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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Verri

Katie Taylor out for revenge in tense Chantelle Cameron rematch with huge stakes

Ahead of their rematch in Dublin on Saturday night, you could be forgiven for checking whether Katie Taylor really was beaten by Chantelle Cameron in May.

A quick glance at their respective records confirms that was indeed the case, Cameron defending her undisputed super-lightweight crown against the previously undefeated Taylor, but the spoils of victory were fairly measly.

The photos on the posters have been flipped and this time Cameron will walk to the ring last. It is Taylor, though, who has another chance to become a two-weight undisputed champion, and the 37-year-old does so with home advantage once more.

It is not particularly surprising. Taylor remains the biggest draw in women’s boxing and money talks, with another special atmosphere guaranteed at a sold-out 3Arena.

Six months ago it was a celebration - at least until the fight began - as Taylor fought in Ireland for the first time as a professional. There will be a tension in the air on Saturday, the Irish fans knowing their trailblazer is an underdog with her career potentially on the line.

Taylor appeared unusually tired early in the first fight. The emotion of the event perhaps weighed heavy, and she has turned down a number of fight-week interviews and trimmed commitments to ensure there is no repeat.

"Mentally and physically, I feel a lot better going into this fight,” Taylor said. “I feel in top form right now.

Chantelle Cameron and Katie Taylor prepare to go head to head in Dublin once again (REUTERS)

"I don't want to really expand on it, I just didn't feel myself going into the last fight. It was just a flat performance.”

Cameron insists she will be improved too, revealing she was recovering from a torn bicep last time out. The Northampton fighter wanted this rematch at 135lbs, the lightweight division in which Taylor holds all the belts.

She also pushed for a bout on home soil. Those wishes have not been granted, but some things have changed.

“I’m going to be all over her like a rash,” Cameron declared. “May 20 I was in awe of Katie Taylor - this time I'm not.”

"Mentally and physically, I feel a lot better going into this fight... I feel in top form right now"

Katie Taylor

Victory for Taylor would be the finest moment of a remarkable career, enhancing a legacy that will already stretch long beyond when she does hang up her gloves.

A blockbuster trilogy would be an option, so too a rematch with Amanda Serrano or even retirement. Should it be a second win in the lion’s den for Cameron, then her days of being dictated to will be over.

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