Katie Taylor has broken barriers, won multiple world titles and played a major part in elevating women’s boxing to its current lofty position but if she can turn the tables and beat Chantelle Cameron in their eagerly anticipated rematch this weekend, it might just rank as her most impressive achievement.
In May, Cameron travelled to Dublin and out-fought Taylor, inflicting the first professional defeat of her storied career.
This weekend isn’t about adding Cameron’s undisputed super lightweight title to her own lightweight crown and it isn’t about providing her adoring Dublin public with another huge event.
Those are nice bonuses but that’s exactly what they are; bonuses. This weekend is about avenging that defeat.
The softly spoken Taylor was in fight mode at the final pre-fight press conference.
“I have a second chance here and I just can’t wait to fight at this stage,” she said at today’s final press conference. “Whether I’m seen as the underdog or the favorite, whoever walks to the ring first or second. All that stuff is irrelevant. I’m just excited and hungry for the rematch and I can’t wait to step in there on Saturday and perform the way I know I can.”
Taylor is an Irish hero but shuns the spotlight, only really stepping into it to fight. Her fights attract a huge amount of media attention and although she understands the need for the endless stream of obligations, she would prefer not to have to answer question after question about how much she has left at the age of 37, what the victory would mean to her and whether she is planning on retiring.
Taylor is a fighter to her core and would love nothing more than to win on Saturday night and then retreat back into the relative anonymity she enjoys whilst others debate where she stands in the Pound-for-Pound rankings or how the wins affects her legacy.
“I don’t really take too much notice to what people are saying to be honest,” she said. “I’m very single minded and the only people I really listen to are my team and my family and the people I trust. I understand this is a huge fight and I understand it’s a must win fight for me. I know if I perform to the best of my ability on Saturday it’s going to be a completely different fight the last time. I’m just excited to showcase that.”
Cameron is younger, stronger and naturally bigger. She also outboxed and outfought Taylor for good periods of their first fight and – buoyed by the confidence of having already beaten Taylor once – the champion is promises to be even better this time. Taylor may believes she has plenty of room for improvement herself but she is also fully aware of the size of the task she faces this weekend.
“I’m always ready for whatever comes my way. I’m ready to dig deep when I have to. That’s why I put my body through the trenches week in, week out throughout training camp to be ready for these situations. I’m gonna be ready for whatever comes my way on Saturday.”