After a banner month for women’s boxing, Britain’s WBC, IBF and The Ring super lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron is next to step up to the plate. ‘Il Capo’ takes on Jessica McCaskill for the undisputed title at 140lbs in the co-main event of Dmitry Bivol’s WBA light heavyweight championship defence against Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.
The Sportsman caught up with Cameron ahead of this Abu Dhabi superfight to talk becoming undisputed, the all-female O2 Arena show and a possible fight with Katie Taylor.
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Jessica McCaskill presents a range of problems. Are you preparing for her any differently or is it business as usual?
I've been fighting since I was 10. I've boxed every style. From the age of 10 sparring men, as a 13-year-old in women’s categories. So I've had all the experience, kickboxing, Thai boxing, amateur boxing, pro boxing.
McCaskill definitely has a different style to anything I've boxed before but I'm very good at adapting. I've been in and got a lot of experience with so many different opponents, (different) sizes, male or female, obviously not quite in with men but sparring men. So for me, I’ve just got to do what I do. McCaskill’s good at what she does, but I'm good at what I do. I’ve just got to make sure that I bring out the best version of me.
Is fighting McCaskill the toughest test of your career so far?
One million percent she’s the toughest fighter. She’s undisputed at 147. She beat Cecilia Braekhus, who’s a legend of the sport. She had a great fight with Katie Taylor. Yeah, definitely the toughest test of my career but I’ve got to come through that if I want to become the best in the sport.
How much does it mean to you that this fight is for the undisputed championship?
To be undisputed, it's a dream come true for me. This is what you turn to professional boxing for. You want to be a world champion, but you become a world champion and it's like “I want all the belts now. I want to be the best in my division.” Being a world champion at 140 means I'm sharing that with another three or four girls. I want to be number one in my division and have all the belts. I don’t want to share it.
We’re coming off a massive night of women’s boxing at the O2 Arena, the historic all-female card headlined by Claressa Shields’ win over Savannah Marshall. Did you watch the show and what did you make of it?
What an unbelievable night. The whole show was incredible. The build-up, the hype around it and then they delivered on the night. all the fighters were incredible. Massive credit to every single one. The co-main event and the main event definitely lived up to the hype. Both of them were cracking fights, obviously gutted for Savannah. I was rooting for her, being English and being on Team GB together. I think Claressa was just a level above, she was very impressive. She was doing everything, she could box, she was slick, she had power. Yeah, it was great. But Savannah is also a great fighter. Hopefully we'll see a rematch.
A fight a lot of people have spoke about for you in the future is a bout with Katie Taylor. Is that a challenge you would relish?
Yeah, for me I’m focused on what's in front of me for now. McCaskill is in front of me so I’m not going to look beyond that. But I've always wanted the Katie Taylor fight. What woman doesn't want to box Katie Taylor? She's the pinnacle of women's boxing along with Claressa, so I want a crack at the best of the best.
One of the great things about women’s boxing is that movements between weightclasses are more common. Have you considered moving up or down the weights at all?
Yeah, this bout is at 140 for undisputed, but McCaskill holds the belts at 147, undisputed. I'd like to get a shot at her belts as well. I'll put my belts on the line, obviously Kali Reis has vacated. I think the winner of me and McCaskill should give Kali Reis the first shot at the belts, but also McCaskill should put her belts on the line at 147.
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