Chantelle Cameron has departed from British trainer Jamie Moore and switched over to training under Grant Smith as she preps herself for a potential trilogy bout with Katie Taylor in May. Under the guidance of newly-appointed head trainer Grant Smith, Cameron’s change of coaches signifies her determination to go back to her winning ways after losing last year to Taylor on November 25th.
While Chantelle Cameron (18-1,8 KO’s) has not outright blamed her trainer for her most recent loss to Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KO’s), her move does indicate there has been some sort of discord or disagreement that led to her departure. However, whilst remarking on her coaching change on social media, Cameron offered nothing but praise towards her former trainer, Jamie Moore.
“A new chapter with Grant Smith. I want to express my gratitude to Jamie and Nigel [Travis] for the brilliant run we have together,” Cameron stated on Twitter/X.
“I love them both to pieces and will always be grateful for everything they have done for me.“
Jamie Moore, a former professional boxer himself, had led Chantelle Cameron towards undisputed super lightweight/junior welterweight glory in 2022 when Cameron defeated Jessica McCaskill (12-3-1, 5 KO’s) who had moved down a division to fight the then-unified champion of the 140 lbs division. Prior to her undisputed victory, Moore also led Cameron to two world titles alongside assistant coach Nigel Travis who had also competed briefly as a professional in 2007.
Sheffield-based Grant Smith is the father and current head trainer of super lightweight contender Dalton Smith (15-0, 11 KO’s) and will have his coaching credentials tested when Dalton Smith faces American former world title challenger Jose Zepeda (37-4, 28 KO’s) next month.
Though the trilogy bout between Chantelle Cameron and Katie Taylor has not yet been announced, Cameron revealed a third match between her and Taylor was in the works during a recent interview with The Independent.
“A date has been set, 25 May,” Cameron told The Independent.
“Me and Katie both want the fight, it’s just to do with us getting paid the correct money. Croke Park’s not happening, it’s gonna be at the 3Arena.“
According to Cameron, the May 25th trilogy bout will take place at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland; the same venue in which the two previous Taylor-Cameron fights had occurred.
The two female fighters are expected to draw a conclusion following two successive bouts which resulted in both of them winning and losing once in 2023. Cameron will be striving to revenge her previous loss to Katie Taylor on November 25th and regain the 140 lbs titles she lost to the Irish champion, and despite not offering any complaints about potentially fighting in Ireland―Taylor’s home country―for the third time, she did address the favoritism that had been prevalent during her last fight against Taylor.
“Katie Taylor’s the champion now, so I’ve got no qualms about [fighting in Ireland again]. She has the belts, I’m the challenger, so the third fight… I can’t say nothing about the location or anything,” Taylor said.
“I would like a fair fight. I beat her the first time and I think I beat her convincingly. The second fight, she beat me, but do I think the referee gave her a little bit of help? Yeah, I do, because of the headbutts, the holding, everything that was going on. [That’s] my honest opinion, but there is no frustration, because she’s the champion. I’ve got to do what any challenger has to do: go to her backyard and snatch the belts back. That’s my plan.”
Given Cameron’s observations surrounding the bias that she faces against Taylor, there are question marks surrounding the insistence by Matchroom―who promotes both fighters―to continuously stage fights in Ireland which heavily favors Taylor; as was apparent during their November 25th fight.
With there having been no repercussions for excessive holding and alleged headbutting from Taylor when she and Cameron last fought, Cameron will have to put up a thoroughly dominant display similar to her first fight to convince the judges, referee and any other boxing official if she intends to grab a victory. While the odds do appear stacked against Cameron, she has already defeated Taylor and will be endeavoring to ensure her next fight―which will be held a year after she retained all her titles against Taylor―will lead to a second victory alongside her new trainer.
