Former undisputed super-lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron (18-1, 8KOs) celebrated receiving the honour titled ‘freedom of Northampton’, which in British tradition now allows Cameron to walk various livestock through the streets at the time of her pleasure, amongst other ‘historic privileges.’
However, despite being honoured by her hometown, she now insists it is her against the world moving forward following her majority decision defeat to Katie Taylor (23-1, 6KOs) last month, which saw Cameron drop to her first professional defeat and lose her undisputed title status.
Cameron, who sensationally defeated Taylor in May in Dublin, was contractually obligated to return to the Irish capital and rematch Taylor, having previously upset all bookmaker’s predictions with her victory over Taylor in May.
The roles were reversed, with Cameron heading into last month’s fight as a slight favourite with the bookies. Still, an improved performance from Taylor saw her redeem the sole loss on her professional record, which she sustained in May and equaling the scores of one win apiece out of the pair’s two contests against each other.
However, Cameron was denied an opening round knockdown of Taylor, which was incorrectly ruled a slip. At the same time, Cameron’s trainer, Jamie Moore, complained about the weak officiating by the referee of the rematch, Roberto Ramirez Jr.
On reflection, Cameron was not happy with the referee appointment of Ramirez Jr.
“It wasn’t just me and Katie in that ring. If it was, I’d take the loss and say the better women won on the night,” the 32-year-old Cameron explained to BBC Northamptonshire.
“I had everything against me. The ref on the night...it was such a high-status fight. Why would you put in a referee that no one had heard of.
“That’s not my job. It’s my job to fight. I don’t look into who’s reffing, who’s judging. I’m just frustrated - if I could turn back the hands of time, I would make sure that was all looked into. I’ve learnt my lesson.”
Despite Cameron’s frustrations, she is now more determined to resume her career in seeking to reclaim her titles against Taylor.
“I want the trilogy. It doesn’t matter where it is. She’s the champion now, and I’ve just got to do what I’ve got to do to make sure it happens, and I’ll accept anything. I want that fight, and I want my belts back,” Cameron added.
Before Cameron’s rematch with Taylor, the Northampton resident had previously targeted a homecoming fight in her hometown at the Franklin Gardens Stadium. However, Cameron finalised speaking to BBC Northamptonshire by adding she would not box in Northampton until she was again a world champion.
“I need to get a belt so I can bring it back to Northampton and fight in front of my home town, my friends, my family, a homecoming,” she added.
“I’ll get a belt back. I’ve got the champion mindset. I don’t think it was a fair match. The belts were snatched off me by not just Katie. There was a lot of stuff going on outside the ring.
“I’m determined now to kind of fight everyone. I feel it’s me against the world now.”
