Chantelle Cameron hands Katie Taylor first defeat by majority decision

Chantelle Cameron spoiled Katie Taylor’s homecoming.

The undisputed 140-pound champion outworked Taylor in an entertaining, back-and-forth fight to win a majority 10-round decision and retain her belts Saturday at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.

Taylor, arguably the face of boxing, was fighting in her home country for the first time as a professional.

Cameron was asked afterward whether she was worried immediately after the fight that Taylor would receive a hometown decision.

A champion in victory and defeat.

There is only one @KatieTaylor #TaylorCameron pic.twitter.com/EBAUANInR3

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 20, 2023

“I’m was petrified,” she said. “I’ve seen it before in boxing. It happened to my team before. I was petrified I wouldn’t get the decision. It was a close fight. Katie Taylor is a great fighter, the pound-for-pound best in boxing.

“I showed up for the occasion.”

She sure did. The 32-year-old from England, who is naturally bigger than Taylor, pressured the undisputed 135-pound champion from the opening bell and never let up.

Taylor, probably quicker and more skillful than Cameron, did a good job of timing her punches as Cameron marched forward – landing sharp combinations consistently – but she also took a lot of punches.

Cameron’s body work was particularly effective, although she also landed her share of shots to Taylor’s head.

The outcome was in doubt when the bell rang to end Round 10. Would the judges reward Cameron for her effective aggression? Or would they give the hometown fighter the nod because of well-timed blows and quick, accurate flurries?

In the end, they leaned toward the former. One judge scored it 95-95 but the other two had Cameron winning 96-94, six rounds to four, which removed any doubt about the winner’s place among the best fighters.

It was Taylor’s first setback since she was eliminated in the second round of the 2016 Olympics.

She was asked afterward whether she thought she had done enough to get the decision from the judges, none of whom is from Ireland. She was typically gracious in her response.

“I’m not sure, to be honest,” she said. “I’ll have to look [at the video]. Obviously, it was a very close fight, which is how I wanted my homecoming to go. I’m so grateful regardless. Thank you so much.”

Of course, Taylor will get a second chance. She and promoter Eddie Hearn made it clear that they plan to exercise a rematch clause in the contract signed by the fighter.

Hearn said he expects it to happen in the fall in the same town.

“Congratulations to Chantelle on a great performance,” Taylor said. “Thanks for the opportunity to fight for the four [junior welterweight] belts. I look forward to the rematch.”