Cameron spoils Taylor’s Dublin social gathering with deserved factors victory
In a struggle between two undefeated, undisputed fighters, and in Taylor’s first skilled bout in her native Ireland, the ten rounds flew by because the pair exchanged proper by way of to the ultimate bell, with Cameron relentless in placing the stress on the house favorite.
The step up in weight proved to be too nice a problem for Taylor, with Cameron getting the choice by majority determination – 96-94 on two playing cards and a 95-95 draw on the opposite – to maintain maintain of her titles and cement herself as one of many easiest in ladies’s boxing.
“I was petrified,” Cameron, now 18-0, stated after listening to the primary judged had scored it stage.
“I’ve seen results go the other way in the past. It was a close fight and Katie is a great boxer, pound-for-pound the best. My strength is putting the pressure on. I don’t mind getting hit so my corner let me off the leash.”
Taylor’s homecoming bout was initially deliberate to be a rematch with Amanda Serrano, a 12 months on from their thrilling first struggle in New York. Hopes of a Croke Park event fell away on account of monetary points earlier than Serrano then pulled out with harm, with Taylor, to her enormous credit score, deciding to problem Cameron at 140lbs.
The Northampton fighter had the higher of the struggle from the opening rounds and Taylor was unable to get herself out of hassle within the closing levels. A frantic tempo was set by Cameron, pushing Taylor again onto the ropes and even the combos that got here again weren’t sufficient to pressure a backwards step.
The sixth spherical noticed the pair stand agency within the centre of the ring and commerce, although that suited Cameron as the larger fighter and she or he loved success with the uppercut all through. Taylor briefly threatened to get herself again into it because the struggle moved into the second half, however a powerful ninth from Cameron successfully sealed victory and she or he ensured a lot of the ultimate spherical was spent within the clinch.
Taylor had no complaints with the playing cards, because the pound-for-pound nice swiftly turned her consideration to a rematch moderately than a return to 135lbs, the place she stays undisputed champion. Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed it’s prone to happen in Dublin this autumn.
“I was expecting a gruelling fight and that’s what it was,” Taylor stated.
“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.”
Earlier within the night time, Gary Cully’s struggle with Jose Felix Jr was promoted to chief assist, after Cecilia Braekhus pulled out of her bout with Terri Harper on account of sickness.
The Irish crowd had been proper behind Cully, however the Irish fighter was surprised as he was stopped within the third spherical by Felix, having already been dropped twice. While the referee allowed him to proceed, even after a left hook caught Cully flush and fully took his stability away, ultimately the towel got here in as Felix pulled off an enormous upset.
Dennis Hogan misplaced his IBO super-welterweight title, JJ Metcalf taking the belt again to Liverpool after a unanimous factors victory, whereas there have been wins for Thomas Carty, Caoimhin Agyarko and Paddy Donovan earlier within the night time.