PROMOTER Eddie Hearn described it as the “rematch of the year” before Chantelle Cameron and Katie Taylor spoke at todayโs press conference in Dublin.
On November 25, Cameron, 18-0 (8), must once again travel back to the Irish capital to defend her quartet of super-lightweight titles against Taylor at the 3Arena, the same venue where a fresher and more determined Cameron gave the 37-year-old her first taste of defeat in 23 professional fights.
For that fight Taylor stepped up in weight five pounds, with her own four belts at lightweight safe for the evening. After losing on points, and having produced a below-par performance, some have now questioned whether Taylor, 22-1 (6), has what it takes during this advanced stage in her career to defeat Cameron at the second time of asking.
Cameron, who is the favourite this time around, confessed she cringed when watching back her biggest win to date with trainer Jamie Moore. โFor me Iโve just got to be better,โ the 32-year-old said. โMe and Jamie have been going over the fight over and over and Iโm kind of sick of watching it because I did make so many mistakes and I cringe at myself. I definitely look back at that and [Iโve] definitely got more gears in me. Come back to Dublin and do the business again and carry on with my career.โ
The build-up to the first encounter doubled as a homecoming for Taylor and a celebration of her achievements prior to facing Cameron. Come fight night the away fighter walked first and was made to wait for the home favourite to make her way to the ring in front of an expectant crowd.
โI think youโve actually done us a favour coming back to Dublin,โ Cameronโs trainer Jamie Moore told Eddie Hearn.
โObviously, we would have liked a homecoming [or] even neutral territory, but I think itโs stoked the flame and given her that extra determination that she needs.โ
Both women were never in any real danger of being stopped or knocked out when they first fought and, having tasted Taylorโs power, Cameron is confident she can take the fight to her rival once again.
โJamie and Nigel go mad if I say I canโt be hurt. I kinda lose my defence so Iโve got to make sure I donโt take silly shots as well,โ Cameron said. โI canโt be hurt, and I can walk Katie down, so Iโve got that confidence. Just got to make sure I do move my head a bit more. I do have that defence but at the same time Iโm not worried Iโm going to get stopped.โ
Hearn raised that particular point with Taylor and, while the “The Bray Bomber” is not one to engage in any back and forth, she made sure to give her own opinion on the punch power of the naturally bigger fighter.
โIโm expecting the best of Chantelle,โ Taylor said. โIโm expecting an improved Chantelle and Iโm obviously expecting to improve as well. Iโm going to have to adjust and make a few improvements, but I believe I will win this fight and I donโt think Chantelle can hurt me either. We shared 10 rounds together and it was a great, great fight but weโre both stepping into the ring super confident that weโll come out of it with a win.โ
For the second time in her career (the first coming against Amanda Serrano), Taylor is the underdog. Defeating Serrano in a barnstormer at Madison Square Garden last year was the jewel in her crown but beating Cameron will top that, what with the odds stacked against her.
โIt doesnโt matter if Iโm seen as the underdog or the favourite or whether my nameโs on the left hand side or the right hand side,โ Taylor commented. โMy mindset is exactly the same. We always train to win and Iโm willing to push myself to the brink to do that. I have no problem being in the trenches and the last fight was a fantastic fight, a close fight, and we have a chance to step through the ring again and do that [again].
โIโm very confident if I perform to my best, I will win this fight. Regardless of whoโs on the other side I think I win when Iโm at my very, very best.
โTo have another chance, and another big fight here, is so special. To have another history making fight, another chance to be a two-weight undisputed champion… this is the biggest fight of my career so far.โ