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Chantelle Cameron to step up Katie Taylor chase with Final Eliminator


English lightweight Chantelle Cameron has secured a final eliminator which will conceivably put her next in line for the undisputed crown.

Ireland’s Katie Taylor [13(6)-0] currently holds the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts and will seek to complete her collection on June 1st when she takes on WBC holder Delfine Persoon in New York.

Cameron [9(6)-0] has long been seen as a potential opponent for Taylor and could put herself in with a shout should she win her forthcoming fight.

The Northampton puncher has today had a WBC World Title Final Eliminator confirmed and will face Commonwealth super featherweight champion Anisha Basheel [8(8)-5(1)] for the organisation’s mandatory position on Friday June 28th at the York Hall in London.

Malawian Basheel has had a curious career thus far, losing her first five fights out of the away corner before going on a run of wins that has seen her become African and Commonwealth champion at 130lbs.

However, the 21-year-old takes a step up in weight and a jump up in levels versus Cameron.

‘Wham Bam Chan’ said that “this feels like it’s my first big fight and it’s a final eliminator. Winning this one will put me in perfect position to face the winner of Katie Taylor vs. Delfine.”

“I know I’ve got to pull this off because if I don’t, I’m out of the picture. It’s making me hungry and it’s spurring me on. I’ve got to get rid of Basheel to get where I want to be, which is right at the top.”

27-year-old Cameron has been put forward as a potential Taylor foe ever since she was signed by Barry McGuigan back in in 2017.

The EU bronze and silver medallist – who was beaten by Taylor in the semis of the 2011 competition – has scored some good wins in her career, namely stoppages over Viviane Obenauf and Natalia Aguirre, but has been dismissed as an immediate opponent by the Wicklow woman’s team and instructed to build her profile and record.

A final eliminator win would certainly help in this regard but, still, a fight with Taylor in the near future looks unlikely for the boxer who has been reunited with Carl Frampton recently under Jamie Moore and MTK following her own messy split from the McGuigans.

Should Bray 32-year-old Taylor become undisputed champion on the Joshua v Ruiz undercard, a Madison Square Garden Theater showdown versus mouthy seven-weight titlist Amanda Serrano is next on the agenda.

While Cameron will likely become mandatory challenger, Persoon’s March victory over previous mandatory Melissa St Vil would likely allow wiggle room to enable an Autumn scrap with Serrano.

Beyond that, a move up in weight – either for a meet-in-the-middle showdown with undisputed welterweight champ Cecilia Braekhus or to take on the champions at 140lbs – looks to be the next port of call.

However, a fight with Cameron, who many within the sport believe offers a substantial challenge to Taylor, also appeals greatly.

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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