IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC & WBO World Super-Lightweight titles: Chantelle Cameron v Katie Taylor (Saturday, 3Arena Dublin, live on DAZN)
THE heart ruled the head last time. Two-minute rounds can be difficult to score and when they were close, and several were, you might have given Katie Taylor the nod.
But, in the cold light of day, there was no denying that Chantelle Cameron was the dominant force that night in May. The Englishwoman’s high-tempo, pressure style negated Taylor’s slicker boxing strengths and overran the combinations that had worked so well for her in the past.
She was more energetic, bigger and stronger and she overpowered Taylor who may have been affected by the build-up to her first-ever, and long-awaited, home debut.
Cameron had to wait - and wait - for Taylor to enter the ring but neither that nor the hostile crowd affected her and she went forward from the opening bell. Coming in behind a heavy jab, she forced Taylor onto the back foot, landed a right hook to the ribs that stung the favourite and she followed it up with a left hook to the head in the next exchange.
Cameron’s coach Jamie Moore had predicted that the fight would be won and lost on the inside and he was proved right. Although Taylor landed some cracking shots, she never had Cameron in real trouble and was unable to turn the tide. The visitor deserved her majority decision victory.
If Taylor does the same again, she’ll lose again, but her coach Ross Enamait spoke confidently about how she is “a lot healthier” this time around.
“There’s no pressure on us,” added the American.
“Nobody here thinks we’ve got a shot so we’re here to prove everybody wrong and we’re ready for the fight and looking forward to it. Losing sucks… nobody wants to be there. It was a long time since she had a loss - she’s always hungry and she’s definitely hungrier.”
The Cameron camp expect a better, hungrier Taylor but Jamie Moore says his fighter will match anything the Irishwoman comes up with. Beneath the cordial surface, there is a simmering anger in Cameron the fighter and Moore says she is more motivated than ever to underscore her dominance.
“Chantelle knows she can beat Katie,” he said.
“She’s experienced that hostile atmosphere which is always a concern when you’ve never walked that path before. She’s done that now and she came through it with flying colours.
“We sat down at the beginning of this camp and said: ‘Let’s watch it back together and see where we can improve’. Both of us agreed that she was not really as good as she can be herself. We expect Katie to be better but we 100 per cent expect a better Chantelle as well.”
Katie Taylor is a dedicated athlete but, at 37, she is in the final chapter of a brilliant career. She knows that defeat will most-probably be the end of the road and so she will fight with the desperation of someone who’s been pushed to the brink.
Can she roll back the years, get on her toes, stick her jab in Cameron’s face, get her punches away, stay off the ropes and slip out of trouble? If so, anything is possible but Cameron is still younger, still bigger and still highly-motivated.
The heart would love to see Katie Taylor get revenge with what would be a historic win.
The head says Cameron wins again.
The undercard
Paddy Donovan (11-0) v Danny Ball (13-1-1)
NOW 11-0, with six stoppage wins, Limerick’s Donovan has served his apprenticeship and he steps up a level against capable England champion Ball.
“He’s never fought anyone like me,” said Andy Lee-trained Donovan.
“He’s a good and durable fighter but he’s up against a world-class fighter, no doubt about it. No excuses, I’ve had a 12-week camp and some of the best sparring in the world with Adam Azim, I’m in the best shape possible, well-schooled for it with a great game plan and I’m ready to execute it on Saturday night.”
Lightweight: Gary Cully (16-1) v Reece Mould (18-1)
CULLY took his eye off the ball in May and was knocked out by unheralded opponent Jose Felix. It’s a mistake he can’t afford to make again and this is a good comeback test for the rangy lightweight who is now based in Liverpool at the Rotunda Gym.
His opponent Mould has lost just once – a stoppage defeat to Leigh Wood – but has left that behind him with five wins on-the-trot.
“I’ve put in the camp of my life,” said Cully who was brought back to earth with a bang after that defeat.
“I went through some dark times, I’ve learned a lot about myself, in and out of the ring, and I’m ready to get back in the ring and back to winning ways. I’ve got something to prove, and that’s what I’ll do, prove to not only myself but all the people what I can do. I will put on a masterclass of boxing.”
BBBofC Celtic Super-featherweight title: John Cooney (9-0) v Liam Gaynor (10-4)
THE winner of this one will move up a level. Cooney says it’ll be him.
“A win here changes both our lives, but unfortunately for him, it’s only a win for me and then I am moving on to big things in the 135lb division,” said the Londoner.
Gaynor has lost twice to Colm Murphy in Belfast but intends to put his experience to good use.
“This is my big opportunity, the one I’ve been working towards and I’ve taken these big tests over the last year or so, now is my time to put on a show,” he said.
Heavyweight: Thomas Carty (6-0) v Dan Garber (5-1)
LOCAL favourite Carty is aggressive and can bang with both hands. He is eager to get on with it and, after a summer appearance was cancelled, is determined to impress against Garber.
“Dan is saying he’s had great sparring and I hope he has as everyone has an excuse when I beat them,” he said.
“They were drunk in the ring or something along those lines… So I hope he did have a good camp so there’s no excuses.”
Boxing Union of Ireland Celtic Light Heavyweight title: Jamie Morrissey (5-0-1) v Emmet Brennan (1-0)
OLYMPIAN Brennan gets a title fight (scheduled for eight rounds) in only his second appearance and he’ll need to produce the class he showed as an amateur against Limerick’s Irish champion Morrissey.
“The bookies have written me off but I have earned my place here,” said Morrissey.
“Maybe people are overlooking me, I have what matters and that is real self-belief that I am going to get this job done.”
Brennan countered: “Jamie has been in wars but he’s faded towards the end of them. If that happens in this fight, no doubt about it, I will capitalize on it.”
WBC Interim Featherweight title: Skye Nicolson (8-0) v Lucy Wildheart (10-2)
NICOLSON has her eye on a rumble with Amanda Serrano but insists she isn’t “overlooking Lucy”.
“I think she is a great athlete, but we’re going to see the difference in levels on Saturday night,” she said. Full focus is on Saturday night.”
Wildheart added: “It’s going to be an epic fight. I like Skye, but this is business, I’m here to win.”
Super-featherweight: Zelfa Barrett (29-2) v Costin Ion (10-4-2)
Lightweight: Giorgio Visioli (debut) v Lee Anthony Sibley (3-1)
