A historic fight week in Dublin is officially underway as Katie Taylor received an incredible, hero's reception at today's final Main Event Press Conference before her swansong this Saturday – live worldwide on DAZN and non-exclusively in Ireland on RTÉ.
The legendary Irish fighter bids to become a three-time Undisputed Champion when she faces France's undefeated Flora Pili in front of 80,000 at Dublin's historic Croke Park with the WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight Titles on the line.
And Taylor was welcomed to a rapturous homecoming this afternoon in front of a sold-out crowd at The Helix.
Thanking her Irish fans, an emotional Taylor insisted she will not take Pili lightly in her quest to make her country proud for one final time.
Taylor said: "Like I said before, I am so blown away by all this amazing support. I am so proud to be Irish. I'm so proud to represent this amazing country every single time I step inside the ring.
"I'm still pinching myself. This is a dream. We can be very proud as a nation because I'm not sure there is any other nation in the world where 80,000 people would turn up for a female athlete. I just want to say to you all, from the bottom of my heart, that I am so grateful. Thank you."
Pili, who has never tasted defeated in her professional career, declared she is not here in Dublin to make up the numbers and is confident of causing a major upset.
Pili said: "Well, what can I say. I am the underdog for the fight but I have nothing to lose and everything to win. For that reason, there is less pressure on me and, for that reason, I will be giving it 200 per cent."
On what is a bumper Fight Week, Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn hosted today's proceedings before he heads to Newark, New Jersey where Heavyweights
Andy Ruiz Jr and Damian Knyba collide at the Prudential Center this Friday, September 4, live on DAZN and TNT Sports.
And Hearn paid homage to Taylor on what he insists will be the biggest female sporting spectacle of all-time in the Emerald Isle.
Hearn said: "Saturday will be, as far as I’m concerned, the biggest moment in Katie Taylor’s career, the biggest night in the history of Irish sport, the biggest female sporting event of all-time and, for me personally without question, the biggest and greatest night of my career. I’ve never looked forward to a night like this in my whole life.
"I think what you are about to witness will be one of the most memorable ocassions that everybody who has bought a ticket, everybody inside Croke Park and everybody tuned in around the world on DAZN, and in Ireland on RTÉ, will never, ever forget.
"And that is what great sport is all about: those memorable moments that leave you on the edge of your seat and make your eyes well up.
You can read the quotes in full below from today's Main Event Press Conference.
As a monumental night at Croke Park awaits, delivered by Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing in association with Aiken Promotions and Brian Peters, Fight Week continues tomorrow when Taylor and Pili lead the stacked card of fighters taking part in an Open Workout, taking place at The Helix at 6pm.
Then, on Thursday, September 3, the undercard – including Dave Allen vs Thomas Carty, Paddy Donovan vs Tyrone McKenna, Taylor Bevan vs Emmet Brennan, Molly McCann vs Sylwia Doligala, Joe McGrail vs Matthew Boreland, Adam Olaniyan vs Matej Hudak, Bobbi Flood vs Jack Swallow and Paul Ryan vs Paddy Gallagher – take to the stage for the Undercard Press Conference at The Helix, The Theatre, which starts at 1pm – open to media only.
Comments
Share your thoughts on the above article by NewsHub @ PhilBoxing.