Katie Taylor v Flora Pili: Live updates as Irish star closes out career at a packed Croke Park

And for anyone wondering if we might be flying through these undercard fights a little too quickly, don’t forget that there’ll be a special performance by Westlife on the way tonight. Next up is a heavyweight fight between Phibsboro’s Thomas Carty and English fan favourite Dave Allen. Allen weighed in at nearly 280lbs yesterday, and has admitted to not quite being the most professional boxer ever in the build-up to this one. Gordon Manning reports on the back and forth between these two at the press conference earlier this week.[Before Katie Taylor’s farewell, the undercard fighters get their night at Croke Park]Round 4: It’s all over, as the doctor waves it off for a terrible cut on Tyrone McKenna’s eye that was spraying blood all over the ringside tables. That is probably Paddy Donovan’s best performance of his career, looking really patient, controlled and razor-sharp. Paddy Donovan def. Tyrone McKenna by fifth round stoppage.Round 3: Donovan’s trainer, former middleweight champ Andy Lee, tells him in the corner that he’s looking “sensational”, and he’s not wrong. His head movement looks particularly good in the third, slipping punch after punch. He’s winning this with his lead right hand alone right now.Limerick’s former world title challenger Paddy Donovan is now boxing Belfast’s Tyrone McKenna, who is probably a few years past his prime. So far McKenna has been down in round two, but survived to reach the third. Emmet Brennan is making his own way out of the ring now as the final result is read out. An incredibly brave performance from the Dublin man, but he was overmatched by Bevan. Fair play to the Southampton fighter too, who kept his celebrations to a minimum while the doctors examined Brennan after the knockout blow.Round 6: The doctors investigate Brennan at the start of the sixth for a peculiarly long time, but he’s down from a body shot again as soon as it’s back on. The referee somehow decides to let it go again, and Bevan flattens him with a big left hook. That fight should have been stopped before that last punch.Taylor Bevan def. Emmet Brennan by sixth round stoppage.Brennan down for the third time at the end of the fifth from a lovely left hook to the body. He’s back up now and on the stool preparing for the sixth round.Round 5: Fair play to Brennan, who not only survived but had a couple of good moments in the fourth. Still, he’ll have to go looking for only his second ever knockout if he wants a win. Round 3: Emmet Brennan goes down heavily on a left hook from Taylor Bevan in the third round. He tries to get inside and smother the follow-up, but he’s caught and go down again. The bell saves him for this round, but it’s hard to imagine him surviving the fourth.Two rounds into Brennan-Bevan, and the English fighter is getting the better of it so far. Brennan has a noticeable bit of reddening around the ribs, but has also had some success with his left hook upstairs. Eight rounds to go anyways.Local boy Emmet Brennan makes his way to the ring for his fight with Taylor Bevan. Photograph: Gary Carr/Inpho Donald McRae charts his connection with Katie Taylor through the years, from her amateur days all the way through to the present day finale.[Katie Taylor: An emotional last night for a quietly defiant pioneer]Emmet Brennan, who grew up just around the corner from Croke Park, leads off the action on the main card tonight. The 6-0 super-middleweight and former Olympian makes his way to the ring to face the much-fancied Taylor Bevan, himself boasting a 9-0 record.Although Katie Taylor is exiting the stage after tonight, there’s no doubt that her effect on sports in Ireland will be long-lasting. James Cox reports on the legacy of a pioneering fighter.[‘I want to be like Katie’: In the shadow of Croke Park, Katie Taylor’s legacy is clear]Just to recap on what’s gone on so far tonight at Croke Park, as the preliminary action finishes up on the undercard. Prospects Bobbi Flood and Adam Olaniyan both won well early on, Liverpool’s Joe McGrail stopped Coleraine’s Matthew Boreland, and Katie Taylor’s cousin Molly McCann won a unanimous decision in her fifth pro boxing fight.Results:Paul Ryan def. Paddy Gallagher by unanimous decision.Adam Olaniyan def. Matej Hudak by first round stoppage.Bobbi Flood def. Jack Swallow by unanimous decision.Joe McGrail def. Matthew Boreland by fifth round stoppage.Molly McCann def. Sylwia Doligala by unaimous decision.Before the main event tonight, it’s probably prescient to recap on how we got here. Malachy Clerkin gives the rundown on how Katie Taylor defied all the odds, helping to create the women’s boxing scene she has dominated for decades.[Everything about Katie Taylor’s career was impossible. Until she did it]Hello and welcome to live coverage of Katie Taylor’s final fight as she draws the curtain on a legendary career tonight in Croke Park. Taylor will take on unbeaten French fighter Flora Pili for the undisputed light-welterweight championship of the world in front of a crowd of over 80,000. The fights will be broadcast on RTÉ from 8pm, and we’ll take you through the various Irish action on the undercard leading up to the main event. Remember to protect yourselves at all times, touch gloves, and stay with us throughout the night!