English boxer Chantelle Cameron recently handed a first professional defeat to Katie Taylor’s career and retained her undisputed light-welterweight crown. Taylor’s Dublin homecoming was seven years in the making, but the undisputed lightweight champion could not deliver the dream result for her supporters as she lost out on a majority decision.
Chantelle Cameron retains her Undisputed title
The spectators witnessed a paced contest. One judge scored it a draw, while the other two had it 96-94 to Chantelle Cameron. The 32-year-old extended her undefeated record to 18 wins.
Katie Taylor endured her first loss since the 2016 Rio Olympics and her first defeat in 22 pro fights while Chantelle Cameron staked her claim as one of the world’s best by beating the sport’s biggest female star.
Cameron was embraced by her team when the results were read out as Taylor dropped her arm, visibly distraught at seeing her long-awaited homecoming end in defeat.
The scorecards deflated the partisan crowd, but promoter Eddie Hearn quickly raised spirits again by revealing there would be an immediate rematch in the autumn in Dublin.
“If I’m honest, I wasn’t expecting the decision to go my way,” she told BBC Radio 5 Live after her win.
“I’m over the moon it went my way and the right woman got her arm raised.”
Cameron said she expected to be treated as the champion in their next fight.
“I need to speak to my team because everything was in Katie’s favour in this fight,” she said.
Taylor, who grew up just a 30-minute drive from the 3Arena, was humble in defeat.
“I was expecting a grueling fight and that’s what it was,” she said.
“I obviously came up short. I always love a challenge and I’m looking forward to the rematch.”
“This isn’t how I wanted the homecoming to go but I’m grateful that this event could sell out in a couple of minutes.”
