Katie Taylor is looking to find the remnants of her prime-years as she returns to the 3Arena in Dublin to rematch Chantelle Cameron on Saturday.
It was Taylor’s first professional contest in Ireland back in May, her big homecoming, when Cameron caused the upset to remain the undisputed champion at super-lightweight.
Taylor, 37, is now determined to even the score, while doubts have been cast over her future in the sport.
“We are looking at the dying embers of Taylor’s career if Cameron wins this fight,” said DAZN’s lead commentator in the UK, Mike Costello, speaking with ProBox TV.
Having established her dominance at lightweight, with notable wins over Amanda Serrano, Delfine Persoon and Natasha Jonas, many believe size played a significant factor when Taylor stepped up a division to fight Cameron. But given the career she has had, both as an amateur and as a professional, it is plausible that, as a result of ample competitive bouts at the highest level, Taylor’s physical attributes are compromised.
Taylor still possesses blistering hand-speed, throws punches-in-bunches and has fleet-footed movement, and they have, to a large extent, stayed consistent. Added to her dogged mentality, many will believe that she is still the Katie Taylor of old. But it is often during the unseen moments in a training camp when, as a fighter strays further away from their PBs, and finds it harder to shed those extra few pounds, when they are confronted with a harsh reality.
Costello continued: “I recall working on a study of her amateur career not so long ago. She took a lot of punishment when she came up against decent level opposition in the latter stages of most tournaments.”
Perhaps, though, an opportunity at redemption against the women who beat her earlier this year will strengthen Taylor’s winning mentality, overriding any concerns of those arduous days in the amateur tournaments catching up to her.
Reflecting on their first encounter, Taylor revealed on Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel that she had not expected Cameron to ringwalk before her. Without the need for a further explanation, this offers a fascinating insight into the psyche of an all-time great.
Costello added: “The likes of Usain Bolt and Floyd Mayweather managed to cut out all the noise by living in this tunnel, so it [the ringwalk order] probably didn’t even occur to [Taylor].
“The rematch is always easier for the fighter who lost because of that vital process of revenge as a source of motivation.”
