Chantelle Cameron wins WBC Interim title in thriller with Elhem Mekhaled

Chantelle Cameron picked up the WBC Interim junior welterweight title after a thrilling clash with Elhem Mekhaled.

The fight was billed as Cameron’s chance to impress a new audience under the Queensbury Promotions banner, and she certainly delivered.

Cameron, competing in her first fight with new trainer Grant Smith, put in a dominant display in a fast-paced contest to defeat Mekhaled by majority decision and pick up the 140-pound WBC Interim title. Mekhaled, coming up in weight from 130 pounds, was well beaten, but refused to stop swinging and was rewarded on one of the judge’s cards. One scorecard strangely read a 95-95 draw, while the other two showed a clear 99-92 and 98-92 win to Cameron.

Cameron came out of the blocks fast and eager to impress, using her size to overpower the smaller Mekhaled. The French fighter did not wilt under the pressure and fired back at Cameron, but there was a clear difference in power. New trainer Smith instructed Cameron to use her movement more and the former undisputed champion boxed well to instructions in the second and third.

Cameron came out in the fourth to make a statement and seemed to of found her range after rocking Mekhaled with a right uppercut. The former junior lightweight did not shy away, however, and the pair ended the round with a thrilling exchange. Cameron got back to her boxing after a memorable fourth round, picking her moments to exchange with the game Mekhaled.

Mekhaled had her best rounds of the fight in the eighth and ninth after she outworked Cameron, but the eye-catching, powerful shots came from the former undisputed champion. The tenth and final round was a snapshot of the entire fight, as both women went toe-to-toe for the final two minutes and were given a huge reception at the final bell.

Cameron’s hand was lifted, and the green belt was wrapped around her waist, as she sent out a statement of intent to Katie Taylor – her sole defeat and the owner of the real WBC title.

Ekow Essuman knocked out Owen Cooper in one of the best domestic clashes you will ever see. Cooper started well but paid the price for allowing Essuman to unload on the ropes when he was dropped heavily at the end of the sixth round. Cooper fought back and put Essuman down with a huge right at the end of the ninth. But the former British champion made an astounding recovery and finished Cooper with a flurry of heavy shots at the start of the tenth.

Solomon Dacres defended his English heavyweight title with a stoppage victory over Mark Webster. The contest started slowly with both fighters reluctant to commit, however, Dacres dropped Webster in the fifth and finished the job in the seventh round.

Ezra Taylor picked up a unanimous decision win over the tough and game Carlos Albeto Lamela. Taylor started strong and it seemed only a matter of time before the stoppage came, although Lamela fought back to go the distance.

Zach Parker put in a thrilling performance against Jack Arnfield after a dull display against Tyron Zeuge last time out. In the fourth Parker dropped Arnfield with a right hook and followed it up with another to end the fight.

Shabaz Masoud got a full eight-round shutout win to warm up for his postponed fight with Liam Davies. It looked to be an early finish for Masoud after he dropped Marvin Solano at the end of the first, but he failed to finish his man in eight rounds.

Super flyweight and brother of Davies, Bradley Thompson outpointed Stephen Jackson over four rounds.