Lidl under fire for spoiling legendary boxer's emotional farewell moment

20:03 ET, 05 Sep 2026Updated 20:04 ET, 05 Sep 2026

Katie Taylor's farewell bout at Croke Park delivered the ending she envisioned, although some spectators held differing opinions.

On Saturday, Taylor wrapped up her legendary career with a unanimous decision victory over Flora Pili. Despite the 40-year-old showing more wear than her considerably younger rival, Taylor exited triumphantly, claiming the undisputed super lightweight championship for the third time.

As she celebrated her historic victory over Pili, a particular moment captured spectators' attention, which they felt tarnished an otherwise fairy-tale conclusion for the boxing icon. The incident occurred after Eddie Hearn, who had been seen with tears streaming down his face earlier that evening, allowed Taylor one final moment in the ring.

Following Hearn's closing remarks about Taylor and her accomplishments, the promoter and others in the ring departed, leaving the champion alone to complete one last lap around the ring to savor the occasion before placing her gloves in the center, formally bringing her career to a close.

However, as Taylor laid her gloves down in the center, she happened to position them directly over Lidl's prominent logo. This didn't go down well with spectators, who felt the supermarket brand undermined what should have been an emotional moment for Taylor and her supporters.

"The big Lidl advert kind of ruins the sentimental side of leaving her gloves in the ring, but what a career for Katie Taylor," one fan wrote on X.

Another wrote, "Having Katie Taylor put her gloves down, after the career she's had, onto a big f---ing Lidl sign is embarrassing."

A third commenter noted that the moment lost some of its magic due to the prominent advertisement displayed in the ring. "Katie Taylor placing her gloves and all her belts down on a big Lidl logo does take a bit of a shine off it," the comment read.

"Something very funny about the wonderful emotional moment of Katie Taylor walking around the ring to say goodbye and then laying her gloves on a massive Lidl sign," a fourth commenter observed.

"Well done #KatieTaylor absolutely champion and legend. Although I think we can all agree that the real winner tonight was the Lidl marketing team," another fan posted on social media. Overall, it was clear that supporters shared similar feelings regarding Lidl's presence during what was otherwise a deeply moving occasion.

For her final bout at Croke Park, the venue she had always dreamed of fighting in, Taylor took time to acknowledge the more than 80,000 fans who filled the stadium to witness the first boxing match held there since 1972.

"Croke Park, we did it, we brought boxing back to Croke Park," she declared to the crowd, drawing a thunderous response as they bid farewell to one of the sport's true legends.

"Every one of you here have been with me before London 2012. You were with me in 2012. You were with me during the heartbreak of Rio. You stayed with me.

"You traveled around the world to watch me in Cardiff, Manchester, Lille, Boston, Brooklyn, Manhattan. Now you're here with me at the main stadium. Thank you."