Less than two weeks before her world title unification bout against Mikaela Mayer, in a potential fight of the year for women’s boxing, Chantelle Cameron’s memory carries a quietly shocking force. But he just turned round and said I’m going to end up stacking shelves in Tesco with two kids by the time I’m 16. On the inside I was like: ‘Wow.
Did he really say that?’” 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 – so much so that, last year, she gave up her WBC world title because the sanctioning body suggested women weren’t 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. 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’s comment.
It’s like he’s saying I’ve got no dreams, no hope. There’s 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: ‘You can’t be judging people like that – just because we’re from Eastern District [in Northampton].’” Did her teacher apologise?
It still stings that, as Cameron says, “because I’m from Northampton Eastern District, you’re always judged. People expect you’re going to be a thief or a druggie, on benefits, and it’s so unfair. I love where I’m from but when you’re told that by your teachers, and people in authority, it’s more real.
So I never dreamed of being in the position I’m in now – because I wouldn’t dare to dream. I was always told it weren’t possible.” Boxing helped Cameron believe in herself and she smiles when we wonder if her former teacher has followed her career as a world champion. Cameron has since encountered another form of prejudice.
In 2023 the WBC president, Mauricio Sulaimán, defended his organisation’s refusal to sanction 12 three-minute rounds in female bouts. We stand by the safety and wellbeing of the fighters.” That statement did not acknowledge the strength and resilience of the best female fighters – while undermining Cameron, for she would benefit from longer rounds. Is the WBC’s stance sexist?
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