- Katie Taylor beat Chantelle Cameron via majority decision in Dublin on Saturday
- The Bray Bomber called for the trilogy to take place at Croke Park after the fight
- Why rivals Hearn and Warren may be forced to work together MORE – The Hook
Katie Taylor provided a moment of solace for the Irish fans by avenging the only loss of her professional career on Saturday night following a turbulent week of rioting and looting in the city centre.
The Bray Bomber defied the odds and beat Chantelle Cameron via majority decision (95-95, 98-92, 96-94) to become a three-division world champion, a two-division undisputed champion and just the second boxer in history, male or female, to hold all four major titles in boxing simultaneously in two weight classes in the four-belt era.
But for Taylor, it was all about righting her wrongs from May and proving her doubters wrong during her second homecoming in Dublin after losing the first via majority decision.
The Bray Bomber was overcome with emotion after she was declared the winner – taking a lap of honour around the ring and fist pumping the air before bursting into tears as she addressed the crowd.
Taylor was nothing but focused on the job at hand as she took to the ring in front of singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and 13,000 screaming fans at the 3Arena in Dublin on Saturday night.
Katie Taylor (right) got her revenge as she beat Chantelle Cameron (left) via majority decision
Taylor’s reaction after her name was called showed just how much this one meant to to her
Taylor defied all of the odds and beat Cameron to become a three-division world champion
Taylor was congratulated by singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, who was ringside for the fight
Taylor was back with a vengeance and made that clear from the moment she stepped into the ring. She started much faster than last time out. The 37-year-old was looking to get in close and throw quick combinations, while Cameron was looking to utilise her jab.
However, there was cause for concern when Taylor hit the canvas in the opening round.
The silence around the arena was alarming but thankfully for the Irish fans, the referee ruled out a knockdown and stated the Bray Bomber had simply slipped.
Taylor came flying out of the corner in the second round, setting the intensity from the opening bell and looking to engage from close quarters. She landed a lovely right hand before Cameron responded with a powerful hook.
Both fighters exchanged a couple of blows after the bell and stared each other down before making their way back to their respective corners. There’s no denying there is bad blood between the two.
Cameron – who was looking to dominate the centre of the ring – sustained a nasty cut in the third round of the bout, with the fight being temporarily stopped so the doctor could check whether she was fit to continue.
Cameron’s cut was checked again before the fifth, with both women going to war shortly after. Cameron’s trainer Jamie Moore could be heard calling for the uppercut – which Il Capo tried to deliver.
However, the British star was growing frustrated with the Bray Bomber for clinching and signalled to the referee to do something.
Taylor was looking to engage at close quarters, while Cameron was looking to use her jab
Cameron sustained a nasty cut to her forehead and had to twice be checked by the doctor
The ringside doctor felt Cameron was fine to continue, much to the British star’s delight
After the fight, Taylor made it clear Saturday night was her ‘real homecoming’ and called for the trilogy to take place at Croke Park – causing the fans inside the 3Arena to erupt into cheers.
She said: ‘Oh my gosh. two weight undisputed champion, that sounds very nice! That was the longest six months of my life waiting. This is my real homecoming.
‘Whoever wrote me off doesn’t know very well. Don’t ever doubt me. The last fight you saw the worst of me and the best of Chantelle and it was still a close fight. Tonight you saw the real me and nobody can beat me.
‘Let’s get the triolgoy at Croke Park!’
Taylor went on to speak about Cameron, she said: ‘It takes two to tango. Chantelle is a phenomenal champion and deserves everything she gets.
‘She’s a legend herself. Two legends could form the first trilogy in women’s boxing,’ Taylor adds.
‘You learn the most from your losses. That’s where growth happens. Just go again, never give up.’
The intensity from both boxers was exceptional, pushing each other until the final bell
