Boxing

EDDIE HEARN brutally shut down Katie Taylor’s post-fight press conference last night after growing tired of questions on Conor McGregor.The Matchroom promoter was in attendance at Dublin’s 3Arena to watch Taylor delight her home crowd and beat Chantelle Cameron on points.
Conor McGregor’s Forged Irish Stout sponsored last night’s boxing at the 3ArenaCredit: Getty
Eddie Hearn brutally shut down the press conference after a question about the UFC starCredit: Matchroom
Her triumph in the rematch made her a two-weight undisputed world champion and cemented her place as one of Ireland’s legendary sporting superstars.
Following her victory, Taylor, 37, joined Hearn in the media room to face questions from reporters about her epic win.
However, unfortunately it ended on a sour note after a journalist continued to ask about UFC superstar McGregor’s involvement in the show.
The Irishman’s Forged Irish Stout sponsored the event but was questioned in the days leading up to fight night after several controversial messages posted by McGregor on social media.
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He did not attend the boxing yesterday and Hearn had already said on Friday at the weigh-in that he never considered ending their association with the brand.
He said: “A brand is a brand. I think that Conor was never planning on coming to this event. He won’t be there.
“I haven’t read all the opinions, I know they’ve created controversy, everyone’s got an opinion and I don’t really even have one because I don’t know enough about it.
“He’s been a massive supporter of Katie and of Irish boxing so it’s a difficult topic. I think his attendance would be a different matter but he has never been planning to come to this one.”
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Hearn believed that he had said all he had to say on the matter – but he was fuming when the subject was brought up again after Taylor’s success.
He responded: “You had to do it, didn’t you? I have to tell you this: I’m so bored of talking about it. All you ever do is look for a negative.
“Conor McGregor is Conor McGregor. I don’t represent him, I don’t talk about his comments. He has a brand that has backed the sport of boxing.
“It has nothing to do with Katie Taylor, the show, the company. His opinions are his opinions.
“Tonight, we celebrate one of your greatest ever athletes. No more questions about Conor McGregor.”
The reporter then hit back by claiming that the question had to be asked, but Hearn said: “Then you can ask me away from the press conference. You can ask me afterwards. I’ll answer it. Not in front of Katie Taylor.
“This is her night and congratulations to one of the greatest athletes I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.”
And that led to the end of the press conference. More

ED SHEERAN has challenged Lewis Capaldi to a dust-up inside the boxing ring.’The Shape of You’ star was a surprise ringside guest for Katie Taylor’s undisputed super-lightweight clash with Chantelle Cameron on Saturday night.
Ed Sheeran was ringside for Katie Taylor’s clash with Chantelle Cameron on SaturdayCredit: PA
He even congratulated the pride of Ireland after she became a two-weight world championCredit: GETTY
‘The Shape of You’ star then called out fellow singer Lewis CapaldiCredit: GETTY
Sheeran had one of the best views in the 3Arena as he took in the fights with Matchroom Boxing supremo Eddie Hearn.
After the fight, which Taylor won via majority decision, the singing sensation was quizzed about potentially getting in the ring himself.
And after initially brushing off the prospect by saying he’d fight his old man, the 32-year-old revealed he’d love to have a straightener with Capaldi.
The four-time Grammy Award winner told iFL TV: ” [Lewis] Capaldi. Yeah, yeah. yeah.”
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Matchroom Boxing’s Frank Smith then jokingly chimed in: “Yeah, we’ll get that [done].”
Sheeran nodded with a smile on his face as he interjected: “I’d do it.”
And he then proceeded to issue an expletive-filled, but albeit jokey, call out to Scotland’s Capaldi.
He said: “Lewis, I’ll f***ing have you, c**t.”
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Credit: SUNSPORT
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Boxing fans were quick to comment, with one saying: “Capaldi would probably smash him.”
Another said: “Imagine Ed Sheeran walking to the ring with ‘I’m in love with the shape of you’ in the background.”
One remarked: “That would sell out Croke Park.”
Another chimed in: “Ed, you underestimate the power of a dad. He’d would woop your a**e!”
Sheeran is no stranger to the Sweet Science as his grandfather was a boxer, although he’d never actually attended a live show prior to last night’s Dublin dust-up between Taylor and Cameron.
He said: “I sort of grew up around it. But this is sort of, weirdly, the first live boxing event I’ve been to.
“Because I play weekends, so I never really get to go to it. So it’s good.”
Sheeran wanted to pop his boxing cherry in 2021 when an undisputed heavyweight title fight between Brits Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury was in the works.
He said: “This is my first boxing fight, but I wanted my first boxing fight to be the unification of the belts and a British champion.
“But I don’t know if that’s gonna happen now. Because it’s Fury-Usyk [in February]. We’ll see.”
Ed Sheeran posed with Katie Taylor’s haul of super-lightweight titles after he historic winCredit: Getty More

BOXING fans were left stunned after Chantelle Cameron was not awarded a knock down in the first round of her defeat to Katie Taylor.Taylor, 37, was on a revenge mission in Dublin after her defeat to Cameron six months earlier.
Cameron connected with a jab which sent Taylor flyingCredit: Twitter
But the fall was not ruled to be a knock downCredit: Twitter

Katie Taylor became an undisputed champion at two weight levelsCredit: Getty
Taylor had stepped up a division to fight Cameron at the same arena where she was defeated by a majority decision.
Taylor emerged determined not to fall to the same fate this time and fought grittily to become the undisputed champion at both lightweight and light welterweight.
But the fight was not without controversy, with Cameron appearing to knock down Taylor in the first.
Cameron connected with a strong left jab which sent Taylor tumbling to the floor at Dublin’s 3Arena.
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Taylor hit the canvas but sprung up immediately with the ref stepping in to separate the two.
After a quick check to see Taylor was okay to continue, the brawl resumed.
The referee opted to not count the fall as a knock-down, judging Taylor to have lost her footing in the fall rather than being knocked down by the power of the punch.
But a lot of fans online did not share in the ref’s view.
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Cameron suffered a brutal cut to the headCredit: Sportsfile
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One fan on Twitter wrote: “Cameron hit her and Taylor went down, what else could it be? [other than a knockdown].”
Another wrote: “How isn’t it a knock down?”
A third wrote: “Knocked down, should have been scored as one too.”
Taylor dominated the gruesome match, with Cameron suffering a brutal cut to the head after clashing hers with Taylor.
After 10 claret-soaked two-minute rounds the judges called it 95-95, 98-92 and 96-94 to the hometown heroine. More

CHANTELLE CAMERON suffered a gruesome cut to her head in her rematch defeat to Katie Taylor.The Brit, 32, failed to secure a second win in six months over Irish legend Taylor, 37, as she lost her undisputed super-lightweight crown by majority decision in Dublin.
Chantelle Cameron, left, was beaten by Katie Taylor in a thrilling rematchCredit: Sportsfile

Cameron suffered the shocking cut in the third round
The bout continued despite the horrific injuryCredit: Getty
But the boxing contest threatened to be stopped earlier in the fight when a horrific gash appeared on the forehead of Cameron.
Replays showed the cause of the injury was the result of a clash of heads as Taylor bobbed and weaved on the ropes.
Cameron’s corner worked on the cut ahead of the fourth round in a bid to avoid the fight being brought to an abrupt end.
And when the action got back underway, the referee then paused proceedings to allow the doctor to inspect it further.
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But Cameron, who suffered her first professional defeat in her 19th bout, was allowed to continue as the Irish crowd were treated to a thrilling 10 rounds in the capital.
Had the bout been stopped because of the cut at the end of the fourth round or later, it would have gone to the judges scorecards.
All three judges had Taylor winning after four rounds.
After the bout, Taylor, who is now 23-1, called for a trilogy fight to take place at Croke Park.
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Cameron’s corner worked on the cut to avoid the fight being stoppedCredit: Sportsfile

She said: “Two weigh undisputed sounds very nice – oh my God! That was the longest six months of my life waiting for that rematch.
“This was my real homecoming tonight. Whoever wrote me off doesn’t know me very well. Don’t ever doubt me.
“Let’s do the trilogy at Croke Park.”
She then went on to add: “It takes two to tango. Chantelle is a phenomenal fighter and a trilogy would be great for both of us.
“This could be the first great trilogy in women’s boxing.
“You learn most from your failures and losses, that’s where all the learning and growing happens. You just never give up.” More

KATIE TAYLOR landed two-weight undisputed glory with a bloody revenge mission over Chantelle Cameron.Six months after the Irish lightweight queen stepped up in weight and was convincingly beaten by the Northampton ace, they returned to Dublin for the identical re-run.
Katie Taylor celebrates defeating Chantelle Cameron in their undisputed super lightweight championship fightCredit: Sportsfile
Taylor lands a right hook on Cameron during their bloody boutCredit: Getty
Cameron suffered a gashed head after an accidental butt from TaylorCredit: Getty
And Taylor was gritty and dirty at times – accidentally using her head to butt a gruesome gash into Cameron’s head – and spectacularly skilful at others as she dominated the bigger lady.
After 10 claret-soaked two-minute rounds the judges called it 95-95, 98-92 and 96-94 to the hometown heroine.
Taylor roared: “Two weigh undisputed sounds very nice – oh my God!
“That was the longest six months of my life waiting for that rematch,. This was my real homecoming tonight.
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“Whoever wrote me off doesn’t know me very well. Don’t ever doubt me.
“Let’s do the trilogy at Croke Park.”
Northampton’s defending champion had her entrance to the 3Arena booed by the partisan Dublin crowd that still idolises Taylor from her London 2012 win.
Both women jabbed well from the off before Taylor landed a left hook and Cameron replied with a right hand.
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Taylor then hit the deck, right on the seat of her shorts, but the referee ruled it a slip, did not count and Cameron did not protest.
Cameron kept marching forward throwing power shots in the second but Taylor’s hands were rapid and accurate, even off the backfoot.
Former kickboxer Cameron wanted to make the bout a war and she succeeded with the action even carrying on after the bell had rung to end the exciting session.
Taylor lured her nemesis onto an excellent third-round combination and then a clash of heads left a nasty gash high on Cameron’s forehead, thankfully away from her eyes and vision.
The referee ordered the doctor to examine the cut before the fourth started and he gave the deep wound the green light.
Cameron scored with a right hook into Taylor’s ribs but the Bray heroine replied with more peppering shots.
After five rounds Cameron was still not able to close down the distance without getting tagged by Taylor’s blurring blows.
Despite the open wound and bruising around her nose, Cameron never stopped launching herself into attacks but Taylor’s counter punching and movement were superior to the waves of aggression.
Cameron connected with a couple of uppercuts in the clinch but the veteran withstood the shots and happily stayed in the pocket and swapped slashing close-up punches.
There were violent and crappy exchanges in round seven that played into Cameron’s favour.
It was a fight to the finish for Taylor and CameronCredit: Sportsfile
Taylor and Cameron come together and trade blowsCredit: Sportsfile
Cameron’s injury is treated by medicsCredit: Reuters
But Taylor seemed to love the high-risk action as she planted her feet and went punch-for-punch with the bigger and younger woman.
Taylor looked in deep trouble in the eighth when she suddenly aged and shrunk in the middle of the round.
Cameron was brutish and bullying, driving in uppercuts and whipping in hooks.
Taylor looked exhausted or hurt – or both – and clung on to her opponent until the bell saved her from more punishment.
And that minute break proved crucial as Taylor reemerged re-energised and scored with a handful of precise flurries that Cameron could not block or dodge.
And the packed arena roared ‘KT, KT’ to inspire their superstar over the line and into boxing folklore.
The final stanza was tight and bloody as Cameron’s cut burst open through the Vaseline.
But Taylor kept pinging out the precise combos and holding on to stem Cameron’s replies.
The bell ended all ten rounds of breathless action with Cameron caked in her own blood and Taylor looking relieved with her successful revenge mission.
Taylor celebrates with mum Bridget Taylor after defeating CameronCredit: Sportsfile
Taylor is the undisputed super-lightweight championCredit: Sportsfile
Both women raised their arms as they waited for the scorecards to be read out.
After the fight, Taylor said: “It takes two to tango.
“Chantelle is a phenomenal fighter and a trilogy would be great for both of us.
“This could be the first great trilogy in women’s boxing.
“You learn most from your failures and losses, that’s where all the learning and growing happens. You just never give up.” More