Katie Taylor vs Chantelle Cameron – Results & Post-Fight Report

Chantelle Cameron wrecked the homecoming of Irish hero Katie Taylor, defending her undisputed super lightweight title with a split decision victory at the 3Arena in Dublin, handing Taylor her first professional defeat.

Taylor (22-1, KO6) was originally slated to rematch Amanda Serrano in a repeat of their classic at Madison Square Garden last year, but a combination of not being able to secure Croke Park, and injury to Serrano, meant in stepped Cameron (18-0, KO8), and a move up in weight for the Irishwoman to attempt to become undisputed champion in a second weight class. Chantelle Cameron became undisputed champion in her last fight, a points win against Jessica McCaskill in Abu Dhabi. The pair met in the amateur code over ten years ago, with Taylor triumphing on the cards.

Cameron began happy to engage, but Taylor was alert to the attacks, and remain calm and composed, catching Cameron on the way in at the end of the opener with Cameron piling pressure on. Taylor landed a solid right hand and showed good movement in round two, and she was working well off the jab, timing Cameron well in the third. Cameron was throwing a nice variety of punches, and having plenty of success, especially in the fifth when landing with several clean shots, and the action went toe to toe in the sixth in absorbing action. Taylor was digging deep, but Cameron largely dominated the seventh, and the two went at it again in the eighth. It was a tight penultimate frame, and the final round saw the pair leave it all on the line, with Taylor possibly shading it as an enthralling contest came to its conclusion on the scorecards.

Two scores of 96-94 ensured the Northampton native retained her belts, while a third judge ruled the bout 95-95.

The bill was robbed of an intriguing WBA super welterweight title clash between champion Terri Harper and Cecelia Braekhus, as the Norwegian woke up on the day of the fight with ‘flu.

Gary Cully (16-1, KO10) suffered a major upset in his homecoming, as Mexican banger Jose Felix (39-6-1. KO30) scored a third round upset win at lightweight. A massive right hand dropped Cully heavily in the third, and he just never recovered, down once more before Felix constantly rained heavy blows before the towel came in and the fight was stopped with Cully unaware of where he was.

The undercard featured an IBO super welterweight title clash, and it was JJ Metcalf (25-2, KO15) that became the new champion with a unanimous decision win against Dennis Hogan (31-5-1, KO7). It was a struggle to wrest control at times, with both having success on different occasions, but Metcalf largely had the better of the argument, and took the win by two scores of 117-110 and a third at 115-112. Hogan was docked a point in the final round for loss of his mouth guard.

Caoimhin Agyarko (13-0, KO7) made a first appearance of 2023, and he banked ten rounds in a points win at middleweight against Grant Dennis (18-5, KO3). Agyarko ran out the winner by three scores of 100-90, but Dennis did have his moments.

Thomas Carty (6-0, KO5) claimed the vacant Celtic heavyweight title, as he dropped Jay McFarlane (14-8, KO5) three times en route to a third round win. McFarlane was dropped by a straight left hand in the second, and he couldn’t get out the way of Carty’s one-two, and this decked him twice more in the third before the contest was waved off.

Paddy Donovan (11-0, KO8) posted another impressive win, halting former British title challenger Sam O’Maison (17-5-1, KO7) in the sixth of their scheduled eight rounder at super lightweight.

Maisey-Rose Courtney (3-0, KO0) extended her unbeaten record, but was extended by Kate Radomska (3-2, KO0) in their six rounder at flyweight. Courtney came through by a point, 58-57 on the referee’s card.