Katie Taylor produced the performance of her career tonight, defeating Chantelle Cameron by a majority decision after an absolute war at the 3 Arena.
Six months on from her original defeat, she has now been crowned as an undisputed two-weight world champion.
Katie Taylor entered this fight as an underdog, a status she had very rarely been given over the course of her time in the amateur and professional ranks. Cameron's size was a decisive factor in the first fight, with many believing that would be an issue for the Irishman once again on this occasion.
The Bray native said in the buildup to this evening that she was in a better place ahead of this fight in comparison to the first meeting. On that occasion, she started slowly and was left chasing the fight after the opening few rounds.
This time around, you got the sense that she wanted to ensure there was no repeat of that issue.
She certainly looked sharper early on in this bout, although there was a nervy moment when she ended up on the canvas in the first. However, the referee said it was a slip rather than a knockdown.
There was a ferocious pace to the fight in the early stages, with both fighters growing frustrated with the behaviour of their opponent.
Both Taylor and Cameron were performing brilliantly, although there was a sense that the Irishwoman was landing the better shots.
The crowd is going absolutely WILD in Dublin 😳#CameronTaylor2 pic.twitter.com/DzUivHRnxp
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) November 25, 2023
Cameron developed a worrying cut on her forehead after a clash of heads, something that was an issue throughout the fight. Thankfully, it would not put the bout in danger.
Katie Taylor's performance was a top class one and she always seemed likely to edge things on the judges' scorecards as the contest went on. In saying that, there were a couple of scares towards the end as the Englishwoman came on strong and the home favourite seemed to tire.
In a fight for the ages, she would win via a majority decision.
25 November 2023; Katie Taylor celebrates defeating Chantelle Cameron in their undisputed super lightweight championship fight at the 3Arena in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Katie Taylor calls out doubters after Chantelle Cameron win
Speaking to DAZN after the fight, Katie Taylor would call out those who doubted and demanded that her and Cameron complete the trilogy with a fight in Croke Park.
🗣 "Two weight world champion, that sounds very nice"
Trilogy at Croke Park @KatieTaylor? 👀#CameronTaylor2 pic.twitter.com/3ah38AZEaD— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) November 25, 2023
Two-weight undisputed champion, that sounds very nice! Thank you so much everyone!
That was the longest six months of my life waiting for this rematch. All I was ever thinking about was when is the rematch, I'm so glad I could do this in front of my home crowd. This is my real homecoming tonight...
Whoever wrote me off obviously don't know me very well. I was nearly offended that I was an underdog for this fight, don't ever doubt me...
The last fight you saw the worst of me and the best of Chantelle, and I think it was still a close fight. Tonight you saw the real me, when I'm boxing like that no one can beat me...
Lets get the trilogy in Croke Park!..
You learn the most from your failures and your losses, that's where the growth happens. I'm as grateful for my failures as I am for my victories.
You're only a failure if you give up and throw the towel in. You need to go and go and go again, never give up.
Sensational scenes.
Eddie Hearn would go on to pay an incredible tribute to the fighter, backing up her demand of a fight in Croke Park in 2024.
"Croke Park HAS to happen"
Well said @EddieHearn 👏#CameronTaylor2 pic.twitter.com/sY5fSv477v— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) November 25, 2023
We can't imagine that too many boxing fans would be against that.
In what has been an incredible career for Katie Taylor, this performance was perhaps the finest of them all.
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