A Boxing Memory: Chantelle Cameron vs. Katie Taylor 1

A Boxing Memory: Chantelle Cameron vs. Katie Taylor 1

It was the emotional long-awaited homecoming for Katie Taylor. Finally, a return home. The first time the Irish hero had fought on home soil as a professional prize fighter. But her opponent had long chased a fight with Taylor. It was her moment of truth, and she didn’t waste it. Many came to party. Chantelle Cameron just came to fight. And win.

Cameron went to the 3Arena in Dublin very much in the away corner. Almost forgotten in the build-up. An afterthought, even. Cameron was unbeaten and the reigning undisputed super-lightweight champion of the world. But to many, she was just the opponent for the Katie Taylor show. But Cameron fought the fight of her life on the biggest night of her life.

Cameron shouldn’t have even been in that Dublin ring in May 2023. Amanda Serrano was the originally intended opponent, but when Serrano pulled out through injury, Taylor put the call out to fight Cameron instead. The invite was quickly accepted.

To her credit, Taylor could have picked a far softer option than Cameron for the homecoming gig. The undisputed world lightweight champion was attempting to go undisputed in a second weight division. It was a high-risk gamble, and one that always looked like it could backfire spectacularly on Taylor.

Cameron always fancied the fight, always wanted the fight, but it never materialised until that somewhat unexpected social media callout. But in a fight that was always likely to go the distance, Cameron just needed a fair deal on the cards. More on that later.

As champion, Cameron was made to walk to the ring first, and then she had to wait while Taylor made that slow emotional ring walk as she soaked up the incredible passionate welcome from her adoring faithful. Cameron could have quite easily lost her focus right there and then. But you sensed that no matter what, she wasn’t going to be denied.

A good start was crucial if Cameron was going to inflict the first blemish on the Katie Taylor resume. And she got one. Cameron marched out to the centre of the ring with real authority. That left jab thudded home with intent. The Taylor body was a constant target. The right hand landed with frequency. The opening round was a clear Cameron round. Already, Taylor was looking distinctly uncomfortable.

Taylor found more success in the following round. A round I edged to the hometown fighter. But that was the last round I scored for Taylor until the 8th. I thought Cameron asserted her control from the third round onwards. Cameron was composed, but also aggressive. Taylor’s hair came loose, adding to the feeling that the fight wasn’t going her way. Which it plainly wasn’t. The expected Taylor rally just never came.

I had Cameron winning five rounds on the bounce. From the third round onwards, Cameron was in firm control. But Taylor had a decent enough eighth round, but by that point, at least on my card, it was too little too late. Any hopes of a late Taylor comeback were extinguished in the very next round. Cameron was excellent in the ninth round as she stopped the brief Taylor surge. The bigger fighter was also the better fighter. The final round was a back-and-forth two minutes. I gave it to Taylor, but it wasn’t enough to save her night. The only doubt was whether Cameron would get a fair deal.

Cameron must have shuddered when the first scorecard was announced. One judge couldn’t split them, but thankfully, the remaining two judges could. That first score of 95-95 was quite rightly cancelled out by two scores of 96-94. On repeat viewing, I had Cameron up 7-3 in rounds. 96-94 was acceptable. 95-95 wasn’t. Taylor didn’t win five rounds. I found it a reasonably easy fight to score.

It was a fight that was fought at a scintillating, ferocious pace in a red-hot partisan atmosphere. Cameron was booed as she walked to the ring, and again, when she was declared the winner. In many ways, Chantelle Cameron deserved better.

Taylor would get her revenge six months later. Despite calls for a trilogy, it never happened. It probably never will.

Cameron never really got the credit that she deserved for beating Katie Taylor, still the only fighter to do so. The Northampton fighter served up a quite remarkable performance on a night that will live long in the memory.

Photo Credit: Matchroom Boxing