Cameron spoils Taylor's Ireland homecoming with majority decision win
DUBLIN - Perhaps the pressure got to Katie Taylor. Or maybe Chantelle Cameron was just the better boxer.
Taylor, boxing's undisputed lightweight champion, competed as a professional for the first time in her home country of Ireland on Saturday - a homecoming years in the making.
The rowdy and proud Irish fans at 3Arena cheered, clapped, and sang as Taylor walked to the ring. The sold-out venue, home to the first big-time boxing event in Ireland since 2016, was deafening. The atmosphere was incredible.
But after 10 back-and-forth rounds, Cameron pulled off the upset against Taylor via majority decision (95-95, 96-94, 96-94), retaining the undisputed super lightweight title for the first time and handing the Irishwoman her first career loss.
Cameron used her larger frame and physicality to her advantage. She found her range early in the fight and never let up. She walked Taylor down and didn't give her room to breathe. Cameron landed punches with more consistency and power than Taylor.
Cameron fought very measured in the opening rounds. She repeatedly and effectively dug into Taylor's body with a left hook. The 32-year-old also landed hard straight punches. Taylor started to figure Cameron out midway through the bout, stinging her opponent with hard shots and turning it into somewhat of a slugfest.
But Cameron cemented the victory in the final few stanzas, again staying busier and landing with more impact.
The win was Cameron's fifth consecutive title defense overall. The Brit won her first world title - the WBC strap - in 2020, and she became undisputed champion last November with a win over Jessica McCaskill. She's now 18-0 as a professional.
Cameron wasn't Taylor's original opponent for Saturday.
Taylor's homecoming was at risk of not happening when Amanda Serrano withdrew from their highly anticipated rematch in late February due to an injury.
Undeterred, Taylor was adamant about fighting on home soil. At that point, the 36-year-old could have picked any opponent. Irish fans would have still shown up to watch an easy payday. But instead, she called out the undisputed champion from the weight class above her.
She wanted to be tested. She dared to be greater.
Sometimes, the greats come up short. And that's what happened Saturday. One of the best women's boxers of all time, Taylor now holds a 22-1 pro record.