Boxing
Chantelle Cameron admits she almost walked away from boxing ahead of world title fight vs. Adriana Araujo
Ahead of her crucial battle with Adriana Dos Santos Araujo (6-0, 1 KO) for the vacant WBC super-lightweight title on Sunday, Chantelle Cameron (12-0, 7 KOs) detailed how she almost gave up on boxing altogether when her spell as an amateur came to an end.
Cameron turned professional in May 2017 after her time in the amateur ranks at a time when the women's professional scene was finally about to take off thanks to the popularity of female MMA plus the 2016 pro conversion of undisputed lightweight title holder Katie Taylor.
The Northampton boxer hoped to challenge Taylor but switched weight classes in order to realize her dream sooner, which she will if she can overcome her unbeaten Brazilian opponent on the Joshua Buatsi vs. Marko Calic undercard.
Although joining the world champions' winners circle could finally lead her to a huge fight against Taylor one day, the irony of the Irish fighter's own professional journey was not lost on Cameron at the Matchroom fight week media day.
"When I was on the GB circuit, there really wasn’t anything about the women’s pro scene," explained Cameron. "It was Katie Taylor turning pro that really turned heads.
"I was going to go and work in Australia, travel a bit and see the world. I thought boxing was done for me after amateurs because I didn’t see there was anything about the women’s pro scene. I looked at MMA as well.Â
"My mum and my dad and my amateur boxing coach felt I still had a lot to offer, and my coach in particular didn’t want me to walk away. He really felt I could do well at professional."
"It’d mean the world to me to win a world title on Sunday. I’ve worked hard enough and I’ve waited long enough. I’ve just got to get the job done on Sunday.
"A fight with Katie is something I want to happen, but for now I’m focusing on my fight on Sunday."
Between Taylor's successes, her thrilling pair of fights with Delfine Persoon and other recent all-female crackers including Terri Harper vs. Natasha Jonas and Cecilia Braekhus vs. Jessica McCaskill, women's boxing has continued its rise to prominence this year, even despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I feel like it’s perfect timing," continued Cameron with regards to her big title opportunity. "The women have been flying the flag in boxing as of late, and I cannot wait to do the same.
"It feels exactly how it should be. I’ve still got the nerves and emotions, and I’m looking forward to getting in there on Sunday.
"I’m expecting her to come at me, and I’m gonna go at her. It’ll be a fight in the middle and it’ll play into my hands.Â
"My team has told me to just do what I do best and not to overthink things."
Araujo also joined the media day via Zoom, answering questions via an interpreter.
"London is my second home, I love London," she said of the city hosting the title fight.
"I was always [made to feel] welcome here, and I’m very comfortable here. I’m very anxious to fight Chantelle.
"I came to fight as a professional. I fought 19 years in amateur but I am here to fight in the professional ranks.
"If Chantelle wants a great fight, I’ll give her a great fight."
Chantelle Cameron vs. Adriana Dos Santos, chief support to Joshua Buatsi vs. Marko Calic, can be viewed live on Sunday, Oct. 4 on Sky Sports in the U.K. and on DAZN in the U.S.
