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Katie Taylor weighed in at 139.6lbs at Trinity College Dublin, slightly lighter than opponent Flora Pili at 139.9lbs, ahead of her final professional fight. Speaking from the stage erected in front of the Campanile, Taylor described the challenge as her purpose, saying she was born and made for moments like this and that she has one last night to display the gift God gave her. Her father Pete was among the crowd as all 20 fighters on the card took to the scales in the visually spectacular setting, capping the career of an athlete who once had to disguise herself as a boy to box and who now headlines a sell-out show in one of Europes largest stadiums.
‘It is going to be a tough challenge, but this is what I was born for; this is what I was made for’The venue was a fitting backdrop for the final weigh-in of an athlete who has spent her career rewriting every textbook about women in sport.headlining a sell-out show in one of Europe’s largest stadiums less than 30 years on from having to masquerade as a boy to participate in the sport.
Her weigh-in took place in the front square of the college, a visually spectacular event with a temporary stage erected at the base of the Campanile, the bell tower in the centre of the square. Katie Taylor: ‘I was walking to some boxing gyms as a young girl being sniggered at and laughed at’Championship is enduring a crisis of competitiveness, but hurling is not in need of saving Taylor came in at 139.6lbs, a fraction lighter than her opponent Flora Pili, who made weight at 139.9lbs for the superlightweight bout.
Dressed in a pine green leather jacket with a train-track-sized gold zipper down the middle and her name printed across the chest,“My mind is very much focused on the fight at this stage,” she said from the platform in Trinity.
“I have a job to do tomorrow night; I have a very tough challenger in front of me. But I’ve been saying all along that I’ve built my reputation on always taking a tough fight, so why treat my last fight any differently? It is going to be a tough challenge, but this is what I was born for; this is what I was made for.
Katie Taylor: 'I have one last night to go in and display the gift that God has put in me. What a privilege.
' Photograph: Inpho “God has put this gift in me since I was a kid, and I have to perform tomorrow night. I have one last night to go in and display the gift that God has put in me. What a privilege. ”Among the crowd scattered across the college was her dad, Pete, on an evening when all 20 fighters on the card weighed in.
Emmet Brennan, born and bred a puck away from Croke Park, wore a Dublin cap for his moment on stage while Thomas Carty donned a Dubs jersey with the number 95 emblazoned across the back. The only face-off that even threatened to boil over was when Molly McMann and Sylwia Doligala went nose to nose, but truth be told there have been far rowdier nights in the university’s Pavilion Bar after a casual game of midweek cricket than there was among 20 revved up boxers in the square on Friday.
Taylor and Pili were the last two fighters on stage, and as has been the case at events all week, the 29-year-old French woman was afforded a warm reception by the Irish crowd. Katie Taylor has performed a public workout at Dublin's Helix ahead of her final career fight against Flora Pili in Croke Park.
Video: Alan Betson Both boxers shook hands after their face-off and while Pili headed for the exit, Taylor stayed around and thanked the fans for their support. , to be honest. I’ve been saying all week how grateful I am for this opportunity. I just can’t believe it, I’ve been dreaming about this for the last few years and we are now one day away from making this fight happen.
“One day away from ending my career at my dream venue in Croke Park in front of all of these amazing people. I’m blown away; I can’t wait to step in there. Katie Taylor expressed her gratitude to the fans for their support over the years. Photograph: Getty Images “I’ve been saying for the last few months I want to put on a performance worthy of everybody’s support over the last few years.
Guys, I’m just so grateful for these last few amazing years in the ring – you guys have carried me throughout the Rio Olympics, the London Olympics and throughout my pro career – I’m so grateful. ” As Taylor talked to her management team backstage after the weigh-in, several other boxers on the card were made to wait at the exit by security until the Bray fighter had hopped into her chauffeured car.
There has been no doubt all week whose show this is. But before she left the stage for the final time on Friday, Taylor raised her hands again to the crowd before slowly turning around to take in a full 360-degree view of the square. Yes, it was real.
“I have the chance to become a three-time undisputed champion again. I’m super proud to represent this amazing country. I love the support I have got from this country.
”Fans at Katie Taylor’s weigh-in left in no doubt the champ is ready to rumbleBefore Katie Taylor’s farewell, the undercard fighters get their night at Croke ParkPatrick Bergin, co-star of Julia Roberts in Sleeping with the Enemy, seeks buyer for Offaly castleBoy dies and man injured after train hits car at crossing in Co MayoLATEST STORIESFans at Katie Taylor’s weigh-in left in no doubt the champ is ready to rumbleTrump expected to use Qatar-donated Air Force One for visit to Ireland Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers
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