Chantelle Cameron sensationally ended Katie Taylor's unbeaten and unblemished professional record as she edged a remarkable encounter at the 3Arena.
The Liverpool fighter, who was defending her undisputed super lightweight world title, spoiled Taylor's homecoming with a brave display of front-foot fighting that was ultimately rewarded by two of the three judges.
Too close to call at times throughout this mesmerising encounter on the banks of the River Liffey, and while one judge deemed it a 95-95 draw, two more favoured the away fighter scoring the contest 96-94 victory in the champion’s favour.
Fighting as a professional for the first time on Irish soil, Taylor was roared into the ring by her fervent supporters, the main event following a night of top class boxing in the capital.
Then from the opening bell, and as expected, champion Cameron came out with real intent, walking into the middle of the ring and remaining on the front foot hunting down the home fighter.
Taylor, though, was happy to work on the outside and certainly landed the bigger punches with two very noticeable rights inside the opening two minutes in what was a very close opening round.
Cameron kept the foot on the gas at the start of the second, walking through Taylor's defence in an attempt to land. Momentarily pinned against the ropes, Taylor used her quick hands and fine movement to ensure that she moved away from the danger.
The tempo remained at an electric pace as Cameron charged through the opening moments of the third, however, Taylor met her head on, and a brawling encounter led to a flurry of punches from both fighters, while Taylor would land some fine combination work later in the round.
Following three tough and tight opening rounds, Cameron impressed in the fourth round as she dropped the pace a touch and looked to stand tall and box Taylor, and with some success. Taylor’s hair coming undone midway adding a disheveled look to the Bray boxer.
It was Taylor’s turn to take on the role of the aggressor in the fifth and while Cameron gave as good as she got, the 2012 Olympic champion managed to rock her with a couple of big standalone punches, but the English fighter was looking strong, and her confidence was evidently growing.
The sixth round was a classic. Trading in the middle of the ring, both fighters enjoyed real success with some well-timed and explosive shots. Taylor perhaps with the more eye-catching efforts with some extended combinations bringing the crowd to their feet.
Another great round followed as both fighters showed no intention of dialing down the intensity, although Taylor was starting to look the more jaded of the two.
The Pride of Bray then boxed beautifully in the eighth round, staying out of danger while also landing some excellent shots, which should have impressed the judges.
Another great round of boxing in the ninth as Cameron started well and pinned Taylor up against the ropes working the body with big shots. But Taylor came flying back to finish the round strong, again impressing with fine combinations, but again, like several other rounds, it was very tough to call who would get the nod from the judges
And, of course, the final round would not disappoint, as both fighters left everything in the ring following a relentless and rip-roaring ten rounds of professional boxing.
The crowd lifted the decibel even higher for the final 30 seconds, attempting to get their fighter over the line and sway the ringside trio tasked with calling this evenly matched encounter.
But ultimately, as is the case so many times in professional boxing, the challenger did not do enough to snatch the belts off the champion and Cameron celebrated amidst a stunned and silenced arena, as Taylor finally proved fallible.
