Katie Taylor was defeated for the first time as a professional Chantelle Cameron in a special homecoming at Dublin's 3Arena tonight.
The legendary Olympic champion, who has since forged a path as one of professional boxing's most beloved stars, was greeted with a rapturous cheer at the famed fight venue. Despite hosting countless MMA shows for the UFC, Bellator, Cage Warriors and other major promotions, it had remained dormant for almost a decade in the boxing world.
But it was awakened with a thunderous bang as Taylor, the challenger for Cameron's undisputed super-lightweight title on the night, emerged from the back to an adoring crowd. The Irishwoman's star power in her home country is second to none, even the infamous Conor McGregor who cheered on from ringside alongside promoter Eddie Hearn.
In an unprecedented move, challenger Taylor walked last, and was billed as the 'A-Side' for the bout. But that didn't stop Cameron from making an explosive start, throwing a big right hand before winging power shots early and landing a number of them flush on the hometown hero.
And the considerable size difference was evident as the ageing Taylor attempted to use her speed to get inside range and out again quickly, likely nicking the second. The third ended up clear for Cameron, who pushed the pressure before a tight fourth and fifth that could have gone either way.
Taylor came into her own in the sixth, with both women swinging for the fences in a fan-friendly affair. The Irish superstar landed the bigger and cleaner work despite fighting inside, which is more famously Cameron's area of expertise, with the seventh going much the same way but edging towards the Brit before one last big shot from Taylor that stiffened her rival's legs..
The eighth was Taylor's strongest of the night, landing her combinations at will, before struggling through an hellacious ninth to head into the tenth. And with seconds remaining both women were hurt, sending the crowd into hysterics as they worked through to the final bell.
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An Irish-packed undercard saw Thomas Carty steal the show with a thudding stoppage of Jay McFarlane in three round, overcoming a massive two-stone weight difference. Andy Lee protege Paddy Donovan also closed his show with a sixth round stoppage of Sam O'Maison on the prelims.
But the evening had ended up something of a disaster for the Irish by the time the main event had begun. Leinster Rugby's come-from-behind loss across the water in the Heineken Cup final was compounded by a shock loss for Gary Cully in the co-main event when the young Irishman was stopped in three by Jose Felix.
That followed an hard-fought IBO super-welterweight title clash between returning Irishman Dennis Hogan and JJ Metcalf. Hogan survived a gnarly cut to see the final bell, but lost decisively on the cards with McGregor watching on from ringside to drop the belt in his first defence.
