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For everything Katie Taylor has achieved in her unparalleled career, fate has handed her one more feat to overcome.
Taylor can become a two-weight world champion tonight when she faces Chantelle Cameron in Dublin. As much as the build-up has been dominated by the focus on Taylor’s homecoming and her first professional fight on Irish soil, Cameron at super-lightweight is a very real threat.
Taylor ordinarily fights at lightweight but she has already conquered that division as undisputed champion. This should have been the night she defended her belts in a rematch against Amanda Serrano until the Puerto Rican withdrew through injury.
Cameron stepped up in her place and when it comes to the crowd, she will have every bit the disadvantage. Serrano had to overcome a vociferous Taylor fanbase in Madison Square Garden; Amhran na Bhfiann might feel even louder in the considerably smaller 3Arena as the Irishwoman is finally able to return to Dublin, where in an ordinary climate she might have fought long ago.
The battles won are not just hers – they also belong to the Gardai and the accompanying authorities who have restored some kind of normality by dismantling the Kinahan cartel’s influence on the sport.
Like every female fighter with any kind of platform, Cameron owes much of her career to Taylor, which she has been keen to recognise. The biggest fight of her career so far, when the 32-year-old became undisputed against Jessica McCaskill, was on a Dmitry Bivol undercard. Now she is headlining and will be part of one of Taylor’s most historic nights.
“She knows she’s the B-side,” says Eddie Hearn. “But she’s here to win because she just wanted the opportunity.”
It is easy to forget Taylor has not gone straight from Serrano to here. There was the odd interjection of the victory over Karen Elizabeth Carabajal at Wembley Arena, which featured some of the same undercard fighters. Gary Cully, who secured a knockout in 35 seconds on that night, fights Jose Felix in what could be one of the fights of the night at lightweight.
Provided that Taylor comes through, it is hoped that Croke Park could still happen, particularly if Serrano is fit again by this autumn. In that sense, this is almost a trial run, with Taylor admitting she is under “extra pressure” because of fighting at home.
When i spoke to Cameron ahead of the McCaskill fight, the prospect of fighting Taylor seemed far off, little more than a rumour talked up by fight fans, more out of optimism than realism. She was tentative about her chances of making it happen, but vowed she would go to Dublin.
“If I do become undisputed at 140 then why not?” she said. “Before Katie’s always had something on me, I’ve always had no profile, no world titles, she’s had no reason to fight me. But if I become undisputed at 140 then I’ve got all the belts at the weight above. So if she wants to do it for legacy, why not try and compete for two weights undisputed – and I’ll have something there to dangle in front of her.”
Legacy is indeed on the line for Taylor, but if anyone has the capacity to challenge her at a weight out of her comfort zone, Cameron will believe it is her.
Taylor vs Cameron
- Date: Saturday 20 May
- Venue: 3Arena, Dublin
- Fight time: Ring walks for the main event are expected around 10pm (UK & Ireland time)
- TV/live stream: DAZN, where subscriptions start from £9.99 a month. While it’s pay-per-view in the US and Canada UK fans will have it included in their monthly package
- Undercard highlights: Terri Harper defends her WBA super-welterweight title against Norway’s Cecilia Braekhus. Cully could also deliver another fast knockout against Felix, whose record is patchy. JJ Metcalf challenges Dennis Hogan in an IBO world title fight at super-welterweight, and the vacant Celtic heavyweight belt is on the line between Thomas Carty and Jay McFarlane
- i predicts: Taylor wins by unanimous decision
Full card:
- Katie Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron
- Terri Harper vs Cecilia Braekhus
- Gary Cully vs Jose Felix
- Dennis Hogan vs JJ Metcalf
- Thomas Carty vs Jay McFarlane
- Caoimhin Agyarko vs Grant Dennis
- Maisey Rose Courtney vs Kate Radomska
- Paddy Donovan vs Sam O’Maison
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Haney vs Lomachenko
The veneer around Vasyl Lomachenko was shattered on a long night in Nevada against Teofimo Lopez two years ago. The Masayoshi Nakatani knockout and two victories by unanimous decision followed but it was at that moment the Ukrainian became an underdog in his quest to regain his four belts.
Unsettling Haney by fighting on the inside and countering will suit Lomachenko. He knows he is not the favourite and insists he doesn’t care.
At 24, Haney is clinical and indeed powerful, however much his opponent has tried to undermine him. Lose and Lomachenko may well retire, but Haney did not get a test like this against George Kambosos Jr.
- Date: Saturday 20 May
- Venue: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, USA
- Fight time: Ring walks for the main event are expected around 5am
- TV/live stream: Sky Sports Action. You can stream on SkyGo or with a NOW 24-hour pass, which costs £11.99. Coverage starts from 2am (early hours of Sunday morning UK time).
- Undercard highlights: Juno Nakatani takes on Andrew Maloney for the vacant WBO super-flyweight title
- i predicts: Haney to win on points – but narrowly
Full card:
- Devin Haney vs Vasyl Lomachenko
- Juno Nakatani vs Andrew Maloney
- Raymond Muratalla vs Jeremia Nakathila
- Oscar Valdez vs Adam Lopez
- Floyd Diaz vs Luis Saavedra
- Nico Ali Walsh vs Danny Rosenberger
- Abdullah Mason vs Desmond Lyons
- Amari Jones vs Pachino Hill
- Emiliano Vargas vs Rafael Jasso
Any other business
Daniel Dubois’ chances of facing Oleksandr Usyk are drifting after his unexpected split from trainer Shane McGuigan.
His sister Caroline remains with McGuigan’s gym and has been handed her next fight against 2022 world title challenger Yanina Lescano.
Joseph Parker continues to talk up the prospect of a fight with Tyson Fury with the “Gypsy King’s” talks with Usyk having stalled again.
