Avila Perspective, Chap. 237: Battles for Undisputed Status in Dublin and Las Vegas

The four-syllable word “undisputed,” ignites instant debate especially when it comes to boxing.

Two major world championship fights take place on Saturday where so-called undisputed championship contests occur in different parts of the world.

Undisputed became a coined word for prizefighting when more than one world title emerged in professional boxing. We’ll talk about that later.

First, a battle between undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor and undisputed super lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron takes place Saturday, May 20, in Dublin, Ireland. Later, on the same day, undisputed male lightweight champion Devin Haney defends against Vasyl Lomachenko in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Both will be streamed and televised live.

Ireland’s Taylor (22-0, 6 KOs) challenges Cameron (17-0, 8 KOs) for the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO super lightweight titles at 3Arena in Dublin. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card. Also, Cecilia Braekhus (37-2) challenges Terri Harper (13-1-1) for the WBA super welterweight title.

“It’s amazing to be bringing big time boxing back to this nation again where it belongs. This isn’t any normal fight, this is undisputed champion versus undisputed champion,” said Ireland’s Taylor on Thursday at the Matchroom Boxing press conference.

Taylor won a close fiery battle against Puerto Rico’s Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano last year in the Fight of the Year. Their confrontation sold out Madison Square Garden and broke the glass ceiling for million-dollar fights for women. Each woman made over $1 million for their purse.

The Irish fighter sought to meet Serrano again, but the Brooklyn-based fighter suffered an injury and was unable to meet the time period to meet Taylor in a rematch. Taylor then went to social media and called out Chantelle Cameron who had sought a fight with her since becoming a pro.

“I don’t use social media much but when I do use it, I guess I can make a big impact. I knew that Chantelle wanted this fight as well. It was a very easy fight to make,” Taylor said.

Cameron quickly accepted and now the fight is here.

“When I saw that Amanda Serrano pulled out, I thought Katie deserved a homecoming,” said Cameron, 32. “What she’s done for women’s boxing, I wouldn’t be at where I am if it wasn’t for Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields.”

To arrive at this juncture, both Cameron and Taylor spent years clearing out their respective weight divisions with heated battles along the way.

Though Taylor and Cameron fought each other as amateurs, the pro fight game is quite different in both length and strategy. Also, there is no head gear.

Each has their strengths and weaknesses.

Taylor possesses blazing hand speed and agility. She also has a fighting spirit that has been tested many times against Delfine Persoon, Natasha Jonas, and especially against the dangerous Serrano.

Cameron has power and the ability to fight inside or out as she showed against Melissa Hernandez, Mary McGee and against Jessica McCaskill. Each foe had a different style and the British fighter adapted well. Can she adapt to the speed of Taylor?

“Fighting Katie Taylor now is my bigger goal – that’s what I always wanted. I never thought it would happen. For me this fight is bigger than becoming undisputed world champion,” said Cameron.

Haney and Loma

In Las Vegas, the men battle as Vasyl Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) vies for the lightweight world championship that Devin Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) holds when they meet at the MGM Grand. ESPN will stream and televise the Top Rank event.

It’s youth versus experience.

Haney holds the IBF, WBO, WBA, WBC titles but there is some dispute on who holds the WBA title as Gervonta “Tank” Davis also claims a portion of it. It’s one of those ridiculous partial belts that the WBC and WBA do with their titles to get extra money.

Not to take sides, because Tank Davis is a very good prizefighter, but Haney gathered all the titles when he defeated George Kambosos twice. The Aussie Kambosos beat Teofimo Lopez for the undisputed titles in 2022. And Lopez beat Lomachenko in October 2020 to gather all the titles.

Lomachenko, 35, after suffering a loss against Mexico’s rugged Orlando Salido in 2014, the ultra-athletic boxing savant dominated the featherweights and super featherweights. Though he managed to win the WBA and WBO lightweight titles, the heavier weight class was just a little too big for him and he lost to Teofimo Lopez.

Another opportunity to become undisputed champion was lost when Lomachenko opted to return to his native country Ukraine after it was invaded by Russia. That opened the door for Haney who defeated Kambosos in Australia. Twice.

Now Lomachenko is back again for a crack at undisputed status.

“It’s motivating because I understand it is my last chance to become undisputed,” said Lomachenko.

Haney applauds Lomachenko’s decision to fight for his country.

“I take my hat off to him. I respect everything that he’s done,” said Haney during the press conference on Thursday. “I respect his decision to stay and defend his country. That gave me my shot to go to Australia, so it was only right that I give him the shot as well.”

Lomachenko is 35 years old but has years of experience fighting the best amateurs and pros such as Guillermo Rigondeaux and Jorge Linares. He defeated Linares by knockout.

Haney, 24, has the height, reach and age advantage and handily defeated Kambosos twice in Australia. He also defeated Linares but was wobbled by the skilled Venezuelan fighter.

It’s an interesting matchup.

Also, Japan’s Junto Nakatani (24-0, 18 KOs) meets Australia’s Andrew Moloney (25-2,16 KOs) for the vacant WBO super flyweight title. Nakatani is moving up a weight division after winning the WBO flyweight title and defending it twice. Moloney’s twin brother Jason Moloney just won the WBO bantamweight title.

Fights to Watch

Sat. DAZN 11 a.m. Katie Taylor (22-0) vs Chantelle Cameron (17-0); Terri Harper (13-1-1) vs Cecilia Braekhus (37-2).

Sat. ESPN 4 p.m. Devin Haney (29-0) vs Vasyl Lomachenko (17-2); Junto Nakatani (24-0) vs Andrew Moloney (25-2); Raymond Muratalla (17-0) vs Jeremia Nakathila (23-2).

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