Chantelle Cameron: Enough is Enough

Chantelle Cameron: Enough is Enough

Chantelle Cameron has a simple message for Katie Taylor, either fight her or vacate.

On Friday, Taylor was given yet another 21-day extension by the WBC to try and negotiate a deal for a third fight with Cameron, who is the mandatory challenger for that WBC bauble. In July, Taylor earned her third straight victory over Amanda Serrano, and shortly after, the WBC set their initial 21-day deadline. The WBC also gave the current undisputed world super-lightweight champion a grace period for her to have that third fight with Serrano. Cameron will hope that it will be third time lucky.

The latest extension does seem to be a strange decision, especially with Cameron claiming there has been no contact from the Taylor inner circle during the previous twenty-one days. On the surface, if Taylor wanted the trilogy fight with Cameron, at least some token contact would surely have been made between the two parties. That would seem a logical and basic move.

There has been much doubt cast if Katie Taylor will ever fight again. However, recent posts on her social media accounts do seem to suggest that she will. But will any return fit in with the timeline for that possible third fight with Cameron? The Northampton fighter would hope that her next fight would be before the end of the year. But will Taylor return so quickly? That is the key question. If not, then surely Taylor or the WBC have only one decision to make.

While Taylor does deserve at least some kind of leeway, we can’t have a repeat of the latter period of her lightweight run. The governing bodies were far too lenient with Taylor. The 135 ranks were put on hold for an extended period, while Taylor chased glory elsewhere. That must not happen again. Sometimes, enough is enough. For Cameron, that point has now been reached. In simple terms, she has waited long enough.

A division should be kept moving, and a mandatory challenger should be accommodated within a reasonable amount of time. Cameron has waited long enough for that third fight with Taylor. It is approaching two years since Cameron lost to Taylor in their rematch, and with that mandatory status, she is forcing the hand of the Taylor camp. The WBC would appear to be tightening the screw further.

Cameron obviously wants her chance of redemption against Taylor. A rivalry that is still unfinished business. One win apiece. Surely all parties realise a decider is needed. I think the female side of the sport needs it also. Great rivalries don’t come along very often. We have one in Taylor and Cameron. Why leave it when it clearly has another chapter still to tell. Jake Paul and his Most Valuable Promotions now represent Cameron, and you would surmise money shouldn’t be an issue in making that third fight. It should be a simple issue of whether Taylor wants to fight Cameron again or not.

What we do know is that Chantelle Cameron will have an opportunity to get her hands on that WBC world super-lightweight title in her next fight. The only question is who will be in the opposite corner. Cameron wants Taylor. But does Taylor want Cameron? If not, she will have to vacate. It doesn’t have to be any more complicated than that.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing/MVP