Taylor's place among greats set in stone after extraordinary swansong

Katie Taylor addressed the Croke Park crowd as she paid tribute to her mother Bridget, but her extended family of 83,000 inside Croke Park and many more tuning in will have known this one was for them too.

Fairytale endings in boxing are a rarity, but Taylor is no ordinary fighter and her swansong proved as extraordinary as the fighter and person.

After 30 years lacing up the gloves, Taylor, 40, sails off into the sunset after the most perfect of farewells in front of 83,000 adoring fans at Dublin's iconic Croke Park, just three miles from the scene of her first official bout 25 years earlier.

The final act in the ring was to sweep past Flora Pili to cement her legacy in Ireland and beyond, bowing out as a three-time and two-weight undisputed champion.

It was a night of celebration, cheers and plenty of tears as fans and peers turned out for her victory lap, showing love and appreciation for a career which thrilled and inspired in equal measure.

"It was everything I expected and more," Taylor said at her final post-fight news conference.

"Thankfully I was able to hold my emotions together tonight as I was getting emotional all week and the last few months' preparation was so emotional.

"The atmosphere was so special. I was beyond my wildest dreams - what a special night."