LONDON – Chantelle Cameron became a two-weight world champion by defeating Michaela Kotaskova in the first women’s world-title fight in Great Britain fought over three-minute rounds.
The former undisputed junior-welterweight champion moved up to junior middleweight to challenge for the vacant WBO title at the Olympia, and earned a unanimous decision via scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 99-91.
Cameron, 34 and of England, had been open about her plans to next move down to welterweight, and the size disadvantage she encountered demonstrated why.
Regardless, Cameron consistently outworked her Czech opponent, also 34 and long established at welterweight, by succeeding in overcoming that disadvantage with her superior class and speed.
The difference between them in natural ability was apparent from as early as the opening round, first when Kotaskova fell short with a right hand and then when Cameron landed an authoritative left jab to her chin.
Kotaskova landed a right in the second round before absorbing another. Cameron also landed a left hook at close range while their high pace was maintained.
It was perhaps Cameron’s success to the body in the fourth round that meant Kotaskova showed signs of tiring in the fifth, but to her credit she recovered and responded to the same high pace Cameron was determined to maintain.
When Kotaskova landed a right hand in the seventh she provided a demonstration of her ongoing threat, but Cameron responded with a right to the body and then an overhand right.
It was in the eighth when Kotaskova fell well short with a left-right combination and Cameron responded by landing a counter right hand. Again, Cameron – who returned to working with the trainer Jamie Moore in preparation for Kotaskova – looked considerably more convincing, and to the extent that the scores seemed a formality.
Cameron’s compatriot Emma Dolan had by then lost her IBF super-flyweight title fight with the defending champion Irma Garcia of Mexico. Garcia, at 44 and 17 years Dolan’s senior, twice dropped her English challenger in the second round and once in third before the stoppage came.
Shannon Courtenay earlier defeated Sasha Booker, also of England, via stoppage one minute and 57 seconds into the third of eight scheduled rounds at super flyweight.
