CHANTELLE Cameron won’t care whether or not this Friday night is the final chapter in Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano’s historic rivalry.
Their trilogy bout tops an all-female eight-fight card, live on Netflix, from boxing’s Valhalla – Madison Square Garden in New York. Taylor-Serrano 3 will pack it’s own punch and their first two battles leave many wondering if both can go to the well again for 10 more rounds.
Cameron, however, must make her own mark.
The 34-year-old has craved a trilogy of her own with Taylor. And with the backing of MVP Promotions, she now has the platform to push for it. Company co-founder Nakisa Bidarian has already vowed to support Cameron’s bid for a third fight with the Irish icon.
“I think win or lose Katie Taylor should fight Chantelle Cameron again,” Bidarian told Sky Sports last month.
“They’re 1-1. Amanda and Katie technically are 2-0 but very close fights that many people thought on both occasions that Amanda won so there’s definitely a demand for that.
“And I believe there’s a demand, at least in the UK and Ireland, for Taylor-Cameron III. We’ll try to make that happen.”
Those are soundbites that will be music to Cameron’s ears, but that’s all they are. On Friday night, with a new promoter, a new trainer and a slot on one of the biggest cards of the year Cameron needs to produce something memorable so that her name is part of the conversation had by fans who watched on TV or were in attendance.
“Did you see Cameron tonight?”
“Cameron’s still got it.”
“If they make Taylor-Cameron 3, I’d back Cameron after tonight.”
Or something along those lines.
Cameron, 20-1 (8 KOs), currently holds the WBC interim super-lightweight belt – think of that as a prize for winning a semi-final. It brings clout but not closure. Taylor holds all four major titles and Cameron is desperate to win them back. The date of May 20, 2023 remains the only blemish on Taylor’s record, when Cameron went into her Dublin backyard and beat her to retain the undisputed crown. Second time round Taylor flipped the scripped, boxed better, smarter, made adjustments and got revenge. Boxing shouldn’t leave rivalries tied at 1-1 and Cameron will hope so, too.
Regardless of opponent, the message for Cameron is clear: make a statement.
Jessica Camara, 14-4-1 (3 KOs), will rightly scoff at the idea of being treated as a stepping stone. The spunky Canadian fights British opposition for the second time after her shot at WBC lightweight champion Caroline Dubois ended in an unsatisfactory technical draw.
Forty seconds into the fight in January Camara was dropped by a straight left from the powerful Dubois who was aiming to send her own message to the 135lbs division and beyond. The likelihood is Dubois would have went on to boss and dominate Camara had the accidental head clash not taken place causing the challenger to be cut and the fight to end.
Having been trained by Jamie Moore and then Grant Smith, Cameron is now under the stewardship of former world super-featherweight title challenger Stephen ‘Swifty’ Smith. Whatever refinements have been made to Cameron’s skillset she will find the 37-year-old Camara tough, resilient and someone who will look to push Cameron hard and make her work even harder.
Whether Cameron can put her on the floor is up for debate. Dubois, after all, is one of women boxing’s hardest hitters. If not Cameron must find other routes. Use timing, accuracy, set traps and pick her off. Show that she is levels above.
She can’t win this fight on cruise control. ‘Il Capo’ needs to drop the hammer from the opening bell. Give Camara the kind of night she was hoping to inflict on Cameron.
The clock is ticking on the Taylor-Cameron rivalry. A dominant, hurtful shutout, is the minimum requirement. A stoppage would be ideal. Something that sends a message, something that forces people to talk about Chantelle Cameron again. Anything less might push her further away from the fight she craves the most.
Chantelle Cameron vs Jessica Camara prediction
A dominant start in the opening round from Cameron will test how much Camara has left and is prepared to go through.
The former undisputed champion looks a sure thing to win on points but there may be an emphasis on the Northampton fighter picking up a stoppage win on a night where many will look to make a name for themselves. A relentless punch output from the get-go is essential and don’t be surprised if, in the second half of the bout, Cameron forces the referee to intervene and save Camara from herself.
