Was Chantelle Cameron Railroaded into a Katie Taylor Trilogy?
In a spectacular showdown, two-division undisputed champion Katie “KT” Taylor (23-1, 6KO) triumphantly avenged her sole defeat against one-time undisputed junior welterweight champion Chantelle “Il Capo” Cameron (18-1, 8KO). As talk of a trilogy circulates, some fans are left debating whether Il Capo was unfairly denied the victory.
Leading up to the bout, Cameron vowed to secure a more definitive win, confident that her style posed a significant challenge for her rival. After suffering her first career defeat, Taylor entered the ring with a determination to emerge victorious in what she considered a must-win situation.
Once the fight got underway, the action unfolded at a furious pace until the final bell. In the post-fight interview, Taylor wasted no time calling for the trilogy and suggesting an iconic venue.
“Let’s get the trilogy in Croke Park.”
Katie Taylor
This sentiment was echoed by Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn.
“For everybody out there, everybody in Ireland, and the Irish government, Croke Park has to happen.”
Eddie Hearn
THREE KEY CONTROVERSIAL FACTORS THAT PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE
Controversy is expected in a fight of this magnitude. Taylor holding onto Cameron in key moments without any stern warnings is one example here. Although, the most egregious misstep occurred in the opening round when a knockdown was counted as a slip. Cameron’s stiff jab sent Taylor to the canvas. However, the failure to recognize it as a legitimate knockdown may have altered the course of the fight.
The judges’ scorecards read 95-95, 96-94, and 98-92 for Taylor. The case can be made that the fight was close, based on the how the referee called the fight, but that last card is a case of horrible judging. That card may have very well been drawn up before the first punch was thrown.
The only case for a Taylor victory is for Cameron to be on the wrong side of all the controversy. On the other hand, at best, these very questionable decisions give Taylor a draw. Minus the slanted card for Taylor, Cameron should still be an undisputed champion.
