By Ian Aldous: On October twentieth, simply ten days previous to their heavyweight battle of appreciable significance, Dillian Whyte vs. Otto Wallin was not postponed, however cancelled. Citing a shoulder harm, Whyte pulled out of the struggle, and Matchroom have been compelled to fill a sizeable void that the principle occasion left.
Thus, the night’s scheduled co-main occasion was elevated to the distinguished place of headlining on the O2. A part of Matchroom’s ‘Highway To Undisputed’ event, it pits reigning WBC super-lightweight champion, Chantelle Cameron (14-0), towards the IBF’s defending champion, Mary McGee (27-3), in a blockbuster unified world title struggle that can even crown the inaugural Ring Journal champion at 140-pounds.
Make no mistake, this can be a struggle of nice magnitude – it’s only a disgrace that the circumstances surrounding Whyte’s withdrawal have overshadowed that. Sadly, after that announcement, such is to be anticipated these days, a furore erupted on social media lambasting the cardboard with out its authentic heavyweight attraction. The undercard might be missing in star energy, however for boxing followers to dismiss a WBC, IBF & Ring Journal world title foremost occasion is, merely put, an overreaction.
Is {that a} signal that the feminine struggle sport nonetheless doesn’t fairly garner the respect it ought to? Or, is it extra that followers are on the lookout for ammunition to discredit Eddie Hearn and DAZN’s ‘Recreation. Modified’ moniker? Regardless of the cause for Whyte’s absence – this struggle is a large deal for one in every of Britain’s easiest abilities.
Chantelle Cameron was a longtime beginner standout who turned professional in 2017, and took lower than a 12 months to seize the IBO light-weight world crown. Two profitable defences adopted, however the huge alternatives handed her by throughout her time beneath the McGuigans. She held the IBO strap while Katie Taylor was accumulating the remainder of the belts within the 135-pound division. In 2019, beneath the steering of MTK World, Cameron received an eliminator for the WBC’s title, in an try and drive a struggle with Taylor which didn’t come to fruition.
Final 12 months, previous to profitable the WBC super-lightweight belt, she advised me, “I choose being at 135-pounds, however I’ve to go the place the title is. I’m not counting out 135-pounds. I’d nonetheless go down there to struggle as nicely. I need to win them belts and be undisputed champion. Katie’s holding on to them in the mean time, however I wouldn’t rule out light-weight.”
“Folks discuss me preventing Katie Taylor rather a lot,” Cameron defined to me final 12 months. “Everyone desires to struggle Katie. Katie desires to be in as huge of a struggle as potential and I’m nonetheless rising my profile, so I don’t suppose she’s actually me as an possibility, in the mean time. I’ve simply obtained to win these world titles and put myself on that pedestal the place I’ll be included within the huge fights.”
Earlier than Delfine Persoon was formally introduced as Katie Taylor’s opponent for his or her epic rematch at Matchroom’s summer season 2020 Battle Camp PPV, the clamour on social media for Chantelle Cameron to go one-on-one with Taylor was clear to see.
“I used to be fairly shocked by the quantity of people who have been truly mentioning my title. I don’t suppose she’s too eager on preventing me anyway (laughs).”
After our interview, Cameron captured the WBC world title with a completely complete whitewash determination towards the overmatched Adriana Dos Santos.
Now, the 30-year-old from Northampton is on the verge of attaining greatness. Simply two wins away from ‘Undisputed’ standing, Mary McGee stands in her manner this Saturday evening. The American is 27-3 and brings a 7-fight win streak in addition to the IBF title. Regardless of not having competed since February 2020, McGee turned professional a staggering TWELVE years earlier than Cameron. Nevertheless, since McGee’s final bout, ‘Il Capo’ has remained energetic, profitable and defending her world title.
It’s an intriguing championship conflict with rather a lot on the road. Kali Reis and Jessica Camara full the semi-finals of the 140-pound event on November nineteenth of their IBO, WBA & vacant WBO world title struggle. Anticipate the winners to satisfy early subsequent 12 months.
Girls’s boxing continues to be rising and clearly doesn’t have the depth of expertise that the boys’s sport possesses, nevertheless it’s bettering swiftly and warrants its place headlining on the O2 this Saturday evening, such is the magnitude of the struggle.
Elsewhere on the cardboard, heavyweight entertainer Alen Babic takes on Eric Molina; Craig Richards returns to motion after his spirited 175-pound world title loss to Dmitry Bivol as he faces Marek Matyja; super-bantamweight prospect Ellie Scotney continues her professional schooling, and Youssef Khoumari battles Jorge David Castaneda for a WBC regional super-featherweight belt. Johnny Fisher, Jordan Thompson, John Hedges and Thomas Carty will all look to stay undefeated.
Talking of Johnny Fisher, the 3-0 heavyweight from Romford bravely put himself ahead as a substitute for Whyte. He has reportedly bought over 1300 tickets and was prepared to struggle Otto Wallin in an eight-rounder. In a Twitter publish, he mentioned: “I’m not saying this for reward or publicity. I’ll 100% struggle Otto Wallin for a similar cash I’m already getting for preventing Terrero. I need this present to go forward and I don’t need to let my supporters down. @EddieHearn let’s go. He who dares wins.”
You possibly can catch the entire motion live on DAZN.
