Hollywood superstar delivers rousing speech to support Katie Taylor

Irish icon Barry Keoghan has paid a heartfelt tribute to Ireland’s greatest ever athlete, Katie Taylor, as her historic farewell inches closer

Bray boxer Katie Taylor will fight for the final time when she headlines in front of 80,000 at Dublin’s Croke Park this Saturday – live worldwide on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN and non-exclusively in Ireland on RTÉ.

The London 2012 Olympic Gold Medallist bids to become a three-time Undisputed Champion, taking on France’s undefeated Flora Pili for the WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO and Ring Magazine Super Lightweight Titles.

And Hollywood mega star Keoghan – the BAFTA Award-winning actor of The Banshees of Inisherin, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, Saltburn, Top Boy and more – has shared a spine-tingling message in homage to the Emerald Isle’s legendary hero, Taylor.

"You know, it's a funny thing, greatness. It’s rarely found in the loudest voice. If you need to shout you’ve got it – you probably never had it in the first place," says Keoghan, in the special presentation directed by Matchroom Boxing's Alex Haines.

"See, back when the boxing world believed it belonged only to boys, a girl walks into a gym. Fighting not as Katie… but as Kay from Bray. They’ll say the rest is history, but it was never that simple.

"A path only exists because someone was willing to walk first. And before there was a path, there was Katie. With each step she tread new ground. First came Ireland. Then Europe. Then the World. Inspiring a generation as the golden girl of the Emerald Isle.

"But as the path diverged – Katie took the road less travelled. What followed changed the sport forever. So, when you’ve done all that, how do you top off a career of a lifetime? Is there a final chapter worthy of everything that came before? It's Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland.

"Most journeys begin at home. The rare ones end there too. And so, Katie returns. For every fan who walked the journey beside her. For every young dreamer who dared to dream. For ALL Ireland.

"So, that years from now, when her story is passed through generations, You can say: I was there... I was there!

"And when they ask you about Katie You can begin with four simple words: Once upon a time."

You can watch the video in full at Matchroom Boxing’s official YouTube and on social media @matchroomboxing

Fight Week, delivered by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing in association with Aiken Promotions and Brian Peters, begins on Tuesday, September 1 when Taylor and Pili meet at the Main Event Press Conference at The Helix, Mahony Hall.

Then, on Wednesday, September 2, Taylor and Pili lead the stacked card of fighters taking part in an Open Workout, taking place at the same venue at 6pm.

Fans are invited to attend both events by applying for tickets:
Main Event Press Conference: https://www.thehelix.ie/taylor-vs-pili-pressconference

Open Workout: https://www.thehelix.ie/taylor-vs-pili-prefightworkout

On Thursday, September 3, the undercard – including Dave Allen vs Thomas Carty, Paddy Donovan vs Tyrone McKenna, Taylor Bevan vs Emmet Brennan, Molly McCann vs Sylwia Doligala, Joe McGrail vs Matthew Boreland, Adam Olaniyan vs Matej Hudak, Bobbi Flood vs Jack Swallow and Paul Ryan vs Paddy Gallagher – take to the stage for the Undercard Press Conference at The Helix, The Theatre, which starts at 1pm – open to media only.