s sporting achievements have long warranted high standing in Irish sporting history but it is her quiet, humble demeanor and pride in representing her country earning her a place in people's hearts.

With that, let's take a look back at three pivotal moments of a phenomenal career.

After losing in the 2016 Rio Olympic quarter-finals, Taylor got in touch with Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn to ask whether he would be interested in discussions about steering her as a professional.

Taylor was already an Irish folk hero and both parties knew she possessed potential to entirely change the face of women’s boxing. Neither could have anticipated just where those initial messages would eventually lead.

Taylor was already 30 when making her debut, boxing Poland's 24-fight veteran Karina Szmalenberg on the Ohara Davies-Andrea Scarpa undercard in November 2016. She won in the third round.

Given the accolades Taylor has earned in the intervening decade, it may seem surprising to choose a routine stoppage win over an overmatched opponent as a career highlight. Nonetheless, it isn't an exaggeration to say Taylor's decision to turn pro helped change an entire sport and caused a wave of interest still being felt to this day.

When Taylor sits back and reflects on her career, she'll be proud of a packed trophy cabinet as well as the knowledge made an indelible impact on the sport she loves.

Thinking back on various fights and rivalries she's been through, exacting revenge over Chantelle Cameron might just provide the Irishwoman the most personal satisfaction.

It may also be her best performance.

In May 2023, the hard-hitting Cameron travelled to Dublin’s 3Arena as the undisputed junior welterweight champion and produced an outstanding display to inflict the first and only defeat of Taylor’s professional career.

Aged 36 and with accomplishments aplenty behind her, Taylor could have been forgiven for sidestepping a rematch and plotting a lucrative route away from sport.

Instead, she immediately set her sights on evening the score with a younger, stronger fighter.

She got back to the gym, whipped herself into ferocious shape and six months later, the pair renewed hostilities at a passionate, partisan 3Arena.

Taylor was rough and tough but also technically brilliant. She outworked and outpunched Cameron, thoroughly deserving to regain her undisputed crown by majority decision.

At the time, it felt like a great champion digging deep into her reserves and dragging out a final great performance but incredibly, Taylor would achieve even bigger heights.

In April 2022, Katie Taylor and Amando Serrano shared an incredible 10-round battle at Madison Square Garden.

Taylor was awarded a close, controversial split-decision win to retain her undisputed lightweight crown. The two went their separate ways, reconvening 2.5 years later on the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson undercard.

Around 70,000 fans watched the most unusual pairing in boxing history share the ring at the cavernous AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The live gate paled into insignificance compared to the worldwide streaming audience.

Some casual sports fans tuned in hoping to see a 58-year-old Tyson somehow roll back the years. Those expecting the night to generate gaudy headlines and professional wrestling-esque incidents instead found something even better.

They were absorbed by the toe-to-toe action provided by two of women's boxing icons.

Taylor and Serrano had been leading figures in the sport's rise and, given the platform to showcase their talents worldwide, both delivered to give their discipline a further shot in the arm.

In July 2025, the two returned to a wild Madison Square Garden for a third. Taylor clearly separated herself from her long-time rival that night, completing a clean sweep of their trilogy but the two will forever be tied together.