Katie Taylor Steps Down as Champion
Katie Taylor has officially stepped down as the undisputed super lightweight champion after announcing her intention to take a break from boxing. This decision has led to a significant ruling by the World Boxing Council (WBC).
WBC Decision and Champion in Recess
In their weekly Martes De Café meeting held on Wednesday, the WBC confirmed that Taylor will no longer hold the world title due to her inability to meet the mandatory requirement to fight interim champion Chantelle Cameron. As a result, Taylor has been designated as a champion in recess, a status that will allow her the opportunity to compete for the WBC super lightweight title upon her return to the ring.
Upcoming Championship Fight
In response to this development, the WBC has mandated that Chantelle Cameron will face Sandy Ryan in an all-British showdown to clarify the championship landscape at 140 pounds. Sandy Ryan, a former welterweight champion currently positioned as the No. 3 contender in the WBC welterweight rankings, is set to drop a weight class for this match. Ryan recently bounced back into form with a unanimous decision victory over Jade Grierson after enduring back-to-back losses to Mikaela Mayer.
Both Ryan and Taylor are managed by Brian Peters and promoted under Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, indicating a strategic alliance in this interim arrangement.
Chantelle Cameron’s Recent Activity
Chantelle Cameron was last active in the ring during July, where she defended her title on the undercard of the highly publicized Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano III event, successfully defeating Jessica Camara to retain her status.
Immediate Rematch Ordered
In addition, the WBC has ordered an immediate rematch between Christian Mbilli and Lester Martinez concerning Mbilli’s interim super middleweight title. This decision came after Martinez’s team successfully requested another contest following their recent split draw in a thrilling bout that was part of the undercard for the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence Crawford fight in Las Vegas over the weekend.
Both fighters have differing promotional backgrounds: Mbilli, who hails from Cameroon and now fights out of Quebec, is associated with Top Rank, while Martinez’s career has been nurtured through ProBoxTV platforms. The WBC has allowed a 30-day negotiating period for the rematch before any formal purse bids are initiated.
