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.
