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Thanksgiving weekend 2023 in the world of Boxing was highlighted by two marquee attractions on November 25th in the Women's Jr. Welterweight and Men's Super-Middleweight divisions. First, it was a highly anticipated rematch for the Undisputed Women’s Jr. Welterweight championship of the world as undefeated champion Chantelle Cameron attempted to score her second victory in a six month span by giving Undisputed Lightweight world champion Katie Taylor a second opportunity to become an undisputed world champion in two weight divisions.
In some ways, this rematch offered little upside for the defending champion beyond perhaps a good payday as well as a chance to prove that her victory over Taylor in the first fight was not a case of her catching Taylor on an off night. The second encounter would take place at the same location as the first fight, the 3 Arena in Dublin, in Taylor's home country of Ireland. As this observer pointed out in previewing this fight, despite Taylor having what amounted to a “Home Ring Advantage" in the first fight, Cameron was able to win under those conditions in what was a highly competitive and close fight.
The second fight was also competitive, but the difference between the two fights became the approach of Taylor. At her best, Katie Taylor is a combination puncher that attacks in short, but explosive spurts and uses lateral movement to control the tempo of the combat. In the first fight in May of this year, she had success in spots with this approach, but was unable to nullify Cameron's pressure as she was frequently pushed back against the ropes and not able to use her movement to her advantage particularly during the second half of that fight.
This time around, Taylor used her movement as well as a consistent jab to control the combat along with mixing in the short combinations that have been her trademark throughout her career. The primary difference throughout much of this rematch was Taylor's ability to turn Cameron whenever she got close to the ropes, which kept the champion from being able to get her punches off with consistency and also made the pressure that Cameron applied less effective as compared to the first meeting between these two world champions.
Cameron also suffered a deep gash on her forehead as a result of an accidental clash of heads in the third round. Despite a gash that yours truly felt was severe enough to warrant a stoppage of the the bout, which if it had been before the completion of the fourth round, it would have resulted in a no contest, Cameron showed why she is a champion by fighting through what had to be severe pain as well as the punishment Taylor was able to dish out. She was also able to come on as the fight progressed as she had done in the first fight.
In a scenario that was similar to their first encounter, Taylor seemed to struggle over the second half of the fight. While this could be attributed to the high pace in which the fight was fought, as was the case the first time around, Cameron seemed to land the harder punches of the two as Taylor fought the effects of fatigue. Unlike in the first fight however, just as it seemed as though she did not have much left to give, Taylor also showed the heart of a champion by gutting it out, continuing to avoid being put on the ropes as much as she could and trading punches with Cameron till the final bell.
At the conclusion of the ten round undisputed world championship bout, I felt that Taylor had done enough to win, but the rally that Cameron was able to put forth during the second half of the fight, as was the case the first time around, resulted in a close majority decision. The outcome of the second fight would be different as Taylor would be declared the winner making her the latest fighter, male or female to join an exclusive club as being an Undisputed world champion in multiple divisions.
The stage appears to be set for a third fight between Taylor and Cameron in 2024. Although Katie Taylor’s future place in any Boxing Hall of Fame is more than secure and regardless of what happens in a potential third fight, that will not change, the question now becomes how soon would that third bout between her and Cameron take place. At thirty-six years old, Taylor has been through a lot of grueling battles throughout her career and several in the last several years. There is no question that Chantelle Cameron deserves a rematch because after all, she gave Taylor a rematch that she did not have to give, but both fighters deserve significant time to rest and heal before considering a third fight.
This brings us to the second marquee attraction that took place on November 25th. A battle between two former world champions at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV as undefeated former world champions David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade met in what amounted to an elimination bout to determine the next mandatory challenger in the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) Super-Middleweight ratings for current Undisputed champion Saul “Canelo" Alvarez.
The fight, which brought together arguably two of the most avoided fighters in and around the Super-Middleweight division due to the respective styles of Benavidez and Andrade, also holds the distinction of headlining the final pay-per-view produced by United States premium cable network Showtime, who will soon exit the sport after a thirty-seven year run as one of Boxing’s power players in broadcasting the sport. It was a main event that did not disappoint.
Benavidez is a fighter that typically starts slow, but gradually picks up his output as a fight progresses. For the first time in either fighter's career, they were faced with a scenario of facing a fighter with a style that was in some ways similar to their own, but one that they had not had to face themselves. Demetrius Andrade is a fighter that is very crafty, elusive, and has proven to be a difficult puzzle to solve. The first three rounds of this fight was largely dictated on Andrade’s ability to use angles, out throw, and land fast combinations on Benavidez.
Although this initially had the appearance of many of Andrade's previous fights where he seemed to be too quick and elusive and was beating Benavidez to the punch at this stage in the bout, what could not be ignored was the size difference between the two. Despite being similar in both height and weight, Benavidez appeared as though he had the body frame of a Light-Heavyweight or a Cruiserweight going against a fighter in Andrade, who won his first world championship as a 154lb. Jr. Middleweight. While this fight was fought in the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division, it appeared that Andrade might have hit his ceiling in terms of moving up in weight standing in the ring with Benavidez.
It would not take long before the appearance of Andrade facing a naturally bigger fighter began to show itself in the fight as wherever Benavidez was able to land punches, it seemed to hurt Andrade. The turning point in the fight would occur in the fourth round when Benavidez connected with a right hand that landed high on the head of Andrade that sent the former two-division world champion down on his knees on the canvas. Although Andrade was able to get up from the knockdown, he was clearly hurt and the offensive rhythm that seemed to give him an early advantage in the first three rounds of the scheduled twelve round bout became less and less as Andrade went into survival mode in trying to get his bearings. In the process, Benavidez administered significant punishment to the body and head.
At the conclusion of the fifth round Referee Thomas Taylor walked with Andrade back to his corner and told him that he needed to show him something. This coincided with Taylor having Andrade examined by a ringside physician between rounds five and six. Despite looking like a fighter that was in the process of suffering what was becoming a one way beating, Andrade was given the chance to continue. In round six, Benavidez continued to batter Andrade, knocking his mouthpiece out twice. Although Andrade tried his best to fight back, there was not much force behind his punches.
As he had done after the previous round, Taylor followed Andrade back to his corner after round six and informed him that he could not see another round like what had just occurred. After a brief exchange between Taylor and Andrade’s trainer and father Paul Andrade, the fight was stopped giving Benavidez a convincing stoppage victory over a fighter regarded as one of the most defensively sound fighters in the entire sport.
Whether or not this victory, as convincing as it was for Benavidez will finally result in him getting an opportunity to fight Saul Alvarez for the Undisputed Super-Middleweight championship of the world in 2024 remains to be seen. Unfortunately for Benavidez, it may depend on what happens with the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters, who have promoted many of Benavidez’ bouts including his victory over Andrade as the PBC’s future remains uncertain as they continue to look for a new platform for their stable of fighters after losing broadcast homes with both Fox Sports and Showtime here in the United States over the last two years. With no new platform either traditional or streaming based announced to broadcast PBC promoted Boxing cards in 2024, as of this writing and Showtime and it's parent company Paramount Global preparing to exit Boxing before Christmas, it may be time for not only Benavidez, but all fighters currently competing under the PBC banner to not only explore other options, but to also come to the realization that if they want to compete on a regular basis, a problem that has become more and more frequent for fighters in the PBC’s stable in recent years as their network agreements have evaporated and both Fox Sports and Showtime have bowed out of the sport, the insistence on the pay-per-view model is not conducive to a successful career going into 2024 and is directly responsible for the state in which the PBC currently finds itself in.
“And That's The Boxing Truth."
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Women's Boxing has made significant strides over the last decade that has seen the sport for women receive long overdue recognition as well as mainstream attention. One of the most notable fighters that has led the charge in this era has been former Olympic Gold medalist and current Undisputed Lightweight champion of the world Katie Taylor.
Taylor has become one of the biggest stars in the sport both due to her dominance in the Lightweight division as well as her willingness to fight anyone in and around the division. Many likely remember Taylor taking part in a true groundbreaking moment for the sport when she scored a close decision victory over Undisputed Featherweight world champion Amanda Serrano in April 2021. A fight that was not only an all-time classic, but more importantly before a sellout crowd, one that marked the first time that a woman's bout main evented a Boxing card in the main arena in New York’s Madison Square Garden. As Taylor's dominance of the Lightweight division has continued, in search of a challenge, she moved up in weight to challenge undefeated Undisputed Jr. Welterweight world champion Chantelle Cameron earlier this year in her home country of Ireland.
Despite having what amounted to a home field advantage over the champion in May of this year, Taylor was unable to come away with a victory. In what was a close and competitive fight, it was Cameron who outworked Taylor over the course of the ten round world championship bout to retain her undisputed championship via majority decision. In doing so, Cameron not only scored what many felt was an upset given Taylor's standing in the sport, but also handed the Undisputed Lightweight queen the first loss of her career.
Rather than going back to the Lightweight division and look to continue her reign, Taylor will instead attempt to avenge her defeat when she faces Cameron for a second time. A rematch that will take place on November 25th in Dublin, Ireland and can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN.
The story of this rematch is simple, can Taylor avenge her first career loss or will Chantelle Cameron be able to get a second victory over a future Hall of Famer? A misconception that this observer believes was exposed in the first fight between these two world champions is that even though Katie Taylor had a considerably higher profile and what amounted to a home field advantage, Cameron was also an undefeated, undisputed world champion in her division going into that fight, and was able to show that she herself is a world-class boxer that belonged in the ring with someone of Taylor's caliber.
This time around, the scenario is almost identical to what it was like for Cameron going into the first fight. Despite her victory over Taylor, there are some that view her as an underdog going into the rematch, much like how even though she was the defending champion the first time around, there were some that did not think she had much of a chance. As was the case in the first fight, the rematch will also take place in Taylor's home country of Ireland giving her once again, the theoretical home field or to be more appropriate “Home Ring" advantage. Cameron proved however, she could win under those conditions and did win the first fight. With that knowledge, she is not likely to feel intimidated going into fight two.
What this will boil down to in my eyes is whether Taylor will be able to control the tempo of the combat and be able to use her lateral movement and combination punching, two cornerstones of her Boxing style, to try and out box Cameron. There were periods in the first fight where Taylor was able to implement this approach, but she could not sustain it for the duration, which allowed Cameron to come on in the middle and late rounds to secure the victory. Taylor must be elusive and be tactical in her approach in this fight because if she gives up any ground, Cameron will look to take advantage as was the case in the first encounter. Whether Cameron can limit Taylor's movement again as she was able to in the first fight and try to get a more conclusive victory remains to be seen.
2023 has been another year that has marked progress for Women's Boxing. Will Cameron-Taylor II be regarded as another classic in the continued progression for the sport and possibly lead to a third chapter? We will find out on Saturday, November 25th.
“And That's The Boxing Truth."
Cameron vs. Taylor II takes place on Saturday, November 25 at 3 Arena in Dublin, Ireland. The fight as well as its full undercard can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 11:05AM ET/8:05AM PT with Before The Bell, which will feature preliminary bouts. This will be followed by the main card, which will begin at 2PM ET/11AM PT.
(*U.S. Times Only.*)
(*Card and Start Times Subject to Change.*
For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.
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Press Release August 2, 2023 By DAZN - Chantelle Cameron returns to the Lion’s Den to put her undisputed Super-Lightweight World Titles on the line for a second time against Irish legend Katie Taylor at the 3Arena in Dublin on Saturday November 25, live worldwide on DAZN.
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| Credit: DAZN |
Northampton’s Cameron (18-0, 8 KOs) handed undisputed Lightweight World Champion Taylor the first defeat of her career to remain undisputed ruler at 140lbs when they met on an historic night at the sold-out 3Arena in Dublin back in May.
Despite coming into the fight defending her belts, Cameron was seen as a major underdog for Taylor’s first fight in Ireland in her seven-year professional career – but the 32-year-old Brit stunned the home crowd by scoring a majority decision win over their hero.
The bout lived up to the huge expectation as both fighters left everything in the ring in front of a deafening partisan crowd, but after ten close rounds, Cameron was a worthy winner and cemented her place as one of the best female fighters on the planet.
“Last time out I pulled off one of the best ever away wins against the best female fighter on the planet,” said Cameron. “To go over to Ireland for her homecoming with my belts on the line and beat her was a brilliant experience, but beating her on November 25 will surpass that as I know what to expect now.
“I’ve boxed at that high level with a huge amount of pressure on me and the crowd against me. Going into November 25 I’m more than prepared this time. I know what it feels like now and I’m going to go in there with more aggression and energy and I’m confident of getting the job done in better fashion.
“I’m going to be a lot better in the rematch. In the gym we’re correcting mistakes that I’ve made. There were little things that I was doing during the first fight that led to me being headbutted a lot – that’s why my face was very bruised up at the end of the fight.
“Going back to Ireland to beat Katie Taylor twice in a row will show that it wasn’t just a lucky night for me and an off night for Katie. I said it last time – I think I’m all wrong for Katie. I’m too big, I’m too strong and my will to win is too strong. I’m going to be there all night long. Katie picked the wrong fighter to fight.”
“I'm delighted the rematch has been made and really can't wait for another huge night in November,” said Taylor. “I relish challenges like this and these are the occasions I live for.”
“Strap yourselves in for another electric night at the 3Arena in Dublin as Chantelle Cameron and Katie Taylor run it back for Super-Lightweight supremacy on Saturday November 25,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “The atmosphere inside that arena was one of the loudest and most special that I’ve ever experienced in all my years in this sport and I expect November 25 to be even better.
"Last time out Chantelle Cameron proved that she in one of the very best female fighters on the planet by handing Katie Taylor her first loss in the professional ranks. Katie will be desperate to avenge that loss but Chantelle is determined to prove that it wasn’t a one off. Don’t miss this one, live and exclusive around the world on DAZN.”
"Another massive fight to add to our ever growing autumn schedule”, said Alfie Sharman, VP, DAZN. “There is nothing more dangerous than a motivated Katie Taylor and after being defeated for the very first time in her pro career to a modern day great in Chantelle Cameron I am expecting fireworks. Tune in November 25 to watch live and exclusive only on DAZN.”
Ticket details will be announced in due course.
Material and Photo Courtesy of: DAZN Used with permission.
For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.
The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.
Press Release: June 27, 2023By Bitcoin Casinos - IBF Women's Bantamweight world champion Ebanie Bridges recently sat down with BitcoinCasinos.com for an exclusive interview where she shares her thoughts on a potential rematch between Chantelle Cameron and Katie Taylor as well as a variety of subjects including the state of Women's Boxing. A full transcript of the interview can be read below.
Question: It’s all about the hype and ramping it up to the next level – so, have you thought about what you can do next time at the weigh-in?
Ebanie Bridges: I just want to be comfortable, it’s not like I’m being big-headed or anything like that – I like to wear what I look good in and I seem to break the internet now no matter what I wear as ‘my thing’ seems to be a big deal. I wear lingerie and I think it’s classy what I wear – it’s nice, elegant and anything too trashy. It’s not about competing; it’s just about doing what’s right for me and ‘doing me’ always works. While my past as a bodybuilder and stage presence helps me being comfortable for the weigh-ins and the poses etc.
Question: Going back to boxing, women’s boxing is buzzing and in a great place at the moment – do you feel it’s finally getting the respect it deserves
Ebanie Bridges: Yeah, it’s definitely getting more of the respect it deserves and I’d say in the last 3 or 4 years more so now than ever. We are getting good matches and more girls in the sport.
Obviously, Katie Taylor was amazing for the sport, but her fights were very one-sided and wasn’t competitive enough then and people don’t want to see lob-sided fights.
One star back then wasn’t enough, but now we’ve got so many stars in women’s boxing and there’s no 2-3 years waiting for fights – we just fight.
Question: You mentioned Katie Taylor – she fought Chantelle Cameron recently – Taylor fighting above her weight and lost. Do you think if they fought again – maybe if Cameron comes down to her weight – who will win?
Ebanie Bridges: Oh, Chantelle blitzes it. Too strong – I’d always pick Chantelle anyway and I had no doubt she’d win the last fight vs Taylor. She’s just better – I think the only thing Katie Taylor has on her is speed. But other than that Chantelle Cameron’s defense is brilliant – her pressure is brilliant – her punch selection is brilliant and has great speed and is strong. I just think she’s better all-round.
Question: So, how long are you looking forward to, in terms of getting back in the ring?
Ebanie Bridges: My next fight will be in August, so pretty soon – just 2 ½ months or so. I’ll be looking to get back out there before the end of the summer.
Question: Have you got an eye on your potential opponent?
Ebanie Bridges: Not yet we are working on it at the moment but coming back off a lay-off and the injury it’s not going to be a unification fight or anything like that. It will be more to test the hand out really and make sure that’s okay.
Material Courtesy of: BitcoinCasinos.com Used with permission.
The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.
The Boxing world focused its attention on two undisputed world championship bouts that confidentially took place on May 20, 2023, making it "A Day Of Undisputed" in the sport. Women's Boxing was first to take the spotlight as undefeated Undisputed Jr. Welterweight world champion Chantelle Cameron defended her crown against undefeated Undisputed Lightweight world champion Katie Taylor in Taylor's hometown of Dublin, Ireland.
Taylor, who was attempting to accomplish something rare in the sport, to become an undisputed world champion in two weight classes simultaneously, had the support of her hometown behind her in this bout against Cameron. Those who thought that Taylor would have an easy time of things in a fight billed as her Homecoming, were left disappointed. In what was a close fight from start to finish, it was Cameron's constant pressure and ability to back Taylor up against the ropes that seemed to be the subtle difference in the fight.
As is usually the case when it comes to Women's Boxing, what made this bout difficult to score in addition to the two minute round length, one minute less than men's bouts, was that Taylor was able to keep it close due to being able to respond to Cameron's offense by throwing short, blistering combinations of punches, despite being pushed backwards by Cameron throughout most of the scheduled ten round world championship fight. This created something else that is all too common in women's bouts. The definition of a nightmare in terms of determining which fighter was able to get the upper hand in rounds that could be scored either way depending on one's perspective based on clean punching, effective aggressiveness, ring generalship, and defense, the accepted criteria in which Boxing on every level is scored.
It was indisputable as the fight progressed that Taylor was able to get the upper hand in some rounds simply due to her having the quicker hands when she was able to let her hands go. Despite also being able to evade some of Cameron's offense with effective lateral and head movement, she was not able to break the pattern of the fight, which was being pressured and pushed back against the ropes by a naturally stronger opponent. Cameron's consistency in this area, ultimately resulted in her retaining her Undisputed Jr. Welterweight championship of the world via ten round majority decision. Earning the nod of two of the three official judges. Unofficially, this observer scored the bout also in Cameron's favor six rounds to four or 95-93 in points. In all honesty, I felt the fight could have gone either way and as I often say when it comes to close fights, it will often come down to what a judge prefers based on the aforementioned criteria. Something that is important for the reader to keep in mind because as fate would have it, the subject of how fights are scored and the criteria in which is used to do so would turn out to be just as relevant to the second undisputed world championship bout that took place on May 20th.
This observer is referring to the battle for the Undisputed Lightweight championship of the world between undefeated undisputed world champion Devin Haney and former three-division world champion Vasyl Lomachenko, which took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. As expected, this was a tactical chess match from the outset, which similar to the Cameron-Taylor bout earlier that day presented a conundrum in terms of how the fight was scored and again, what a judge prefers based on the accepted criteria in how Boxing is scored.
In this case, it was Lomachenko, the naturally shorter fighter, generally bringing the fight to the younger and naturally bigger Haney. This included attacking in short, explosive spurts, using angles to vary the attack, and being physical on the inside with the champion when he needed to be. Unlike the approach of Chantelle Cameron, which was largely based on applying constant pressure on Katie Taylor, Devin Haney's approach had an emphasis on trying to get to Lomachenko's body, while trying to be elusive and maintain a distance where he could get his punches off first before Lomachenko could return offense.
While it is indisputable that Haney's consistent focus on Lomachenko's body did have an effect as this fight progressed, the conundrum for yours truly was trying to decide for myself as an observer whether or not the body attack would be enough for the champion to win rounds that were otherwise very close. As the twelve round world championship bout progressed, there was one thing that stood out that ultimately would influence how I scored this fight unofficially. It is important to keep in mind that this fight was not only on the highest level of the sport, but was being fought at a high competitive level from start to finish. The consistent thing that stood out however, was Lomachenko was the fighter generally forcing the action and dictating how the fight was fought.
Although this by no means indicates that the fight was one-sided because it was anything but, at no point throughout this fight was Haney able to get into a rhythm such where he could control the pace without feeling resistance from the challenger. Despite this, I felt that Haney was able to win three of the last four rounds, which resulted in my scoring the fight seven rounds to five or 115-113 in points for Lomachenko.
Much like my feelings on Cameron-Taylor, I thought one fighter won the fight clearly, but I also felt that it could have gone either way on the scorecards. At the risk of sounding repetitive to the reader, it truly does boil down to what a judge prefers based on clean punching, effective aggressiveness, ring generalship, and defense. Why did I rewrite the criteria one more time? The answer is simple. Although Boxing is a sport known as “The Sweet Science,” the practice of scoring fights on every level of the sport ranging from amateur, to professional, to professional Bareknuckle, is far from a perfect science and is often very much open to interpretation. This is why you will often hear this observer talk about the idea of “Swing Rounds,” which can be defined as close rounds where the winner of those rounds is often determined based on moments in a round that can sway opinion as opposed to one fighter being able to control the action over the other for the direction of a round.
In this case, there were indeed several rounds that could have been scored either way, but from my perspective, it was Lomachenko who carried the majority of the action, which is ultimately what I based my scoring on. The three official judges however, did not see this fight the way yours truly did in scoring the fight unanimously for the champion via margins of seven rounds to five on two scorecards, (115-113) and eight rounds to four (116-112) resulting in Haney retaining his undisputed championship.
While I did not and do not agree with the decision having taken a couple of days to digest things and gather my thoughts, I will say that after a lifetime watching Boxing and almost three decades covering the sport and other combat sports, I could probably write a series of columns or perhaps even a book that would cover the series of decisions that I have seen on every imaginable level of the sport that I personally did not agree with and I felt/feel were worse decisions than this one turned out to be, which is too long of a list to cover in the context of one column. As I deliberately took a few days before releasing this column, it does nevertheless interest me to see, hear, and read the opinions of others who saw the same fight I did. After all, opinions will differ and the reasons behind those opinions will vary depending on who you ask. The consensus in the case of Haney-Lomachenko seems to be that this was a controversial decision. For those who feel that way, I do feel that the label “Controversial” is justified and I do agree with that.
Now, I will not spend too much time talking about how after virtually every fight there are accusations of corruption, calls for investigation, and even those who will call a fight fixed. While most of the time, such calls in my experience come from disgruntled fans who either because of a lack of understanding of how fights are scored, or simply because of bias in that the fighter they root for and support ended up on the wrong side of a bad decision or a controversial stoppage, I will not go down that road here simply because as I point out to those folks, in order to make an accusation as someone in media who covers the sport, you need indisputable evidence before saying anything as unlike a fan, if you cover the sport, your reputation is on the line, but what I will say is I think the three judges in this instance appointed by the Nevada State Athletic Commision (NSAC) got this one wrong. It is important however, to keep in mind that judges who are tasked with scoring high-profile world championship fights as the two undisputed championship bouts discussed in this column are the best of the best in the field, have decades of experience on every level of the sport, and are often asked to fly around the world to score world championship bouts based on their respective resumes and reputations.
Despite those facts and the experience therein, a judge will not get it right 100% of the time and regardless of how a fan might feel, a judge will often see things differently from their position at ringside than what a fan will see either sitting in the crowd or watching on some form of television, whether it be via traditional mediums or streaming. While fans have also called out yours truly from time to time for how I have scored bouts unofficially even though I also have experience, it is just something that comes with the territory and unfortunately, one cannot please everyone.
While I will not join those calling for an investigation into this fight because I am smart enough to know that this was not the first controversial decision I have seen and it definitely will not be the last, what I will say is if fans are truly that passionate and want to see something done, the best way to do it is to not only voice your opinion, not only threaten not to support the sport going forward, but to realize that the only way to get your point across is not only to stick to your word, but also reach out to your respective governors, who in the case of the United States appoint the respective state athletic commissions, and maybe go as far as your state representatives if you truly feel that an injustice has taken place and want to see something done that would benefit the sport. I would caution however, that a process such as that will take time and progress more often than not is slow.
Ultimately, I would like to see rematches of both Cameron-Taylor and Haney-Lomachenko. In all honesty with the reader, I can sit all day and talk about changes that I would like to see in the sport including the need for regulatory overhaul on a global level, as well as judging, many of which I have written about frequently over the years, but I am realistic enough to know that it is far more likely that a rematch of a close or controversial fight will happen sooner than any regulatory intervention, especially if the public demands it. In this case, the Boxing world was treated to two highly competitive fights on the highest level the sport has to offer, each with an undisputed world championship on the line. Close or not, controversial or not, the best way to answer any questions or skeptics is to do it again, and to be frank, the sport as well as all four fighters deserve it.
“And That’s The Boxing Truth”
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The sport of Boxing in recent years has made significant progress on both the male and female ends of the sport where there has been a consistent effort to unify world titles in various weight classes with the goal of determining a single undisputed world champion per weight class. While it is a goal that this observer has said in the past is something for a variety of reasons is difficult to accomplish, a sign of that progress that has been made will be on full display on Saturday May 20th where two important undisputed world championship fights will take place in both Women's Boxing as well as Men's Boxing, which could have a significant impact on the sport moving forward.
The first fight scheduled for May 20 for an undisputed world championship was to have been a highly anticipated rematch of 2022's Fight of the Year for the Women's Undisputed Lightweight championship of the world between undefeated world champion Katie Taylor and current Featherweight world champion Amanda Serrano. When Serrano withdrew from the rematch due to an injury earlier this year, Taylor, wanting to keep the scheduled date in her home country of Ireland, opted to take a risk by moving up five pounds from the 135lb. Lightweight division to the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division to challenge undefeated Undisputed Jr. Welterweight world champion Chantelle Cameron in an attempt to accomplish a rarity in Boxing, to become a two-division undisputed world champion.
The fight, which will take place at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland and will be broadcast globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN, brings together something else that is rare. Two unbeaten fighters, each an undisputed champion in their respective weight classes choosing to face each other. Something that for a variety of reasons we do not see in the sport. While Taylor will come in with more experience having a record of 23-0, with 6 Knockouts, this is essentially an even fight as Cameron, who will enter with a record of 17-0, 8 Knockouts, much like Taylor is a compact boxer/puncher that throws in volume and looks to pile up points on scorecards.
Although this observer stands by his assessment that this bout at least in comparison of styles is even and could be a toss up, Taylor does have more experience and will likely be looking to use that to her advantage in this fight in front of what is likely to be a significant hometown crowd. The question however, might come down to how Taylor looks at the heavier weight, whether her hands are as quick and reaction time is there at the heavier weight as it has been at Lightweight. It is important to keep in mind that rounds in Women's Boxing are two minutes in duration, which could prove to be a very difficult task for the three judges scoring a fight when you are trying to decide who is getting the upper hand in a fight between two fighters with similar styles, which means this fight could end up in a close decision if it does go the distance.
In a strange way, the cancellation of the rematch with Serrano for Taylor has led to an unofficial four fighter box off as in addition to Taylor's challenge of Cameron, it was recently announced that Serrano will defend her Featherweight world championship in a rematch with former world champion Heather Hardy in August on the undercard of the Jake Paul-Nate Diaz bout in Dallas, TX. While there is nothing official at least as of this writing, if the circumstances end up where the winners of these two fights do end up facing each other later in the year or in 2024, it will obviously keep interest high and Women's Boxing will continue to benefit from that increased interest as the sport for women continues to grow overall.
The second undisputed world championship fight on May 20 will see undefeated Undisputed Lightweight champion of the world Devin Haney defend his crown for the second time at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV against former three-division world champion Vasyl Lomachenko. A fight that can be seen here in the United States on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View, is not only one of the most anticipated fights of 2023, but may be viewed as a superstar in the making in Haney facing one of the , most dominant fighters of the last decade in Lomachenko, who has acknowledged that this could be his last chance to win am undisputed world championship.
Many will recall that Lomachenko previously came up short in his unification bout against then undefeated IBF world champion Teofimo Lopez in the fight that fully unified the Lightweight division in October 2020. Although that is the only loss Lomachenko has had since his second pro bout nearly a decade ago in 2014, the Undisputed Lightweight championship has changed hands twice since that fight, first from Lopez to George Kambosos and then from Kambosos to Haney, who is coming off of his second consecutive twelve round unanimous decision victory over Kambosos.
While Haney has for the moment put a stop to the hot potato passing of the Undisputed Lightweight championship of the world, he has also acknowledged that his time in the 135lb. Lightweight division may be near an end as he is likely to move up to the Jr. Welterweight division sooner than later. What this creates is a scenario where if Haney does retain the title in this fight and decides to move up, the undisputed championship in the Lightweight division will be broken up as all the world championships that make up the undisputed crown would obviously be vacated.
How likely is Haney to retain his crown against Lomachenko is a question that can be quite complicated depending on one's perspective. At his best, Vasyl Lomachenko is a fighter with impeccable foot work, hand speed, deceptive punching power, and has the ability to use angles, which with the lone exception of the fight with Teofimo Lopez, has proven to be a difficult puzzle for opponents to solve. The possibility of Lomachenko simply having a bad night against Lopez, who outworked him over twelve rounds is certainly possible.
Much like Lopez however, Devin Haney is a younger fighter than Lomachenko and some might argue is a more complete fighter than Lopez, who is primarily known for his punching power. The key to this fight in my eyes will be whether or not Lomachenko will be able to establish the tempo of the fight early. This may prove to be more difficult than against previous opponents because of Devin Haney's hand speed, so it will be crucial that Lomachenko use his legs and look to set angles.
To date, the only fighter who has really been able to hurt the champion was former world champion Jorge Linares, who badly staggered Haney in the later rounds of their fight in May 2021. Perhaps a method of attack for Lomachenko might be to use his footwork to bait Haney into making a mistake by missing with his punches and looking to catch him in the midst of those punches as they are being thrown. A method otherwise known as catching an opponent between punches, which is very difficult to defend against simply because the opponent is in the midst of throwing and thus is theoretically not thinking about defense in the process. This in turn makes a tactic like that a vital asset for counter punchers who have the timing, lateral movement, and accuracy to be able to pull it off. Lomachenko must be consistent in this fight from start to finish if he wants to have success here. Despite his only having two losses as a professional and three overall as a fighter going back to his illustrious amateur career where he had three hundred ninety-five wins against a single loss, this is one of the rare occasions that Lomachenko is being viewed by some as an underdog.
While that might give an impression that Haney could dominate this bout, the champion must not approach this with a complacent mindset and should view Lomachenko as the dangerous tactician he has proven to be throughout his career. If for whatever reason Haney might be looking beyond this fight, perhaps with an eye towards moving up in weight, it could backfire on him if Lomachenko is prepared.
No matter who emerges victorious in these two undisputed world championship fights there are at least a few things that most Boxing fans and experts alike can probably universally agree on. The goal to determine an undisputed world champion in each individual weight class for both the men's and women's sides of the sport remains at best a work in progress, but it is a goal that at least with each passing day seems more reachable, especially when the fighters themselves are starting to express their desire to achieve that goal, which in theory should put the pressure needed for those on the business side of Boxing to make the goal of being undisputed more attainable, which will ultimately benefit the sport. What can also be agreed on is these two particular fights are two of the best on the 2023 schedule to date.
After some recent mishaps and controversies in the sport particularly with some fights that were treated as major events, perhaps what can also be in universal agreement is Boxing is due for a day where it is the topic of discussion for all the right reasons. Hopefully, May 20, 2023, a day of Undisputed in the sport will be that day.
"And That's The Boxing Truth."
Cameron vs. Taylor takes place on Saturday, May 20th at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. The fight as well as it's full undercard can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 12PM ET/9AM PT with Before The Bell featuring preliminary bouts followed by the main card beginning at 2PM ET/11AM PT. (U.S. Times Only)
For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.
Haney vs. Lomachenko takes place on Saturday, May 20th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The fight as well as it's full undercard can be seen in the United States on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View beginning at 6PM ET/3PM PT with a portion of free preliminary bouts followed by the pay-per-view card beginning at 10PM ET/7PM PT for $59.99. ESPN+ is available through the ESPN app on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices, and Smart TV's. For more information about ESPN+ including schedules, to subscribe, and order Haney vs. Lomachenko please visit: www.ESPNPlus.com/PPV. (U.S. Times Only) *Check your local start times internationally.*
(* Cards and start times subscribe to change.)
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After decades of fighting for acceptance and recognition in the sport of Boxing, Women’s Boxing reached the pinnacle in April of last year when an encounter for the Undisputed Lightweight championship of the world between undefeated champion Katie Taylor and multi-division world champion Amanda Serrano became the first women’s bout in the history of the sport to headline a Boxing card in the main arena in the hallowed halls of Madison Square Garden. If that long overdue milestone for women in the sport were not enough, the fight between Taylor and Serrano turned out to be an all-time classic that was a Fight of the Year candidate not just in Women’s Boxing, but in the entire sport.
Nearly one year later, one half of that epic encounter returned to Madison Square Garden, this time headlining a Women’s world championship twin bill. This observer is referring to Amanda Serrano, who on February 4th returned to The Garden in an attempt to fully unify the 126lb. Featherweight division to become an undisputed world champion. Serrano, who is the only woman in Boxing history to have won world championships in seven different weight divisions would return to The Garden, not in the main arena, but in the more intimate atmosphere of the Theater, which itself has just as rich a history in the sport to put her IBF, WBC, WBO Featherweight crowns on the line against WBA world champion Erika Cruz.
While many considered Serrano the favorite going into this bout, both based on overall experience, career accomplishments, as well as some feeling that she deserved the decision against Katie Taylor last April, few expected the type of difficult fight that it turned out to be against a very “Game” and determined Cruz. From the opening bell as had been her custom throughout her career Cruz was willing to stand and trade punches with Serrano. Although this is an approach that few opponents had succeeded in implementing against the future Hall of Famer, the sheer volume of punches from Cruz, which was nearly non-stop, proved to be a difficult task for Serrano to combat. Incredibly just as it appeared as though the fight was heating up, Cruz suffered a severe cut in her hairline as a result of an accidental clash of heads in round three. After seeing the cut, this observer was frankly surprised that the fight was allowed to continue, not because of a lack of willingness by Cruz, but because of blood seemingly going into both of the WBA champion’s eyes, which obviously can be dangerous to the long-term health of one’s vision.
Despite the view of yours truly having seen countless fights stopped because of cuts that seemed less severe, the fight continued and Cruz unaffected by the steady stream of blood going down her entire face, kept throwing punches and seemingly matching Serrano shot for shot. Although I regularly score bouts that I cover, this was one of those fights where I simply sat back and watched what was taking place. I was captivated by the non-stop action as both fighters traded shots as well as the ebb and flow throughout much of the fight. While I made the decision not to score this bout in an unofficial capacity, I did nevertheless feel for the three official judges as due to the two minute round length in which women’s bouts are fought, it is a difficult task to score under normal circumstances, when one factors in the level of action as well as the volume of punches between these two world champions, it made it even more of a trying task.
After a lifetime watching the sport on every possible level and covering it almost as long, there are times when I will get what one would probably call a gut feeling when watching a fight as to which way the three official judges might be leaning towards. In this case, I felt that even though Serrano appeared to be landing the cleaner, more effective punches, particularly in the latter rounds, it could have been a draw due to Cruz seemingly bringing the fight to Serrano much of the way. After ten grueling rounds and with both fighters having suffered cuts along the way, I was certainly glad that I decided not to score this fight, but I was nevertheless a little surprised to see two of three official judges score the fight by an eight rounds to two margin or 98-92 in points in favor of Serrano, while the third judge had it slightly closer, seven rounds to three, or 97-93 giving Serrano the victory and the Undisputed Featherweight championship of the world.
Although I was a bit surprised by the scoring, I do not believe that it was controversial in any way, but it does underscore the need for Women’s Boxing to move to three minute rounds, the same as Men’s bouts as among the benefits from a scoring standpoint would be allowing judges an extra minute to determine who wins a round, which would be more beneficial in fights like this where rounds appeared to be determined by moments resulting in relatively lopsided scores that do not serve as an accurate illustration of how competitive this fight was.
What turned out to be a classic between Amanda Serrano and Erika Cruz was not the only historic event of the evening as there was a second undisputed world championship bout that served as the co-main event. The Undisputed Jr. Lightweight championship of the world was on the line between WBO/IBO/IBF/WBC world champion Alycia Baumgardner and top contender Elhem Mekhaled in a bout where the vacant WBA crown was also on the line making this clash for the undisputed championship in the division. Baumgardner entered this fight coming off of a split decision victory over previously undefeated Mikaela Mayer in a unification bout in October of last year. A fight that was very competitive that had some debate as to who won it.
On this occasion, with Mayer sitting ringside, Baumgardner, who entered the fight with Mekhaled a significant favorite, dominated the action from start to finish. This included scoring two knockdowns of a very “Game” Mekhaled in the third round on her way to becoming undisputed world champion via ten round unanimous decision. Although no one can take anything away from the heart Mekhaled showed throughout this fight as she took significant punishment and appeared on the verge of being stopped periodically, but kept coming forward, this fight appeared to be the laying of groundwork for what would be a lucrative rematch between Baumgardner and Mayer.
As for the Undisputed Featherweight champion of the world Amanda Serrano, her next bout in May will be a rematch between her and Undisputed Lightweight champion of the world Katie Taylor, this time in the Lightweight champion’s home country of Ireland. Obviously, that fight, much like the potential Baumgardner-Mayer rematch, is much anticipated.
What these two bouts that determined undisputed world champions in two divisions as well as what will follow should show is that not only is Women’s Boxing continuing to grow and take advantage of the long overdue recognition and exposure the sport has received over the last several years, but in doing so, fights that have sufficient public demand are being made in a more timely manner as compared to the male side of the sport and as a result of that, the public is responding favorably. While no sport is perfect and even Women’s Boxing is not immune from the problems that exist for male fighters in the sport, there is a lesson to be learned here that all involved in the sport should take note of. When fights are made in a timely fashion and those bouts have significant interest, the public will respond in kind, which will also have the ripple effect of drawing new eyes to Boxing as a whole and thus will help grow the sport.
In short, not only did two fights to determine undisputed world champions create another memorable night in Madison Square Garden, but the common sense that was shown in terms of what will follow and what is likely to follow will keep interest in the sport high. It would serve Boxing as a whole much better if egos and other interests that prevent fights of significant interest from being made, let alone being made in a timely manner, were put aside in favor of what is in the best interest of the sport. Clearly, the stars of Women’s Boxing are doing something others in the sport are not, using common sense, which in the long-term no matter who wins or loses will benefit both the fighters individually as well as the sport overall.
“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”
The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.
Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison
Press Release: By DAZN – September
21, 2022 – Katie Taylor will defend her
Undisputed Lightweight World title against Karen Elizabeth Carabajal at
the OVO Arena Wembley in London on Saturday October 29, live worldwide on DAZN (excluding
Australia and New Zealand).
Credit: DAZN
Taylor
(21-0, 6 KOs) cemented herself as the greatest female fighter on the planet by
edging out Amanda Serrano in an epic fight for the ages on an iconic night at a
sold-out Madison Square Garden in New York earlier this year.
The Irish superstar retained her Undisputed Lightweight World
title after a Fight of the Year contender with Puerto Rico’s Serrano – the
first women’s boxing bout to headline the famous MSG in its 140-year
history.
Argentina’s Carabajal (19-0, 2 KOs) is undefeated in all 19 of her
professional contests since turning over in August 2013 and the 32-year-old
from Buenos Aires is a former WBC Latino, South American and Argentinian
Super-Featherweight Champion, and is promoted by Argentine legend Marcos
Maidana.
Chatteris’ European Featherweight Champion Jordan Gill (27-1-1,
8 KOs) puts his title on the line for the first time against Spain’s two-weight
World Champion Kiko Martinez (43-11-2, 30 KOs) in a fight that
also doubles up as an Eliminator for the IBF World title held by Josh
Warrington.
‘The Thrill’ lived up to his nickname last time out at The O2 in
February as he claimed the European title in stunning fashion by knocking out
Frenchman Karim Guerfi with a blockbuster right hand in the ninth round to end
an incredible contest.
Gill was knocked down in round seven before being heavily bundled
to the floor by his opponent. Looking unsteady on his legs, the 28-year-old was
backed up into his own corner and subject to a constant barrage from Guerfi,
but he showed tremendous heart and determination pull off a massive comeback
win.
Former IBF Super-Bantamweight and Featherweight World Champion
Martinez returns to the UK following his loss to Warrington at the First Direct
Arena in Leeds back in March. ‘La Sensacion’ stopped Kid Galahad in six rounds
to become his country’s first ever two-weight ruler last year and hopes to
claim another British scalp as his brilliant career draws to an end.
Emerging Belfast Super-Welterweight star Caoimhin Agyarko (12-0,
7 KOs) fights on his second Taylor undercard as he defends his WBA International
title against New York’s undefeated Peter Dobson (16-0, 9 KOs)
in his third fight of 2022, while Irish Lightweight contender Gary
Cully (14-0, 8 KOs) fights under the Matchroom promotional banner for
the first time, with his opponent to be announced soon.
Romford Heavyweight sensation Johnny Fisher (6-0,
5 KOs) brings ‘The Romford Bull Army’ to North-West London for a scheduled
six-round clash with Italy’s Alfonso Damiani (5-2, 2 KOs) and
there’s action for Takeley Light-Heavyweight prospect John Hedges (6-0,
2 KOs) and Luton Super-Welterweight Jordan Reynolds (3-0, 1
KO).
“It's hard to believe it's been almost six years since I made by
pro debut there so it's great to go back now and headline,” said Taylor.
“It's been an amazing journey so far but there are still lots of great fights
out there for me and I'm excited about what's still to come.”
“I was very happy when I received the offer to challenge Katie,”
said Carabajal. “The hard work has paid off. I'm not thinking for a
second about giving Katie a win. All the belts with come back to Argentina with
me!”
“We will travel to London with our undefeated warrior and we will
shock the boxing world,” said Maidana. “Katie Taylor will be
amazed. This will be Chino Maidana Promotions and my co-promotion partner
Legacy Boxing second World championship this year, it will be a huge success
for us as a new company.”
“One of boxing’s biggest stars Katie Taylor continues to cement
her unrivaled legacy, and this next fight against an undefeated and determined
opponent is sure to be yet another thrilling moment in her illustrious career,”
said Joseph Markowski, CEO of North America at DAZN. “We look
forward to broadcasting this event worldwide on DAZN as part of a year-end
schedule that’s only going to get even more stacked from here.”
“I’m delighted to see Katie back in action following her epic
victory over Amanda in a historic night in New York,” said Eddie
Hearn. “Katie is one of the superstars of boxing and more than that
a pioneer for women’s sport, and it’s great to have her return to the
arena that she made her debut in 2016. It’s always an honour to stage Katie’s
fights and I have no doubt that after her fight of the year with Amanda in
April, a new wave of fans will pack the Wembley Arena to see this icon perform
against the tough, hungry and unbeaten Argentine.
“We have a great card in support of the main event, Jordan
mixes it with the always dangerous Spanish legend Kiko, Caoimhin continues
his march to major titles, Gary fights for the first time with Matchroom,
Johnny brings his Bosh Army of brilliant fans back to Wembley and
unbeaten talents John and Jordan take their next steps in their fledgling
careers. It’s going to be a fantastic night in the capital.”
Material and Photo Courtesy of DAZN used with
permission.
For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible
streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local
start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.
The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau
Denison All Rights Reserved.
