Cameron wins, targets Taylor-Serrano victor

Chantelle Cameron is targeting the winner of the rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano later this month after a comfortable, unanimous points victory over Patricia Berghult on Saturday.

Cameron (20-1, 8 KOs), from Northampton, England, made a first defense of the fringe WBC interim junior welterweight title against Berghult, 30, which keeps her in contention to fight for the world title belts next.

Cameron, 33, dominated Berghult on her way to winning by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 at the bp pulse LIVE (formerly known as the NEC Arena) in Birmingham, England. It was Cameron’s second win since losing to Taylor almost a year ago, and she looks in dangerous form for whomever she faces next.

“I think I made a big statement there and I want a shot at my belts again,” Cameron said.

“I will keep my eyes on that fight and hopefully I will get the chance to fight the winner. If they avoid me, there are other big fights out there.”

Undisputed junior welterweight world champion Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs), from Bray in Ireland but based in Connecticut, is due to face New York-based Puerto Rican Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs) in a highly anticipated rematch at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Nov. 15. Taylor, 38, who edged the first fight with Serrano, 36, at lightweight in 2022, won a majority decision over Cameron in November to avenge a majority decision defeat to her earlier last year.

Berghult (17-2, 4 KOs), from Malmo, Sweden, who won the WBC junior middleweight title in 2021 and lost it in a first defense to England’s Natasha Jonas in 2022, did well not to go down from some big blows from Cameron.

Cameron could not afford to lose to stay in the hunt for a trilogy fight with Taylor after two close encounters, and she made a strong start when she staggered Berghult with a left hook to the temple after a close range exchange of punches in Round 3.

Cameron kept a high guard throughout, and in the fourth round landed a slashing right hand that hurt Berghult again. In Round 5, Cameron began unloading power punches and Berghult began to rock with the volume of blows.

Cameron piled on more pressure in the sixth round, but it came too late to make a dent in Berghult.

Cameron tested Berghult’s brave and stubborn resistance with some solid right hands in Rounds 8 and 9, but she could not force the stoppage.

Cameron’s win was chief support to smooth operator Shabaz Masoud’s split decision win over Liam Davies in an entertaining junior featherweight clash.

Masoud (14-0, 4 KOs) seemed to win most of the rounds with his quick hands and was awarded scores of 115-113 and 116-112, with 115-113 for Davies.

Davies, who stopped Erik Robles Ayala in two rounds in March, went into the fight ranked No. 5 with the WBC and IBF world governing bodies but Masoud emerged from beating his old amateur rival to be closer to a world title shot. Japan’s brilliant Naoya Inoue, one of the best boxers in the world, holds all four world titles at 122 pounds.

“I respect Liam, he’s a really good boxer, but this is my day,” Masoud said.

Masoud, 28, from Stoke-on-Trent, edged Round 1 as he showed impressive hand speed to land punches. Davies could not establish himself in Round 2, either. as he was warned for holding.

Masoud produced some silky skills toward the end of Round 2, and he continued to land quick left hands through the third.

Davies (16-1, 8 KOs), from nearby Telford, struggled with Masoud’s southpaw stance, and by the end of Round 4 he had a nasty cut above his right eye.

Davies, 28, applied good pressure in Round 5, but could not land a punch that hurt Masoud or slowed him.

Masoud landed two-punch combinations in Round 7, and his quick single back-hand punches continued to be the best work. But Davies landed a strong flow of punches in Round 8, and he landed a good left hook to the head amid a strong finish to Round 9.

Davies impressively maintained his high work-rate until the end, but he was prone to getting caught by swift counter punches from Masoud until the final bell.