{"id":858621,"date":"2026-08-17T16:02:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T16:02:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/858621\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T16:02:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T16:02:10","slug":"boxer-chantelle-cameron-if-we-want-equal-rights-equal-pay-we-cant-be-doing-two-minute-rounds-boxing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/858621\/","title":{"rendered":"Boxer Chantelle Cameron: \u2018If we want equal rights, equal pay, we can\u2019t be doing two-minute rounds\u2019 | Boxing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Less than two weeks before her world title unification bout against Mikaela Mayer<\/a>, in a potential fight of the year for women\u2019s boxing, Chantelle Cameron\u2019s memory carries a quietly shocking force. \u201cI was 14 and doing a psychology GCSE when my teacher spoke to me in front of the whole class,\u201d Cameron says. \u201cI don\u2019t know why because I wasn\u2019t a naughty kid. But he just turned round and said I\u2019m going to end up stacking shelves in Tesco with two kids by the time I\u2019m 16. On the inside I was like: \u2018Wow. Did he really say that?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Cameron is the only woman to have beaten the great Katie Taylor as a pro and she has become a passionate advocate for elite female boxers and their right to fight three-minute rounds \u2013 so much so that, last year, she gave up her WBC world title<\/a> because the sanctioning body suggested women weren\u2019t strong enough to box more than two-minute rounds. She will now defend her WBO world super-welterweight title a week on Saturday against Mayer, the experienced WBC belt-holder.<\/p>\n

Before she addresses the hard night ahead of Mayer and herself, Cameron nods when I ask if, as a shy teenager, she felt crushed by her teacher\u2019s comment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was,\u201d she says in a cafe in Walkden, near Manchester. \u201cI went home and said: \u2018Mum, why would he say that to me?\u2019 It can be really damaging when you\u2019re told that by a teacher. It\u2019s like he\u2019s saying I\u2019ve got no dreams, no hope. There\u2019s nothing wrong with stacking shelves, by the way, but to diminish someone like that at school is so wrong. I took it quite bad and my mum went into school and told them: \u2018You can\u2019t be judging people like that \u2013 just because we\u2019re from Eastern District [in Northampton].\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Did her teacher apologise? \u201cNever, but I ended up quitting psychology anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 35-year-old has learned much about the depths and complexities of the mind because, apart from shedding her insecurities when facing a partisan crowd in Dublin on the night she beat Taylor in a searing battle in May 2023<\/a>, Cameron dealt with her own demons after losing the rematch six months later.<\/p>\n

It still stings that, as Cameron says, \u201cbecause I\u2019m from Northampton Eastern District, you\u2019re always judged. People expect you\u2019re going to be a thief or a druggie, on benefits, and it\u2019s so unfair. I love where I\u2019m from but when you\u2019re told that by your teachers, and people in authority, it\u2019s more real. So I never dreamed of being in the position I\u2019m in now \u2013 because I wouldn\u2019t dare to dream. I was always told it weren\u2019t possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Boxing helped Cameron believe in herself and she smiles when we wonder if her former teacher has followed her career as a world champion. \u201cI hope he remembers what he told me,\u201d she says softly.<\/p>\n

Chantelle Cameron will defend her WBO world super-welterweight title a week on Saturday against Mikaela Mayer. Photograph: Colin McPherson\/The Guardian<\/p>\n

Cameron has since encountered another form of prejudice. In 2023 the WBC president, Mauricio Sulaim\u00e1n, defended his organisation\u2019s refusal<\/a> to sanction 12 three-minute rounds in female bouts. \u201cIn tennis, women play three sets,\u201d Sulaim\u00e1n argued. \u201cIn [women\u2019s] basketball the basket is shorter and the ball smaller and those are not contact sports. We stand by the safety and wellbeing of the fighters.\u201d<\/p>\n

That statement did not acknowledge the strength and resilience of the best female fighters \u2013 while undermining Cameron, for she would benefit from longer rounds. Is the WBC\u2019s stance sexist? \u201cYes. I think it\u2019s bad for the sport. It\u2019s bad for women\u2019s boxing. Amateur women do three-minute rounds and for women\u2019s pro boxing to be taken seriously we should be doing the same as men. If we want equal rights, equal pay, we can\u2019t be doing 10 two-minute rounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cameron\u2019s view is nuanced when we consider reasonable counter arguments. \u201cI understand the pros and cons of two-minute rounds. It\u2019s electric and fought at full pace. But it\u2019s holding back women\u2019s boxing. I don\u2019t think it has anything to do with health. We\u2019re perfectly capable of doing three-minute rounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

She adds the caveat that, \u201cif you\u2019re on British level then 10 2s is fine. But when it\u2019s European and world level we should do three-minute rounds. That\u2019s the problem with the lack of depth in women\u2019s boxing. It\u2019s either novice or elite level. There\u2019s no middle ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

In October 2025 Cameron stood up to the WBC and, in protest, gave up her world title. \u201cI vacated and then won the WBO belt because they allowed me to fight over three-minute rounds. Mikaela is the WBC champion now and, because this is such a good fight for me, I\u2019ve had to go back to twos.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over 12 three-minute rounds Cameron would be a prohibitive favourite against Mayer. \u201cMikaela knew that and so this gives her an advantage. If we went to three-minute rounds, I don\u2019t think no woman\u2019s going to stay with me. I had thought Mikaela was an advocate for three-minute rounds but she wants to go for the undisputed title and that includes the WBC.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chantelle Cameron celebrates her victory over Katie Taylor in May 2023. Photograph: Gary Carr\/INPHO\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

What does Mayer do best in the ring? \u201cShe\u2019s very tough. That\u2019s her best attribute and she\u2019s got good fitness. I have a lot of respect for Mikaela as a fighter and a person. I\u2019m taking her as seriously as I took Katie Taylor.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mutual respect is refreshing. They are two of the best fighters in the world and Cameron says of her articulate and engaging American rival<\/a>: \u201cShe\u2019s a great advocate for boxing, not just women\u2019s boxing. She comes to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cameron is less enthusiastic when reflecting on her rivalry with Taylor. She went to Dublin for Taylor\u2019s homecoming bout (after professional boxing in Ireland had been blocked following a 2015 gangland shooting at a weigh-in) and Cameron is honest when describing how she felt in front of a vociferous crowd. \u201cIt was horrible. But [her trainers] Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis believed in me. I didn\u2019t think I\u2019d beat Katie but they were adamant I\u2019d do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

What was she thinking when walking to the ring? Cameron laughs. \u201cWhy am I here? It was so hostile, like nothing I\u2019ve ever felt, but Jamie and Nigel kept saying trigger words that made me understand it was just noise. It would soon be just me and Katie in the ring.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cameron produced a supreme performance and edged the fight. But was she concerned about the scorecards? \u201cOh yes. The first one was a draw. I thought: \u2018Oh no.\u2019 But I prepared for that because I was going into Katie Taylor\u2019s back yard, and she\u2019s the queen of Ireland. When I got the decision it was incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was different before the rematch. \u201cGod\u2019s honest truth, I did not want to be in Dublin. It was a hard ask to do it again and everything was stacked against me. Katie is an amazing fighter, but I think I\u2019m better than her. I\u2019m all wrong for Katie, but when everything goes against you it\u2019s really hard. It weren\u2019t me versus Katie. It was me against the whole of Ireland. On the morning of the rematch, I was in my bedroom crying my eyes out. That\u2019s how much I trusted my gut feeling. I was having a breakdown and Nigel came to comfort me.\u201d<\/p>\n

She lost narrowly on points<\/a> and Cameron says: \u201cI took it really bad and I had a bit of a breakdown. My family and friends think that too. I just gave up everything. I was really sad and pushing away the people that love me most.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chantelle Cameron says defeat against Katie Taylor sparked a tumultuous time in her life: \u2018The last two years I\u2019ve grown into a much better and more rounded person.\u2019 Photograph: Colin McPherson\/The Guardian<\/p>\n

Cameron even left Moore\u2019s gym to try to make a fresh start. It did not take long to understand that they were the best possible team for her. She says: \u201cThe last two years I\u2019ve grown into a much better and more rounded person. I\u2019ve matured so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Has she spoken to Taylor? \u201cNo, but two weeks after I beat Katie I sent her a private message on Instagram to say it was an honour to fight her. I told her I appreciated all she has done for boxing and thanked her. It was a genuine message because, if you fight Katie, you\u2019re fighting a legend. I didn\u2019t hear back and thought: \u2018Fair enough.\u2019 I knew it was tough for her to lose.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen she beat me I heard nothing. I thought then that: \u2018We\u2019re different people.\u2019 I don\u2019t judge her but politeness doesn\u2019t cost anything. I\u2019m friendly with most of my opponents now. We talk and have a laugh. But me and Katie? I\u2019m not going to pretend there\u2019s any love lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cameron chased a trilogy contest but Taylor chose to fight Amanda Serrano<\/a>, her other great rival, twice more. Taylor is now having a huge and probably final fight at Croke Park against the obscure Flora Pili on 5 September. Does Cameron feel she should be fighting Taylor?<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. From the bottom of my heart, fighting me at Croke Park is not right for her swansong. It\u2019s going to be a show, and more of a send-off, than a fight. I was the wrong opponent and so that\u2019s why there was never a conversation. I think this will be her last fight. I hope it is because she has done so much for women\u2019s boxing and had so many tough fights.\u201d<\/p>\n

Does Cameron worry about the damage she has also absorbed while compiling a 22-1 record over nine years as a pro? \u201cYes, I\u2019m really concerned. That\u2019s why I do a lot of brain training. An app called Elevate exercises my brain because over the last few years I\u2019ve been worried. So I\u2019m reading books, brain training, because I don\u2019t want to be punch-drunk. I want to retire from boxing being able to put sentences together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Has she seen warning signs? \u201cNot yet, touch wood. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve been in many wars. I had my first proper cut with Katie but that was more of a head-butt. I\u2019ve not been hurt and Jamie\u2019s very good at not over-sparring. I don\u2019t need any extra knocks on my head.\u201d<\/p>\n

She has an annual MRI brain scan and Cameron says: \u201cI hate the scans. I get real nervous and anxious because I\u2019m being punched in my head for a living and I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on up there. But I also have security knowing I\u2019m going for them scans. If the smallest thing shows on the scan I\u2019d say: \u201cMy time\u2019s up. Health is way more important than boxing.\u201d<\/p>\n

It has been hard for Cameron to find a decent opponent since Taylor. She is candid when stressing she \u201cneeds\u201d the challenge of Mayer to lift her while, at the same time, she wants to retire in the next two years: \u201cI want to go out healthy and with my brain intact.\u201d<\/p>\n

Our conversation drifts back to her beloved Northampton. \u201cMy mum and dad are still there,\u201d Cameron says. \u201cI would love to buy them a nice cottage in the countryside but they want to stay. That\u2019s the kind of family we are. I still have the same friends, and I\u2019m so proud of them. They\u2019re also proud of me. I\u2019ll always represent Northampton and Eastern District because I\u2019m the one that made it. It shows other people you can still make it, no matter where you\u2019re from. Don\u2019t let anyone tell you any different.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Less than two weeks before her world title unification bout against Mikaela Mayer, in a potential fight of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":858622,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[571],"tags":[64,63,802,85],"class_list":["post-858621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-boxing","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-boxing","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=858621"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858621\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/858622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=858621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=858621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=858621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}