Katie Taylor enjoyed what was surely the most satisfying night of her remarkable career by avenging her defeat to Chantelle Cameron.
Written off as an underdog for the first time in her professional boxing career, the 37-year-old became a two-weight undisputed champion by way of majority decision.
One judge scored the fight as a draw but two favoured the Irish hero 98-92 96-94.
Taylor described the six-month wait for a rematch against Cameron as the “longest” of her life. Retirement rumours swirled after she was outclassed in May but she produced a career-best performance to answer any critics.
The opening round, however, saw the hometown hero survive a reasonably controversial knockdown call. Cameron connected with a jab, sending ‘The Bray Bomber’ to the canvas and stopping her in her tracks after a fast start.
Still, Taylor was adjudged to have simply slipped and a Fight of the Year contender was born. Taylor looked faster and upped the intensity from the first fight, negating the jab Cameron had so much success with first time around.
Cameron was cut after a clash of heads but ploughed on regardless. The contest grew into a slugfest, two brilliant fighters simply slugging it out in front of a fervent home support.
"Whoever wrote me off obviously doesn't know me very well,” roared Taylor after the fight.
A trilogy at Croke Park could well await.
