Emotional Taylor steps on to the scales one final time

Katie Taylor has taken her final week as a professional boxer in her stride.Each media event has been ticked off with the kind of composure and poise she has displayed in the ring for over two decades.Dublin blessed Taylor and opponent Flora Pili with some early autumn sun as they weighed in at Trinity College before Saturday's undisputed light-welterweight battle at a sold-out Croke Park.Taylor has not missed weight once in her 26-fight career and she was not going to buck the trend as she was greeted by adoring fans - many whom have followed her career since she won Olympic gold in 2012.The announcement of the weights - both coming in just under the 10st (63.5kg) limit - was almost immaterial.All 80,000 tickets for Saturday's undisputed light-welterweight fight have been long snapped up and demand for Friday's ceremonial weigh-in proved just as high.Supporters packed into Trinity College, a seat of higher learning founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, to catch a glimpse of the queen of Irish sport.Women were not permitted to study at Trinity College until 1975 but Taylor, who has smashed barriers for women in and out of the ring - was the star attraction.Trinity's old library is an attraction in its own right, home to the Book of Kells - an illustrated manuscript, which contains the four Gospels of the New Testament in Latin - but those in its grounds were there for their own piece of history on this final fight week of Taylor's illustrious career.The 40-year-old, two-weight undisputed champion, may not be a huge fan of the fight week obligations and making weight is certainly an aspect to the sport that will not be missed, but this was an opportunity to soak it all in one last time.Taylor rarely displays emotion in fight week but she has shown a different side of the past couple of days as the curtain starts to fall on her illustrious career.The Bray fighter, who had her mother Bridgit close by, choked up at times and appeared as she delivered her final messages."I'm so excited. I've been saying all week how I grateful I am for this opportunity. I've been dreaming of this for the last few years and now it's just one day away. It's just one day away from ending my career in my dream venue of Croke Park," Taylor told the crowd after her final face-off."All these amazing people are here today and I'm blown away. I can't wait to step in there and I want to put in a performance worthy of everyone's support."You have carried me through the Rio Olympics, London Olympics and throughout my professional career. Thank you."Both fighters can now breathe a little easier as it is onto the task at hand.The buzz that has steadily built all week will reach a crescendo when they make their way to the ring around 22:00 BST on Saturday, and while the occasion remains grand, the destination of the title belts remains the priority."My mind is very much focused on the fight," Taylor reiterated."I have a tough challenger in front of me but I've built a reputation of taking tough fights - why treat my last fight any differently?"Tomorrow is going to be an amazing celebration. I'm super proud to represent this amazing country. Let's go one more time."