Katie Taylor on ending her career at Croke Park: ‘What can top this?'
Katie Taylor joins ahead of her highly-anticipated retirement fight at Croke Park to talk about headlining the historic venue, her plans post-retirement, the various tributes being paid to her career, and more.
Video Transcript
Ariel, I think, I will stay involved i- in the sport in some way, but at the same time, I think, it's gonna be nice not to, not to take any more punches again also.
It's been a, a long, hard career.
I think I am stepping away at the right time.
But this is just a dream come true for me to actually end my career in Croke Park.
The, you know, what can, what can top this, really?
For me personally, it's just an absolute dream, and to, to do it in front of 80,000 people as well, I, I'm not sure there's, any other country in the world that would turn out like that for a female athlete.
I'm so, so proud of that.
And, this is just a d- a dream come true for me, honestly.
I was thinking about the, first fight against Chantelle Cameron earlier this morning, and, there's some similarities.
That was the homecoming period, and this is obviously the final fight, but in the venue that you always dreamed of fighting in.
Mm-hmm.
Did you learn any lessons from that first fight against Chantelle, that big homecoming and all the emotion that was involved- Yeah that maybe will help you deal with the emotions of this week?
Yeah, you're dead right.
I think, I've learned, so much from that, from, from that lo- loss, I think, and, and that's what losses do, don't they?
You, you, you come back a better, a, a stronger fighter.
You come back that's b- that's where all the growth happens, I think, from losses, unfortunately.
But, yeah, I certainly have learned a lot from that.
And, I don't wanna get too emotional, i- in the ring walk or just seeing, listening to the crowd.
It's, it's an amazing moment for me.
But at the same time, there'll be enough time to look back and l- l- enough time to celebrate the win after my hand is raised.
But I just have to be laser focused this week.
I've got a tough challenger in front of me, an undefeated challenger.
I have a chance to become a three-time undisputed champion in, in this fight as well, so, my mind is, firmly fixed on, on the fight.
And, I don't wanna get too emotional like I did, I think, in the first Cameron fight and, let, let all of that take over.
I just have to be la- laser focused on this fight.
How do you stop yourself though?
Because, like, we are human beings, but sometimes we can't control our emotions.
So as you're walking out there and the music is playing, and you'll take in the 80,000 in the venue, how do you stop yourself from not getting emotional?
Have you worked on any tricks to stop yourself from, you know, taking your mind elsewhere and, and- Yeah feeling those emotions?
I haven't, worked on any tricks or anything, but, I think it's gonna be an amazing night for, for the Irish people.
And everyone is gonna be celebrating the, the night and having a great night.
But I'll be in, in the dr- dressing room, as per usual, going through my usual routine.
And, I just g- I, I just know that the most important, thing on that night is that I get me hand raised.
And so I'm just gonna walk out to the ring like I nor- normally do, and just, and just be fi- just be fixed and focused on the actual fight.
And so I haven't worked on any tricks yet, but, I'm hoping it's, I'm hoping my, my focus will, will, will do the job.
