Chantelle Cameron has edged out Katie Taylor by majority decision to defend her world super-lightweight titles in Dublin.
On her homecoming to Ireland, Taylor took arguably her biggest challenge, moving up in weight to challenge a fellow undefeated fighter who held the natural size advantage.
While Taylor was never deterred by the more powerful punches which came from Cameron, she took too many shots from a relentless Cameron during the first half of the fight to have any arguments over the end result.
One judge scored it 95-95 - far from an unjust card given how Taylor had finished strongly - yet no-one can begrudge the 96-94 verdicts which were delivered in Cameron's favour.
Despite defending her world titles, Cameron walked first to the ring and was made to wait while Taylor made the grandstand entrance that her status warranted.
Boxing. #TaylorCameron pic.twitter.com/e3ez6Qw2ip
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Nevertheless, it was not detrimental to the English fighter who quickly showed that she could match her more esteemed opponent for speed as well as possessing other superior attributes.
Although Taylor was landing with flurries and was more efficient with her output, Cameron was landing the more hurtful blows, even if Taylor, to her credit, rarely backtracked.
Many of the rounds followed a similar pattern but by round eight, it felt as if Cameron had banked herself at least five of the rounds and effectively left Taylor requiring a stoppage to add to the four belts in her weight category below.
Depending on your perception, Taylor could have easily taken the ninth and 10th, giving herself a chance of retaining her unbeaten record even if it did not result in further accolades.
However, it was Cameron who got the nod, deservedly in many observer's eyes, to become a genuine pound-for-pound star of the sport while Taylor is left to contemplate a rematch or a drop back down to 135lbs.
Darren Plant
