The Dillian Whyte struggle is off, however the present does go on. John Dennen previews Chantelle Cameron vs Mary McGee
AN intriguing heavyweight bout was as a result of happen on the O2 Area in London on Saturday (October 30), with Dillian Whyte taking on Otto Wallin. After it was introduced, the WBC declared the holder of their Interim belt, i.e. Dillian Whyte, would change into the obligatory challenger for Tyson Fury’s WBC belt and Dillian pulled out with a shoulder damage a fortnight earlier than the Wallin struggle. Promoters Matchroom insist these occurrences are unrelated. “Dillian carried this damage for the final couple of weeks nevertheless it worsened in sparring on Monday night time and it was unimaginable for him to proceed,” Eddie Hearn stated. “It’s an enormous disgrace as a result of Dillian had an excellent camp earlier than the damage and was able to go. The present will proceed on October 30 with out Dillian and we want him a speedy restoration and sit up for seeing him again within the ring very quickly.”
That struggle, in the meanwhile, is cancelled. Nevertheless it means Chantelle Cameron’s contest with Indiana’s Mary McGee is elevated to essential occasion standing. This can be a unification of Cameron’s WBC super-lightweight belt and McGee’s IBF. A part of a ‘Street to Undisputed’ event, the victor of this bout will likely be heading in the right direction for the winner of Kali Reis vs Jessica Camara and the possibility to deliver collectively all 4 of the most important belts at 140lbs. Cameron-McGee alone is an efficient struggle, and it’ll take the winner someplace.
“In girls’s boxing, as a result of there’s not a number of us in a single weight class, it’s good that the champions are prepared to get collectively and face one another to deliver all of the belts collectively. I by no means thought I’d be on this sort of stage. I used to be used to doing a number of membership fights,” McGee stated. “I come from once we had been making $100 a spherical to be fighters. So to be on a stage like this and get vital pay to struggle means lots.”
McGee is the extra skilled skilled. 35 years outdated, she turned professional in 2005, amassing a 27-3 (15) document. She misplaced to each Holly Holm, within the latter’s final boxing bout earlier than she transformed to MMA and joined the UFC, and Erica Anabella Farias in 2013. However McGee’s been on a seven-bout unbeaten run since, successful her IBF belt towards Ana Laura Esteche in 2019 and making one defence pre-pandemic in February of final 12 months.
Whereas McGee has been inactive, Cameron has been busy. Within the interval the American wasn’t boxing, Cameron has competed twice, successful her WBC belt with a 10-round factors win over Adriana dos Santos Araújo after which stopping Melissa Hernández in Las Vegas in Could. At that degree Cameron has seemed good. Araújo got here in over the load restrict and solely delivered a lacklustre effort. Cameron may tee off on her, her footwork far sharper, impressing despite the fact that it was towards an opponent who gave Chantelle each alternative to dominate. Hernández was a step up for Cameron, however she nonetheless stamped her authority on that contest within the first spherical. The Puerto Rican slipped the odd punch by and labored to get herself out of hassle, however the referee deemed she’d taken sufficient punishment earlier than the tip of the fifth. However Hernández is 41 years outdated and winding down in direction of the tip of her profession. McGee is the significant contest Cameron wants.
“It’s thrilling, I didn’t assume this was going to come back round, particularly so fast. I solely received this [belt] final 12 months. Nevertheless it’s occurring and I’m grateful. I simply can’t wait to get began,” Chantelle stated. “It’s a degree up however I’m levelling up within the gymnasium. After I get these powerful challenges in entrance of me I feel the most effective model of me will come out and I don’t assume I’ve proven that but.”
McGee throws her proper hand nicely and wings in a hurtful left hook. However Cameron is extra versatile. With abilities honed over a profitable beginner profession with the Nice Britain workforce, she will apply speedy hearth combos but in addition transfer off to fluctuate her work. Cameron ought to take a factors determination win right here.
However McGee claims, “She’s an undefeated world champion and he or she has the WBC title. I’ve seen her fights and I’ve seen her type. She has a really distinctive type however I really feel I’ve what it takes to beat her.”
Crystal Palace’s Craig Richards enhanced his popularity earlier this 12 months with a 12-round factors loss to Dmitry Bivol, the primary ranked light-heavyweight on the earth. He comes again on the undercard on the O2, taking over 20-2-2 Pole Marek Matyja.
Enjoyable Croatian heavyweight Alen Babić has change into one thing of a fixture on Matchroom’s UK reveals. All the time able to rumble, he’s moved up at school and is matched with Éric Molina. The Texan has boxed each Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua, failing a drug check after his bout with the latter. Each Filip Hrgovic and Fabio Wardley have stopped him lately too. Babic will likely be gunning to do the identical.
Prospects Youssef Khoumari, Johnny Fisher, Ellie Scotney, Jordan Thompson and John Hedges are all set for bouts on the invoice. Irish heavyweight Thomas Carty is the least skilled of them however the southpaw is nicely regarded. He goes into his second professional bout on this present.
The Verdict The Whyte struggle is off, however the present should go on.
