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Nick Parkinson
Chantelle Cameron once thought she would pursue a career as a teacher but instead she became a professional boxer and on Saturday gets the chance to go top of the class in the women’s super lightweight division.
Cameron defends her WBC and IBF belts, with the vacant WBA and WBO titles also on the line, when she faces Jessica McCaskill at the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, as chief support to the light heavyweight title fight between Dmitry Bivol and Gilberto Ramirez.
It is the biggest fight of Cameron’s five-year professional career, but McCaskill has been here before. The Chicago-based boxer defeated Cecilia Braekhus to become undisputed world welterweight champion two years ago and has since made three defences of the four major titles since.
Cameron (16-0, 8 KOs), 31, has been calling for a fight against one of the biggest names of the division and gets her wish this weekend on a stage she once thought was beyond her dreams.
“As an amateur boxer, professional boxing wasn’t really an option for me,” Cameron told ESPN.
“[Reigning undisputed lightweight champion] Katie Taylor and [reigning undisputed super middleweight champion] Claressa Shields really opened the door for us all. I didn’t even think I was going to be a pro boxer. When I didn’t qualify for the 2016 Olympics, I thought I would just concentrate on my studying, go to university, and become a teacher.
“Now I’ve got this opportunity which is a dream come true.
“Women’s boxing is booming. There was an all-women’s boxing event in England recently with a packed arena and great fights, it looked great. Everyone is interested in women’s boxing and we are starting to get credit now, where it’s boxing, rather than just a women’s boxing fight.
“This fight is a dream come true for me, not many boxers get this chance to fight for all four titles and it’s a legacy status opportunity. It’s something I can always look back on. It’s what every boxer dreams of, male or female, being in an undisputed title fight, and that’s why I don’t feel any pressure going into Saturday because I just see it as an opportunity.
“I’ve been more motivated for this fight than any other before. I’ve pushed myself to the limits.”
Saturday’s fight will create a fourth undisputed world champion — owner of all four major belts — in women’s boxing, with Franchon Crews-Dezurn at super middleweight, Claressa Shields at middleweight, McCaskill at welterweight and Taylor at lightweight.
McCaskill (12-2, 5 KOs), 38, has the experience of twice beating one of the biggest stars of women’s boxing in Braekhaus, and she has won her last two fights by stoppage.
But Cameron, from Northampton in England, is confident of inflicting McCaskill’s first defeat since Taylor beat her unanimously on points at lightweight nearly five years ago.
Cameron, who arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, told ESPN: “She’s my toughest fight so far, she’s undisputed welterweight champion for a reason and she’s improved since Katie Taylor beat her. But I wouldn’t say she’s a level above my other opponents.
“She’s tough, stubborn and she’s unorthodox, awkward. We have a game plan and if it’s not working we’re going to do something else. We have options but I think she’s one dimensional and our plan should work.
“All round, I think I’m stronger, faster and sharper than her, and even if it gets into a toe-to-toe fight, I’m fine with that. She throws back hands from nowhere and she’s unorthodox, she just comes forward and doesn’t know how to move around the ring.
“But what she does works, and she does the same thing over and over. I struggle to watch her, her style is not easy on the eye, it’s very messy, but she’s always tough and game. I’ll have to produce my best.”