Katie Taylor has expressed that the decision to move up in weight class to face off against Chantelle Cameron has been a ‘psychologically freeing’ experience as it allows her to consume her preferred foods and concentrate on the impending match rather than being preoccupied with maintaining her weight.
The Irish boxer is gearing up to potentially become an undisputed world champion in a second weight category during her much-anticipated homecoming match in Dublin, where she is slated to challenge Chantelle Cameron on May 20th.
Originally, Taylor (22-0, 6KOs) was scheduled to defend her WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO lightweight titles on the same date in a rematch against Amanda Serrano. However, due to an injury, the Puerto Rican contender was compelled to withdraw.
KATIE TAYLOR – CAMERON TIME & DATE
- Date : Saturday, May 20
- Time : 7 p.m. GMT / 2 p.m. ET
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 10 p.m. GMT / 5 p.m. ET
- The card will stream live on DAZN in over 200 countries across the globe
- The fight will take place at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.
- The main card is set to get underway at 7 p.m. GMT / 2 p.m. ET with the main event ringwalks scheduled for 10 p.m. GMT / 5 p.m. ET.
Consequently, the pugilist known as the Bray Bomber is set to ascend to the light-welterweight class and challenge Cameron (17-0, 8KOs), the Northampton fighter who holds four world titles. The showdown will occur at the 3Arena the following weekend.
Taylor asserts that she’s ‘extremely at ease’ in the light-welterweight division, expressing ‘confidence’ in her ‘power’ even though Cameron has a ‘slight size advantage’. Addressing her opponent switch, Taylor stated: ‘The circumstances have been largely unchanged for me. If anything, the shift to a higher weight class has been mentally liberating because there’s no stress over meeting weight requirements.
‘I can indulge in my preferred foods and center my attention on the impending bout. I feel immensely comfortable and strong at this weight. I don’t perceive a significant difference between the lightweight and light-welterweight categories.’
Taylor further added, ‘Chantelle Cameron may be a tad larger than me, but it doesn’t make me any less comfortable at this weight.’
The match against Cameron is being hailed as the Bray Bomber’s ‘homecoming’. Despite being one of the most accomplished Irish athletes, the 36-year-old boxer hasn’t yet had a professional fight in Dublin.
Although Taylor has expressed a desire to fight in Dublin for years, she has struggled to secure a match in the Irish capital… until now. Thanks to Eddie Hearn, a Matchroom event has been successfully arranged at the 3Arena on May 20, stirring great anticipation among fans.
Taylor insists she’s equipped to handle the pressure of fighting on home turf. She said she possesses the ‘experience’ necessary to compete ‘on such grand stages’ and acknowledged that ‘every single fight’ carries its own pressure.
Originally, Taylor was set to defend her WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO lightweight titles in a rematch against Serrano, following their memorable clash at Madison Square Garden the previous year.
However, when Serrano disclosed she had suffered an injury, Taylor’s homecoming was on the brink of cancellation.
Fortunately, Cameron agreed to step into the ring with Taylor, on the condition that the Bray Bomber moved up to her weight class.
TAYLOR – CAMERON FIGHT CARD
- 6 x 2 mins International Flyweight contest
MAISEY ROSE COURTNEY 112.1 lbs v KATE RADOMSKA 109.7 lbs
(Eltham, England) (Waterford, Ireland)followed by8 x 3 mins International Welterweight contest
PADDY DONOVAN 148.1 lbs v SAM O’MAISON 149.3 lbs
(Limerick, Ireland) (Sheffield, England)followed by
8 x 3 mins vacant BUI Celtic Heavyweight Title
THOMAS CARTY 258.6 lbs v JAY MCFARLANE 283.7 lbs
(Dublin, Ireland) (Glasgow, Scotland)19:00 LIVE ON DAZN
followed by
10 x 3 mins International Middleweight contest
CAOIMHIN AGYARKO 159.8 lbs v GRANT DENNIS 159.3 lbs
(Belfast, Northern Ireland) (Chatham, England)followed by
12 x 3 mins IBO Super-Welterweight World Title
DENNIS HOGAN 153.3 lbs v JAMES METCALF 153.1 lbs
(Kildare, Ireland) (Liverpool, England)followed by
10 x 2 mins WBA Super-Welterweight World Title
TERRI HARPER 150.8 lbs v CECILIA BRAEKHUS 153.3 lbs
(Denaby Main, England) (Bergen, Norway)followed by
10 x 3 mins International Lightweight contest
GARY CULLY 137.25 lbs v JOSE FELIX 137.2 lbs
(Naas, Ireland) (Los Mochis, Mexico)followed by
10 x 2 mins undisputed Super-Lightweight World Titles
KATIE TAYLOR 139.7 lbs v CHANTELLE CAMERON 139.7 lbs
(Bray, Ireland) (Northampton, England)