Chantel Cameron secured a unanimous decision victory over Mikaela Kotaskova, securing the vacant WBO super welterweight title and becoming a two-division world champion.
Immediately after her victory over Caroline Dubois vs. Terry Harper on the undercard card at London’s Olympia, Cameron requested a match against Michaela Mayer, facing the American star and fellow two-division world champion in the ring.
Cameron told Sky Sports: “I have a lot of respect for Mikaela Mayer. She’s a great fighter. I’ve been wanting this fight with Mikaela for a long time.”
“We have been saying that we should give the fans a great fight for women’s boxing.”
Cameron, a former undisputed world champion at 140 pounds and the only professional winner over Katie Taylor, stepped up to super welter for the first time and faced Kotaskova in her first women’s world title contested in three-minute rounds on British soil.
Cameron in hot pursuit of WBO world title
She came into her own at that distance, going 10 three-minute rounds and winning two unanimous decisions, 100-90 and 99-91. Cameron didn’t need to rush, but put solid and persistent pressure on his Czech opponent. Early on, she found a place for her best talents.
But it was the targeted work on her body that drained Kotaskova and set the Czech athlete back.
Cameron, angry at the assignment, threw an uppercut, slammed a hook into Kotaskova’s stomach, and followed up with a right to the head.
Both suffered marks and bruises, and Cameron was hit in the nose. But Cameron is a fighter who throws hard punches, and the Briton unsettled Kotaskova in the second half of the fight.
Kotaskova made occasional tags to Cameron, but she became increasingly desperate, fluttering punches in an attempt to dissuade the former absolute champion.
Cameron teams up with Kotaskova
Cameron landed a left hook on Kotaskova in the eighth round that shook her again. However, she was unable to cut down her tall opponent.
In the next session, the Czech advanced to the center of the ring and exchanged blows with Cameron. She picked herself up from there and competed again in the final round. Cameron covered and missed a nice left hook to see him win by decision.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Dubois vs. Harper undercard highlights featuring Irma Garcia and Emma Dolan
Irma Garcia defended her IBF super flyweight belt by crushing Emma Dolan’s world title dreams in three rounds.
After winning her first British and Commonwealth women’s super flyweight titles, Dolan challenged for world honors for the first time in her ninth professional fight.
Mexico’s Garcia is a far more experienced professional fighter, not only a two-time world champion but also a police officer (and licensed lawyer) and 17 years Dolan’s senior.
After his first action, Dolan seemed poised to step up to the world level. She kept coming forward and keeping busy after a long straight punch. Garcia winced after receiving a left hook to the head.
However, Garcia changed everything in the second round. The southpaw’s left hook surprised Dolan and knocked him down.
Dolan was floored three times by Garcia during the loss.
A straight backhand down the middle sent Dolan over for the second time. Dolan bravely fought her way through the rounds, but Garcia turned her back to the canvas in the third round.
Then the Mexicans bowled right over. It caught on Dolan’s forehead, causing her to stumble. Dolan’s corner pulled her up at that point and an expert call was made.
Courtney: I want the Bridges fight.
Former WBA bantamweight world champion Shannon Courtenay continued on her path to comeback despite looking dangerous when she stopped Sasha Booker in three rounds.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Dubois vs. Harper undercard highlights as Shannon Courtenay takes on Sasha Booker
Courtenay opted for a single shot, flashing Booker with a backhand and then clipping his taller opponent with a left hook. She showed power by dropping Booker in the second round. Courtenay continued to put pressure on the Nottingham fighter in the third. Their heads clashed and Courtenay took Booker down with a left hook to the body.
Booker was counted out with three seconds left in the round as he fell to his knees holding his head.
Shannon Courtenay played Sasha Booker with ease.
Courtenay is currently eyeing a rematch with Evanie Brides, whom he defeated in 2021 to win the WBA belt.
“I won a world title and the world was in front of me and I lost it and everything fell apart and I had only myself to blame,” Courtney said. “I want to play against Bridges.”
Finnish hopeful Teresa Mäkinen maintained her unbeaten record by battling Chloe Watson over eight rounds.
Teresa Mäkinen outbid Chloe Watson (Photo: Most Valuable Promotions)
The former European champion from Birkenhead landed a sharp shot and caught Mäkinen with a right hook as he broke out of the clinch. However, Mäkinen managed to lead them to a 77-75 victory.
Nigeria’s Elizabeth Oshogba, a 2022 Commonwealth Games medalist currently based in Bristol, suffered a third-round stoppage loss to Chelsea Arnell.
Oshova fired a series of backhand shots that shook Arnel, forcing the referee to intervene and wave his hand to stop the match 42 seconds into the third.
