Katie Taylor was granted another three weeks to either work out terms with Chantelle Cameron or stall out her longtime rival, depending on the viewpoint.
The negotiation period for the WBC-ordered trilogy clash was extended through September 18, upon request from the team surrounding Ireland’s Taylor, the two-division and reigning undisputed 140lbs champion.
As previously reported by BoxingScene, the two sides had been instructed to reach a deal by August 28 to avoid a purse bid hearing for their mandatory title fight. However, WBC officials agreed to further push out its deadline to accommodate Taylor, despite the public disappointment expressed by England’s Cameron, 21-1 (8 KOs).
“[Thursday] was the deadline for Katie and her team to come to some kind of agreement with my team to either fight me or vacate the [WBC title],” Cameron posted on her Instagram account. “Which I thought was reasonable considering I’ve spent the last 2 years getting back in position to fight for it. Since losing it in our rematch back in 2023.
“This is the second extension that’s been granted. Hopefully, [this] is the final extension/deadline and the belt is vacated as I don’t think Katie and her team want the fight, which is fair enough. But the 140 division should crack on.”
Taylor, 25-1 (6 KOs), is represented by Matchroom Boxing and manager Brian Peters, both entities for the entirety of her pro career. Cameron is signed to Most Valuable Promotions.
There is clearly no love lost between the two boxers, each responsible for the lone career defeat on the other’s record.
Cameron won their first meeting in May 2023 on the road at 3Arena in Dublin. The bout marked Taylor’s first-ever pro fight in her home country, a night originally reserved for an undisputed lightweight championship rematch with Amanda Serrano.
Plans changed when Serrano did not heal in time from prior injuries, at which point Taylor opted to move up in weight to take a shot at Cameron’s fully unified 140lbs crown. Cameron prevailed via majority decision to ruin Taylor’s homecoming.
Taylor – a 2012 Olympic gold medalist – avenged the defeat six months later via majority decision at the very same venue to become a two-division undisputed champion. She subsequently relinquished her 135lbs titles and twice successfully defended her 140lbs crown.
Both wins came against Serrano, and on Netflix.
Taylor outpointed Serrano, a southpaw from Puerto Rico, via unanimous decision in their rematch last November at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. She repeated the feat on July 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the site of their first fight, won by Taylor in a split decision in their April 2022 instant classic.
Cameron has won three in a row since her second bout with Taylor, including a victory over Jessica Camara on the Taylor-Serrano III undercard.
Her first fight back came with the WBC interim 140lbs title at stake, which she claimed in a 10-round majority decision win over Elhem Mekhaled. She enjoyed more decisive victories in title defenses against Patricia Berghult and Camara.
Taylor was initially dismissive of the matchup, challenging Cameron to instead prove she can carry her own card and bring something to the table to make the fight even bigger.
With the WBC’s recent ruling, that dynamic has now greatly changed.
