HISTORIC NIGHT OF CELEBRATION FOR IRISH SPORT AWAITS AS UNDERCARD FOR KATIE TAYLOR VS PILI AT CROKE PARK iS CONFIRMED
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 01 Jul 2026
The undercard for Katie Taylor’s final dance is confirmed as the fighting pride of Ireland get set for a blockbuster night in front of 80,000 fans at Dublin’s iconic Croke Park on Saturday, September 5 – live worldwide on DAZN.
The event, delivered by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing in association with Aiken Promotions, Brian Peters and Title Event Partner, Lidl Ireland, will see Boxing return to Ireland’s historic home of the Gaelic Athletic Association for the first time since the late, great Muhammad Ali famously fought there in 1972.
Legendary Taylor will be bidding to become a three-time Undisputed queen with the WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight World Titles on the line when she headlines against France’s undefeated Flora Pili.
And a bumper undercard awaits too – including an eagerly awaited Heavyweight clash between Dave Allen and Ireland’s own, Thomas Carty.
Allen (26-9-2, 20 KOs), who last summer upset Johnny Fisher in London, recently came up short in two recent huge battles with Arslanbek Makhmudov and Filip Hrgovic. But the Doncaster favourite returned to winning ways earlier this month with a points win over Ross McGuigan.
Carty, meanwhile, was successful in his last outing back in March when he defeated German Skobenko on points almost a year after his only career defeat to date when he suffered a severe knee injury during his American debut against Dajuan Calloway.
In an exciting all-Irish clash, No.1 ranked mandatory challenger for the IBF World Welterweight Championship, and Limerick’s own, Paddy Donovan (15-2, 11 KOs) meets Belfast’s battle-hardened Tyrone McKenna (25-6-1, 8 KOs).
Katie Taylor’s cousin – the former UFC star turned professional boxer – Molly ‘Meatball’ McCann (4-0, 1 KO) will be hoping to set the tone earlier in the night as she looks to extend her winning start to life with Matchroom Boxing when she faces Yorkshire’s Sylwia Doligala (8-2-2).
Rising Super Middleweight prospect Taylor Bevan (9-0, 8 KOs), who earlier this month celebrated a home win at Southampton’s St Mary’s, will be looking for back-to-back stadium show wins as he takes on undefeated Dublin fighter Emmet Brennan (6-0, 1 KO).
Liverpool Super Bantamweight Joe McGrail (13-0, 6 KOs) bids for WBA Continental Gold glory when he collides with Coleraine’s unbeaten Matthew Boreland (7-0, 2 KOs)
It’s Dublin versus Belfast as two Middleweight rivals in Paul Ryan (10-2, 4 KOs) and Paddy Gallagher (17-6, 10 KOs) go head-to-head.
Plus, two of Queensberry Promotions up-and-coming starlets look to shine on home soil as Dublin Heavyweight Adam Olaniyan (2-0, 2 KOs) and Dublin Super Welterweight Bobbi Flood (2-0, 1 KO) plan to get the home fans in the mood for a historic night for Irish sport.
Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn said: “With so much Irish talent on the undercard, it will be a special, party atmosphere at Croke Park before 80,000 fans get behind the great Katie Taylor for her final ever fight.
“I love the Allen-Carty fight. Two experienced Heavyweights, in a make-or-break fight, out to score an almighty win. Plus, Paddy Donovan fresh from his recent heroics in Germany looks to underline his status as Ireland's No.1 Welterweight – and underline why he is next in line to challenge for the IBF crown.
“Molly McCann looked great in her recent win in Liverpool and she has a huge year ahead. But she will be over the moon to be on this card, especially with her cousin Katie Taylor headlining.
“Joe McGrail has got a tough test against Matthew Boreland in front of him but he is in a prime position to kick on in the Super Bantamweight division> And so too does Taylor Bevan, whose stock continues to grow after his hard-fought victory in Southampton.
“It will be a huge celebration for Irish sport and this card – live worldwide on the Global Home of DAZN – will certainly deliver for the 80,000 fans who pack into Croke Park on September 5”.
Follow all the latest news and updates on social media @MatchroomBoxing.
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