Homecoming Queen
That this is a very real fight rather than an excuse for a party shows the burning desire for competition that still exists within Katie Taylor, writes Elliot Worsell
★★★★★ ★★★★★
MAIN EVENT
UNDERCARD
All will be revealed in due course. For now, though, credit must go to Cameron, 17-0 (8), for stepping in when Serrano – an opponent Taylor knows well – declared herself unable to make the May 20 date in Dublin. Seemingly, despite holding all the belts and therefore being able to call shots of her own, Cameron sensibly arrived at the decision that Taylor in Ireland was as lucrative an opportunity as she was ever likely to receive. True, it shouldn’t take a genius to come to that conclusion, but, even so, Cameron’s reign as super-lightweight champion has so far been short and some – those more patient – may have wanted this fight to happen later in the year or even next year, assuming Taylor is still going.
Ultimately, it might have been that, the fear of Taylor no longer being the queen of women’s boxing, which persuaded Cameron to pounce while the opportunity knocked. After all, without Taylor as its flag-bearer, women’s boxing, though it currently thrives, will be nowhere near as interesting – in terms of drawing massive crowds, both at the gate and on television – or financially rewarding for those involved. The truth is Taylor, a hero in Ireland since her amateur days, has set the bar outrageously high for her peers, not only in an achievement sense but also in the sense that she has garnered popularity without having to flaunt herself on social media or lower herself to engage in halfhearted trash talk. Rather, Taylor, whose approach has been old-school since day one, has just gone about her business, facilitated, of course, by the fact that she never had to actively chase or court an audience, for she already had one in place when turning pro.
Something of an anomaly, then, Taylor will find in Cameron a kindred spirit of sorts. Like Taylor, Cameron tends to be not much of a talker, nor someone who merely wants to use boxing as a vehicle to becoming famous or collecting followers on social media. Similarly old-school in that sense, and also well-schooled technically, Cameron’s march to superlightweight supremacy has been relatively low-key compared to the rise of other women in the sport. Her title win, for instance, took place in Abu Dhabi in November and was a fight that played out
in relative silence, with few interested in it even back home. It was a shame, too, because that fight against Jessica Mccaskill meant an awful lot, both to Cameron and to the division itself. Moreover, the performance she produced on the night made a mockery of Mccaskill’s reign, such was the challenger’s dominance. Round after round, Cameron was able to highlight the limitations in the American’s reckless style and had an easy time of it in the end, even if the scorecards handed in by three judges would suggest otherwise (97-93, 96-94, 96-94).
Had it taken place anywhere else, it would have been a performance and a win rightly celebrated. However, because it happened in Abu Dhabi, and because the fight itself never really sparked into life, Cameron was left unifying four ‘world’ titles against a big name in the women’s game to little or no fanfare. Maybe, on reflection, it was that reality that also convinced her to chase Taylor and accept the fight when it was offered. Maybe, having seen the other side of world title action in the women’s game, she is now yearning for the chance to fight in front of a passionate, sold-out crowd in a fight that carries its meaning and feeling at ground level and not simply at boardroom level.
Evidence suggests she’s ready for it, too. At 31, though younger than Taylor, she is mature enough to handle the pressure of an occasion like this. Not only that, Cameron is also 17 fights into her pro career, so hardly a novice. What’s more, six of her last seven fights have gone the full 10-round distance, which should stand her in good stead when going up against Taylor, someone who appears to have mastered the art of coming on strong just when it is needed.
That is something Taylor has managed to do in each of her last eight fights, all of which have gone 10 rounds. Ever since edging Delfine Persoon in 2019, in fact, Taylor has huffed and puffed and gutted it out against some of the best lightweights in the world. Some were beaten out of sight, whereas others, like Persoon, like Natasha Jonas, and like Serrano, have come away from fighting Taylor thinking they were unlucky not to get the decision.
True or not, what was clear in those fights was how masterful Taylor is at both doing just enough to get herself over the line and responding to adversity, whether that’s when getting hurt by a shot, as we saw against Serrano, or losing consecutive rounds, as we saw her do against all three at times. Rather than panic in those high-pressure moments – the response of most – Taylor would instead call upon all her experience and technical ability to regain control. Soon enough, it then becomes a habit, something we have all come to expect. One wonders, too, if her opponents, even as they take the initiative in fights against her and have what you would describe as good spells, have started to fear her inevitable retort, or at least anticipate it. It would in some ways be foolish of them not to think in those terms. After all, while she might not be at her athletic peak anymore, there is no doubt Taylor is fighting harder than ever to stave off retirement and prolong her stay in a sport she loves so dearly. You can see this desperation in her eyes as she prepares to win back rounds she has lost. You can also see it in the hunger she has to still be challenged at this stage of her career.
A challenge is what she will receive from Cameron, the champion, on Saturday night. It won’t be a challenge in the sense Taylor has grown accustomed to receiving, with her usually in the role of champion, but it will this time be a different sort of challenge, one maybe tougher than most. Because, on Saturday, Taylor will be tasked with holding it all together on a night high on emotion; a night a long time coming. To the feverish sounds of her home support, she must once again go to the well and hope to find it still full, or at least full enough for her to win her 23rd straight pro fight. Fraught with tension, as well as the unknown, there will forever be a fear that one day the well
TAYLOR’S APPROACH HAS BEEN OLD-SCHOOL SINCE DAY ONE
between Kildare’s Dennis Hogan, 31-4-1 (7), and James Metcalf, 24-2 (15). Like Taylor, these two, despite their Irish links, will be fighting in Ireland for the first time in their pro careers, with the Australianbased Hogan usually found competing Down Under or in America and Metcalfe, known as ‘Kid Shamrock’ and based in Liverpool, doing his best work either in the UK or Spain, where last year he shocked home favourite Kerman Lejarraga over 10 rounds.
Also on the Dublin undercard is a women’s super-welterweight title clash between long-reigning former welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus, 37-2 (9), and current WBA belt-holder Terri Harper, 13-1-1 (6). Now 41, the Norwegian Braekhus once reigned as welterweight champion from 2009 to 2020, whereas Harper, 15 years her junior, will this weekend be making her first defence.
THE VERDICT Outside of the originally intended Serrano rematch, Taylor-cameron is about as good as it gets in women’s boxing.
fought Taylor at the 2012 Olympics and, nine years later, in the pro ranks. Both were close but competitive losses for Jonas, who now holds three belts at superwelterweight. has worked the corner and healed the cuts of many female fighters over the years. The 50-year-old trainer can name Claressa Shields, Mikaela Lauren and Hannah Rankin among those who put their trust in him. is the manager of Mary Mcgee who lost on points to Cameron with two super-lightweight belts on the line in October 2021. was in the opposite corner to Cameron in May 2021, but the Puerto Rican was stopped in round five rounds. (formerly Murphy) faced Taylor in Ireland’s first sanctioned women’s bout on October 31, 2001. Alanna also won lightweight bronze at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.