And now, the end is near. As Katie Taylor faces her final curtain in professional boxing, the legendary Irish fighter was roared on by thousands at the iconic Trinity College Dublin this evening as she weighed-in ahead of her historic farewell at Croke Park.
Taylor faces France’s undefeated Flora Pili for all the gold with the Undisputed Super Lightweight Championship on the line in front of 80,000 fans – live worldwide on DAZN and non-exclusively in Ireland on RTÉ.
The Bray Bomber weighed in at 139.6lbs with opponent Pili hitting the scales at 139.9lbs before their eagerly awaited showdown tomorrow night, with London 2012 Olympic Gold Medallist Taylor bidding the sign-off her career as a three-time Undisputed Champion.
A stacked undercard sees two Heavyweights collide as Britain's popular Dave Allen goes up against Dublin's own in Thomas Carty.
Limerick's No.1 ranked IBF Welterweight challenger Paddy Donovan looks to fend off the challenge of Belfast's Tyrone McKenna.
Unbeaten Southampton Super Middleweight Taylor Bevan meets undefeated Emmet Brennan, who leaves just 500m from Croke Park in the opening bout of the Main Card.
The full Weigh-In results can be found below along with the official Fight Night running order.
The stage is set for an extraordinary evening – delivered by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing in association with Aiken Promotions and Brian Peters – with headline performers Westlife ready to deliver an unforgettable performance, along with fellow acclaimed Irish entertainment acts in the Mary Wallopers, Róisín O and Aoife Scott.
Before Westlife take to the stage, the Mary Wallopers will get the party started when the main broadcast begins at 7pm.
The Dundalk trio have become one of the most exciting and unpredictable forces in modern Irish folk, bringing traditional songs and stories to a new generation with their explosive live performances, punk spirit, humour and unmistakable Irish character.
Then, as the excitement reaches fever pitch and Taylor prepares for her final fight in the ring, Róisín O and Aoife Scott will deliver one of the evening’s most poignant moments with a special rendition of the National Anthem.
Róisín O, the acclaimed Dublin singer-songwriter and daughter of legendary Irish artist Mary Black, has built a reputation for her soulful vocals and distinctive blend of folk, pop and contemporary songwriting. Her career has seen her perform on stages across Ireland and internationally, including appearances at major festivals and performances alongside some of the biggest names in music.
She said: "It is an incredible honour to be asked to sing the national anthem for Katie Taylor on such a momentous night. As a woman, and as an Irish woman, there’s something incredibly powerful about standing in Croke Park and singing ‘Amhrán na bhFiann’ for another woman who has inspired an entire nation. To be part of what feels like a truly historic moment in Irish history is something I’ll be hugely proud of."
Joining her will be Aoife Scott, one of the standout voices of Ireland’s contemporary folk scene. The award-winning singer-songwriter, who also comes from the celebrated Black family of Irish musicians, has established a successful career in her own right, captivating audiences with her powerful voice and deeply rooted connection to Irish music.
Scott said: "It's such a huge honour to be asked to perform for Katie Taylor. She means so much to this country, and to be part of her moment in any small way is something I'll never forget."
Taylor vs Pili is sponsored by Title Event Partners Lidl Ireland, along with sponsors Paddy Power, Domino’s Ireland, Everlast, That Prize Guy, Ten Percent Club, ALP and Riyadh Season.
For all the latest news and updates throughout Fight Week, follow @matchroomboxing on social media.
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