SportBoxingKatie TaylorKatie Taylor will bring the curtain down on a stunning boxing career when she fights Flora Pili at Croke Park this weekend - she is already in a league of her own regardless of the outcome10:06, 04 Sep 2026Muhammad Ali fought Al Blue Lewis at Croke Park before a crowd of 18,000 in 1972. Compare that to the 80,000-plus who will cheer Katie Taylor into retirement.‌Ali was at the height of his fame, the greatest athlete of the 20th Century. Taylor has a decent claim to be the greatest female boxer that has ever lived. Clarissa Shields is also amazing, but it is not only about fighting. It’s about how you carry yourself. Above all, Taylor is a lovely human being, kind, generous and utterly without self regard.‌I remember screaming my head off for her at the 2012 Olympics in London. That was a game changer for female boxing, the first time women had taken part at the Olympics.‌Taylor was magnificent in taking gold and has continued that in the pro game. She pioneered the professional age, and that is not to forget those who came before.The likes of Jane Couch in the UK, and Christy Martin in the USA broke the ground, but it was Taylor and the first wave of Olympians who carried the torch forward, legitimising females in the ring in a way that was not possible before.Taylor never had destructive power. It was her speed and technique that did the damage, stepping in and out of range and overwhelming opponents with rapid combinations. You have only to look at her face to see how good she was. She leaves with barely a mark on her, which is remarkable.‌Many of those in attendance on Saturday will not be fans of boxing necessarily but want to be part of history. As well as laying claim to being the best female fighter ever she might also be Ireland’s greatest sports person.There have been some world class performers, greats like athlete Sonia O’Sullivan, footballer Roy Keane, rugby star Brian O’Driscoll, jockey Ruby Walsh etc, but this girl won everything and did so breaking the mould for women.‌I admire her so much. Despite her fame she is so humble and encouraging of others. She never talks about herself as a great champion. She lets others decide, which is refreshing when you hear the way the majority of modern fighters go at it.Everything that is good about boxing is represented by her. She is an inspiration to a generation of young girls coming through, and a fantastic ambassador.In retirement I would advise her to keep busy in the gym but not boxing. When I stopped I never hit the bags or the pads again. I didn’t want the temptation. Neither, I hope, will she.Article continues belowFollow Barry on X at @‌ClonesCyclone @mcguigan’s_GymBarry McGuiganNumber one for boxingChoose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Katie Taylor