Amanda Serrano: Katie Taylor's legacy is untouchable, but Chantelle Cameron is no regular fighter
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Chantelle Cameron relives historic victory over Katie Taylor
Katie Taylor bids for revenge against Chantelle Cameron in their undisputed light-welterweight fight in Dublin on Saturday.
In her BBC Sport column, seven-weight world champion Amanda 'The Real Deal' Serrano previews the rematch.
Serrano was beaten narrowly on points by Taylor in April 2022 at Madison Square Garden - and was the Irishwoman's original homecoming opponent before injury forced her to withdraw.
Serrano expects another brilliant performance from the unbeaten Cameron, who is the only woman to beat Taylor in the pro ranks, and explains how fighting at home can affect a boxer.
Katie Taylor has never backed down from any challenge, but sometimes we're too good for our own good.
If I were advising Katie, I would have told her not to take the rematch against Chantelle Cameron.
One loss is OK because it was against a bigger, younger, champion in Chantelle. It hasn't and shouldn't wipe out everything she did in her career prior to that.
Chantelle was an undisputed champion at 140lbs, so you can't go wrong. Katie has had an amazing career, accomplished so much.
I joked after our fight at Madison Square Garden that she was my best friend.
Everything we did, we did together. Our whole careers have been intertwined - and look what we've been able to do. I wouldn't have been earning seven figures or selling out the Garden without her.
She will always be one of the people who changed my career and my life.
After facing Katie myself, I understand she couldn't - and wouldn't - walk away from a challenge like this. She never has and never will.
Chantelle is a formidable fighter, so even just the chance that Katie could face a tough second loss to her in front of her home crowd in Dublin is a daunting prospect. It would be the same for any fighter.
Her Olympic legacy is untouchable, what she did for women's boxing, she is always going to be in the Hall of Fame, a legend. If you lose to a regular fighter, that's something else. Chantelle isn't a regular fighter.
That said, if she loses again, she can definitely still fight me. I'm the smaller girl! Just don't pick on the bigger girls any more.
Ringwalk did 'damage' to Taylor
Chantelle did everything right in the first fight. She came forward, she kept putting pressure on Katie and was able to punch in combinations.
What Katie did wrong? I think she played the ropes a little too much. That wasn't Katie. She's always been and in-and-out fighter.
When I was watching the fight I remember saying: "Why is she putting herself on the ropes so much? Why is staying there so long?"
Chantelle was obviously forcing her there, but I think Katie needed to be faster on her feet and get out of those situations.
As much as toughness is important to a fighter and as much as all of us want to go in there and fight, there's a time and place for everything.
I don't think with a fighter like Chantelle, Katie should want to go in there and fight.
She needs to be on her toes in this fight, in and out. Vintage Katie Taylor.
Katie was at home for the first time. I fought in Puerto Rico; it can be overwhelming. There's a lot of pressure on you. You want to give back to the people who supported you from the very beginning.
Katie's ringwalk was pretty intense and long. I was watching and I thought 'wow'. Katie was taking it all in. I definitely think it did some damage to her.
Katie Taylor had a perfect 22-0 record before fighting Chantelle Cameron
Then again, Katie is a warrior. She has never let anything get to her.
Katie will always be prepared physically - she's a workhorse. But the one thing I said after the last fight was: I hope mentally she's all there.
Because when you're on a high for so long and that happens to you, you need to be prepared for how that will hit you.
Chantelle is the rightful favourite
The judges could also play their part. Watching the first fight, I thought Chantelle won. But in my head, it happens every day in boxing, I thought they would give it to Katie. She was at home.
You'd think that would have been the time they'd given it to her? I don't know. They didn't.
But maybe she feels she just needs to do a bit more so it can go her way.
Honestly, it's hard to say. I think Chantelle is the favourite and will win again. She hasn't been given the credit she deserves, before or after her win. I sent her a message right after the fight - I couldn't have been prouder of her.
This is something new for her - but knowing her, I don't think it will affect her.
I'm not the attention seeker and neither is Chantelle. I haven't fully embraced the spotlight and I like to go under the radar. Chantelle is the same way.
Although I do admit when I send my nieces and nephews birthday and Christmas cards, I always sign off: 'The Real Deal, seven-division world champion.' My family make sure I stay humble so it's the only time I get to throw it in there.
Anyway! When you're at the top and you want to be the best, you get nervous. Trust me, I still get nervous to this day.
It's the unknown. You put in the work, you believe you're the greatest and you go out there and perform, but you're also performing in front of three judges and you just never know.
Chantelle is one of the coolest and most humble fighters I know and being the favourite won't bother her.
Amanda Serrano lost a narrow split decision to Taylor in their first fight
She probably won't even feel like she's not the underdog. I'm always fighting as if I'm the challenger. That's what brings the best out of me. I think Chantelle will be the best version of herself.
I won't be ringside on the night, but there is a part of me that wants Katie to win because then they'll probably do the trilogy and both women will earn even more money.
As a team, we've spoken about that possibility of fighting Katie next, whether she wins or losses.
We don't know if the rematch will happen. Last time I spoke to her was in the ring.
Katie is the only fighter that I'm willing to go up two divisions for and she's the only girl that I'm willing to go back to two minutes and 10 rounds for after making history in my last fight.
We know she doesn't have the tools for the three minutes.
A rematch next year is definitely a possibility, although we've not heard anything from their side obviously. But I think Katie just needs to look good, win or lose against Chantelle, and that fight will happen.
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- Published14 January
