IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC & WBO World Super-Lightweight titles: Katie Taylor bt Chantelle Cameron
HOW could we ever have doubted her? The Katie Taylor we know and love returned in style and avenged her May loss to Chantelle Cameron with an emphatic victory at a packed and jubilant 3Arena.
She is now an undisputed, two-weight world champion and, as the sweetest win of her brilliant career began to sink in, Taylor called for a trilogy fight at Croke Park.
“That was the longest six months of my life waiting for this rematch,” she said.
“This is my real homecoming tonight. The ones who wrote me off obviously don’t know me. Let’s get the trilogy at Croke Park!”
The second meeting of the rivals turned out to be the one many expected the first would be. Taylor started slowly in May but she tuned into exactly the right wavelength second time around and her footwork and accuracy were too much for Cameron who was well behind by the halfway point of the fight. The Englishwoman rallied in the sixth and seventh but could not wrest the initiative back from Taylor and it was a surprise that one of the judges ruled the contest a 95-95 draw. The other two went 98-92 and 96-94 for Taylor.
“Chantelle is a phenomenal fighter,” said Taylor of her opponent who was cut from a head clash early on.
“I don’t think there’s ever been a trilogy in women’s boxing. This should be the first.
“You learn the most from your losses. You’re only a failure if you throw the towel in – never give up.”
Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn said afterwards: “Croke Park has to happen. She deserves it more than anyone next spring or summer, we’ll give you a night you’ll never forget.”
Earlier there was a comeback win for Gary Cully against Reece Mould while Paddy Donovan produced the knockout of the night when he stopped Danny Ball in round four of their WBA Continental Welterweight title clash.
