Katie Taylor’s final boxing bout at Croke Park on 5 September has revealed an surprising family connection that has remained largely under the radar in combat sports. The world champion from Ireland is cousin to Molly McCann, the former UFC fighter who has made an impressive transition to professional boxing since signing with Matchroom Boxing in July 2025. McCann, a 36-year-old former Cage Warriors flyweight champion, will fight her fifth professional fight on the supporting card of Taylor’s super-lightweight title defense against undefeated Floran Pili, with an anticipated crowd of 80,000 anticipated at the Dublin venue. The revelation has sparked intrigue about why the family connection stayed largely private until now, with McCann herself explaining the rationale behind keeping the relationship out of the public eye.
The Remarkable Family Tie
When McCann spoke to BBC Sport NI regarding their family connection, she was open regarding why the bond had stayed largely kept out of the public eye. “It was the most closely guarded secret in fighting sports because Katie doesn’t speak much and I didn’t wish to appear as if I was capitalising on her success,” she stated. In spite of this privacy, McCann has regularly attended at Taylor’s fights, offering quiet support from the sidelines. The decision to keep personal affairs confidential reflects both women’s preference for allowing their achievements to stand alone rather than relying on familial connections for public attention or gain.
The revelation carries particular emotional weight given that Taylor’s Croke Park bout will be her last bout as a professional, marking the end of an extraordinary career that has reshaped women’s boxing globally. For McCann, fighting on the same bill as her cousin’s farewell represents a bittersweet moment tinged with sadness at seeing Taylor step away from the sport. “She means everything, 80,000 people will be unbelievable,” McCann said, her voice capturing the significance of the occasion. The occasion will serve as both a celebration of Taylor’s legacy and a poignant reminder that even sporting dynasties must eventually come to an end.
- Katie Taylor is Molly McCann’s cousin in professional sport boxing
- McCann kept family connection private to prevent perceptions of coat-tail riding
- Taylor’s farewell fight at Croke Park is emotionally significant for family
- McCann fighting on undercard of Taylor’s final professional fight
Croke Park’s Momentous Occasion
The choice to host Katie Taylor’s farewell fight at Dublin’s Croke Park converts what might otherwise be a routine boxing match into a landmark occasion for Irish sport. With an expected attendance of 80,000 expected to fill the iconic venue on 5 September, the atmosphere promises to be electric and emotionally charged. For Molly McCann, competing on such a significant undercard constitutes an chance to display her own progress as a fighter whilst simultaneously paying tribute her cousin’s remarkable achievements to women’s sport. The scale of the occasion reflects Taylor’s profound impact on boxing globally, elevating what could have been a routine championship defence into a true cultural phenomenon.
McCann has demonstrated her keen desire to compete before such a vast crowd, believing her competitive nature thrives in demanding conditions. “I do perform when it matters. The more people are there, the more I like to fight for the fans,” she stated confidently. Her time spent travelling globally with the UFC has readied her to perform in front of sizeable crowds, though a packed Croke Park venue will undoubtedly represent the largest platform of her professional boxing journey to date. The proximity to Taylor’s final bout adds another layer of significance, making McCann’s bout against Sylwia Doligala into considerably more than a standard fight—it becomes part of a historic sporting farewell.
- Croke Park capacity of 80,000 renders Taylor’s farewell a significant occasion of cultural importance
- McCann thrives competing in front of large crowds, citing UFC background across the globe
- Historic Dublin location raises supporting fights to unparalleled significance
McCann’s Ambitions in Professional Boxing
Despite her notable career in mixed martial arts, Molly McCann views her move into professional boxing as a journey still in its relative infancy. At 36 years old, she is fully cognisant that time is finite, yet she stays positive about her advancement through the sport. McCann has aimed to achieve securing titles of her own, viewing her bout against Doligala as a crucial stepping stone towards championship glory. Her team, including promoter Eddie Hearn, has established a structured advancement plan, with each successive fight representing concrete development. McCann’s commitment to demonstrating as a legitimate boxing talent, rather than simply leveraging her MMA credentials, underscores her serious commitment to the sport.
The fighter has been notably open about her career goals, describing her upcoming Croke Park appearance as “the last little send-off before I do great things.” This self-assurance arises not from arrogance but from tangible improvements evident in her four previous professional bouts. McCann acknowledges that winning against a more experienced opponent with a strong track record will substantially improve her standing and bring her substantially closer to championship prospects. Her readiness to test herself against increasingly demanding competition demonstrates a mature approach to her boxing career, one focused on long-term progression rather than quick victories against weaker opponents.
Learning the Sweet Science of Boxing
Transitioning from MMA to professional boxing has required McCann to substantially reshape her combat strategy. The skill requirements of boxing differ markedly from mixed martial arts, particularly regarding punch placement and stamina control. In MMA, fighters can deploy full intensity on every strike without consequence, but boxing requires a more calculated and measured style to avoid early exhaustion. McCann has openly recognised these distinctions, noting that “every shot in MMA has to be 100% but you can’t do that in boxing or you’ll gas out.” Her willingness to embrace this learning curve demonstrates intellectual honesty about the sport’s complexities.
McCann’s evolution across her four professional bouts has been considerable, with her team highlighting clear enhancements in technical ability, ring awareness, and tactical awareness. Boxing, she explains, operates “like a game of chess,” necessitating careful thought and strategic choices rather than the relentless pace that characterised her MMA career. Each fight has developed from the previous one, progressively refining her grasp of professional boxing’s nuances. McCann’s acknowledgement that her upcoming bout represents “the last learning curve” suggests she believes she is approaching a point where her development will transition from foundational to elite competitive fighting.