Katie Taylor will fight the final bout of her professional career on Saturday, taking on unbeaten Frenchwoman Flora Pili at Croke Park in Dublin. The 40-year-old Irish boxer, one of the sport's most influential figures, is bidding to become a three-time undisputed world champion by adding the vacant WBC light-welterweight belt to her WBO, WBA and IBF titles, in what promises to be an emotional send-off in front of around 80,000 fans in her home city.

Taylor turned professional in 2016 after a decorated amateur career that included Olympic gold in 2012, and has since compiled a 25-1 record, with her sole defeat, to Chantelle Cameron, avenged in a rematch. She has fought in 20 successive world title bouts, winning 19, and headlined landmark clashes with Amanda Serrano, including a sold-out night at Madison Square Garden in 2022. Her opponent, 29-year-old Pili, is unbeaten in 12 professional fights, though only two have been outside her native France, and she arrives as a significant underdog for what is billed as Taylor's fairytale farewell fight.