Katie Taylor reflected on her decorated career without regret following an emotional night at Croke Park that ushered in a retirement of spontaneous travel and eating for enjoyment.
One of Ireland’s greatest sports stars – and the greatest of them all according to promoter Eddie Hearn – signed off her three decades as a boxer by outclassing Flora Pili on Saturday night to become a three-time undisputed world champion.
A crowd of 80,000 watched their hero rise to the occasion with a spine-tingling ring walk to Gospel music followed by a dominant performance against an unbeaten opponent that registered her 26th and final victory.
The 40-year-old acclaimed the Dublin farewell as her most cherished moment, eclipsing the 2012 Olympic gold medal, triumphant trilogy against Amanda Serrano, topping the bill at Madison Square Garden and revenge victory over Chantelle Cameron.
Now having bowed out on her own terms, she intends to savour her success.
“I certainly have no regrets and when I look back on my whole career, that’s an amazing thing to be able to say,” Taylor said.
“Now I’m going to relax with the family, have a nice celebration and look back at my time in the ring.
“It’s been an amazing career and last night was a dream ending to a dream career. What a way to end!
“I’m retired now, so I can eat all I want! Just be a bit more spontaneous and go away on vacation whenever I want to. I’m looking forward to putting my feet up and relaxing for a while.
“My whole life has been more of a training camp, so it’s been training camp after training camp after training camp.
“I’m actually going to have the freedom to do whatever I want and just enjoy the fruits of the labour, really. I can’t wait for that.”
Taylor is open to remaining in Irish boxing in some capacity, providing she can convince her husband Sean McCavanagh to relocate from Connecticut where they are based.
But wherever her path leads, the Bray Bomber’s place in Irish sporting immortality is assured after the nation paid homage to a trailblazer in women’s sport.
“The whole country have seen my good times and also seen me during my devastation as well,” Taylor said.
“I think people really resonate with your vulnerabilities as much as your successes. They saw me cope with the heartbreak of the Rio Olympics.
“They saw me cope with the heartbreak of the Chantelle Cameron loss. This country has seen my personal difficulties as well.
“My story is the story of everybody in this room, everybody in the whole country. We all have our good days, our bad days. Life is full of ups and downs.
“We all have seasons of trouble, seasons of success, but my disappointments and my struggles have always been in the limelight as well.
“I don’t know why the adoration is there, but I’m just super grateful that it’s there. I’m super grateful for this nation and for the dream for which we’re here.”
