In an electric 3Arena on Saturday night, Katie Taylor lost her first professional fight and her chance at making history as a two-weight undisputed champion, but she lost none of her acclaim or influence despite a convincing defeat to Chantelle Cameron.
Cameron deserved to keep her WBA, IBF, WBO and WBC belts. She admitted she was “petrified” when the first scorecard read out 95-95 and the threat of a blatant hometown decision loomed. Then came the rest – 96-94 and 96-94 – and it was confirmed that the Northampton super-lightweight had done the unthinkable in Dublin.
Rather than Taylor occupying the middle of the ring, Cameron had been able to push her to the margins – an image which pithily summed up the apparent power-shift taking place.
Ireland’s greatest ever athlete in any sport is not one to make excuses, though she was not only stepping up a weight class but doing so with very little time to make the leap.
This was supposed to be a rematch against Amanda Serrano (herself a featherweight), whom she beat by split decision at Madison Square Garden last April. That was scuppered when the Puerto Rican pulled out through injury and another Karen Elizabeth Carabajal, or any other stooge, would have been the obvious stand-in.
Instead Taylor chose a bigger, power-punching and widely underestimated Cameron for a shot at adding to her legacy.
Somehow, there is still a rematch clause, which you will rarely see when the challenger has been clearly beaten but the platform and intrigue still belong to Taylor, who is likely to fight Cameron again in Ireland in September.
It is hoped that after the first major fight in the Republic of Ireland since early 2016 passed off without a hitch, Croke Park might be a more viable option second time around and the security costs will no longer be prohibitive.
Conor McGregor, who at ringside was his compatriot’s number one cheerleader, pointed out post-fight that Taylor had not had enough time to build up to Cameron’s weight. That could prove the difference next time out.
Eddie Hearn, in turn, noted that the British fighter has also fought at super-featherweight and lightweight in the past, so this was not an unnatural match-up.
Even if Cameron is not a 140lbs thoroughbred, her size did give a clear advantage. From the third round, Taylor did not have her usual energy. When she was beaten by Serrano, she withstood a beating in the middle rounds but would respond to her opponent’s sharp combos with counters of her own.
A little of the sharpness and explosiveness which has defined the 36-year-old’s career may be starting to fade. An emotional ring walk had built tension but with Cameron unfazed and busy throwing jabs with her trainer Jamie Moore in her corner, even the roars of 10,000 Dubliners were not to be decisive.
It cannot end like this, of course, and there is too much left to do to bow out now. Taylor’s status as the most significant fighter in the history of women’s boxing is undiminished, and only Claressa Shields – and now Cameron – can dispute her dominance in today’s game. Amidst this humbling, she still remains an undisputed world champion at her own weight.
A year ago Taylor was toying with an imminent retirement. That has become unthinkable until she has a chance at Croke Park to avenge her first taste of defeat.
