By Boxing Bob Newman
Photo Courtesy Of Matchroom
It’s been 54 years since the legendary Irish sporting grounds known as Croke Park last hosted a boxing match. In 1972, “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali took on Al “Blue” Lewis at Croke Park, but that’s where the comparisons end. That match scraped some 18,000+ fans together, several thousand were gate crashers.
On this incredible night, some 83,000 rabid fight fans packed these hallowed grounds for one reason and one person: Katie Taylor. The Irish icon made her wish come true, to finish her career at this venue- fitting as its place in Irish sporting history is synonymous with that of Taylor. Both ARE Irish Sport.
Matchroom and Eddie Hearn pulled out all the stops: an entertaining undercard and even a performance by legendary Irish pop/boy band Westlife (even though they’re well past their boyhood days). 83,000+ fans sang along with Westlife as well as many of the Irish folk songs which filled the stadium.
Then came the moment of truth: would Taylor end her storied career with a victory, as undisputed super lightweight champion, or would Irish eyes be crying? The fight still had to be fought.
From the outset, it was difficult to determine if both women weren’t caught up at the moment. Both were tentative with their shots, although Taylor did let go with flurries from time to time, igniting the entire stadium.
By the midway point point of this 10 rounder, it became apparent that this would not be a typical Taylor slugfest. Katie picked her shots and even showed defense when Pili tried to make a charge.
Round seven however started to look like a typical Taylor tussle and Pili let her hands go, connecting with some combinations that had Taylor backing and covering up. Round eight saw both women have mixed success against each other as Pili kept up the pressure and Taylor moved and jabbed.
It came down to the last round- would Taylor be able to keep her strategy intact or would Pili be able to draw Taylor into a brawl? Well, it was a bit of both. Taylor kept her tactics going until the ten second signal, then she and Pili went toe-to-toe, drawing a collective roar from all 83,000 voices on hand.
The final scores were as follows: 98-91 and 100-90 twice for Taylor, now undisputed for a third time.
And so Katie Taylor’s career comes to the end she dreamt, where she dreamt… and Irish eyes are smiling.
