Tony Bellew has been retired for years but remains close to the fight game, and has now revealed who he thinks is the best British fighter currently lacing up the gloves.
While speaking to Froch on Fighting, he takes his time to consider an answer before sharing his thoughts.
“Good question. Chantelle Cameron. That performance against Katie Taylor was something else. I think she can surpass it. Unbelievable [fight].”
That fight took place back in May and was a high-level match-up for the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO World super-lightweight titles. It took place at the 3Areana in Dublin so was a homecoming for the venerated Taylor, though not the result she would have craved, losing a majority decision with one judge scoring it 95-95, and two others 96-94 to Cameron.
Northampton’s undisputed queen Cameron is on one of the hottest streaks in British boxing right now having also got a points win over Jessica McCaskill at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi in November 2022 to add the WBA, WBO and IBO titles to the WBC and IBF titles she has held since 2020 and 2021 respectively.
2012 Olympic Gold medalist and two-division champion, Taylor’s loss to Cameron was the first of a glittering amateur and pro career. She had been a belt holder since winning the WBA lightweight title from Anahi Ester Sanchez in 2017 and defended it while also picking up the other three major titles in high-stakes fights across the UK and out in New York against the likes of Amanda Serrano, Natasha Jonas and Delfine Persoon.
Taylor’s promoter Eddie Hearn recently said Taylor is going to trigger her contractual right to a rematch with Cameron and that the fight is being eyed for Dublin later in the year.