For weeks Katie Taylor said that her rematch with Chantelle Cameron would be a completely different fight and the Irish icon was true to her word, scoring a hard-fought 10-round majority decision over Chantelle Cameron to claim the undisputed super lightweight championship. Official scores were 98-92, 96-94, and 95-95.
Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) was determined to avenge the only loss of her career and she got off to an electrifying start. The victory sees the Bray native equal Claressa Shields and Terence Crawford, as the only three two-weight world champions in the four-belt era. It was a remarkable triumph and perhaps a career-best win.
"Two-weight undisputed world champion, that sounds very nice," said a jubilant Taylor during her post-fight interview with DAZN. "That was the longest six months of my life, waiting for this rematch. This is my real homecoming tonight. Whoever wrote me off doesn't know me very well. I was offended that I was the underdog for this fight."
"The last fight you seen the worst of me and the best of Chantelle. That was a close fight. Tonight, you saw the real me and when I box like that, no one can beat me. Let's get the trilogy at Croke Park."
WATCH: Cameron vs. Taylor 2 exclusively on DAZN
There was no languishing on the ropes from Taylor this time, and conversely, there was a concerted effort to keep the action at ring center. One moment of drama occurred in the opening round when Cameron appeared to deck Taylor with a sharp jab, but the referee immediately ruled no knockdown. Staying composed, the challenger then did a great job of avoiding Cameron's jab and frequently countered off that shot before escaping off to the sides and finding space.
Cameron (18-1, 8 KOs) struggled to get set against this more mobile version of Taylor, whose speed was evident in the early going. The Northampton-born champ did begin to find success in the middle round, punishing the body and bullying the challenger on the inside, but she was distracted somewhat by a large laceration on her forehead that she sustained in the third.
When the fight began to turn slightly, Taylor reached deep down into that vast reservoir of championship experience to win rounds when it mattered most. Buoyed by a fever-pitch home support, the Irish warrior ignored the exhaustion and let her hands go in rapid-fire bursts down the stretch. Cameron just didn't have the sharpness and was a step behind on speed.
This was an epic victory for a 37-year-old fighter who looked as good as ever in exacting revenge.
Chantelle Cameron vs. Katie Taylor 2 full card results
- Katie Taylor def. Chantelle Cameron via majority decision (98-92, 96-94, and 95-95) for the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO, and The Ring super lightweight titles
- Paddy Donovan def. Danny Ball via TKO 4 (2:41); Welterweights
- Gary Cully def. Reece Mould via 10-round split decision (97-93, 96-93, 93-97); Lightweights
- Skye Nicolson def. Lucy Wildheart via TKO 9 (1:11) for the interim WBC featherweight title
- John Cooney def. Liam Gaynor via TKO 1 (1:29); Super Featherweights
- Emmet Brennan def. Jamie Morrissey via TKO 8 (2:12); Light Heavyweights
- Zelfa Barrett def. Costin Ion via eight-round decision (78-75); Super Featherweights
- Giorgio Visioli def. Lee Anthony Sibley via TKO 4 (1:21), Lightweights
- Thomas Carty def. Dan Garber via TKO 8 (2:19); Heavyweights