Cameron outpoints Mekhaled in solid comeback win

Former world champion Chantelle Cameron returned to winning ways with a solid points win over Elhem Mekhaled at Birmingham’s Resort World Arena.

Cameron, 33, dominated for most of an entertaining contest against the durable Frenchwoman.

Mekhaled showed a willingness to stand and trade but Cameron was the deserved winner in her first outing since losing the undisputed light-welterweight crown to Katie Taylor in November.

She was awarded a majority decision with scorecards of 99-92, 98-92 and one contentious score of 95-95, to pick up the interim WBC light-welterweight title.

“It’s been a rough chapter. I’m back now, and I’m coming for the belts again. This is just the beginning,” Cameron said.

The Northampton boxer was making her Queensberry debut after signing with promoter Frank Warren this year.

Cameron was outpointed by Taylor in Dublin eight months ago in her first professional loss, after beating the Irishwoman on points in their first meeting in May 2023.

A trilogy bout could not be negotiated and pound-for-pound star Taylor is set to face Amanda Serrano in Texas in November.

But Warren suggested his fighter will target the winner, with Cameron adding: “Everyone knows who I want.”

Cameron spoke in the build-up about the burden of the undefeated record no longer weighing heavily on her, and she seemed to enjoy the opening rounds.

In her first fight under the tutelage of trainer Grant Smith, Cameron landed flush left hooks and bullied the backtracking Mekhaled.

The Parisian, 33, took in gasps of air as she walked back to her corner after the second and third.

But Mekhaled – who had only lost at the highest level in a 14-fight career with points defeats by Delfine Persoon and Alycia Baumgardner – did not back down.

She landed some heavy hits of her own in a terrific all-action fourth round which sparked the attention of the third-full arena.

Cameron became England’s first four-belt undisputed champion in 2022, and the gulf in class became apparent as the contest progressed.

She was beating her opponent to the punch, working the body and easing out of range of any attack.

The crowd’s interest was momentarily distracted by a brawl in the stands in the ninth round, before the boxers closed the show by continuing to let their hands go until the final seconds of the 10th.

Cameron said she is planning to return to the ring soon, adding: “It’s my first camp with Grant [Smith] – I just want to keep the momentum. I don’t want to be waiting around.”

Cornwall’s Brad Pauls defeated Nathan Heaney in the 12th round of a dramatic rematch to win the British middleweight title.

After the first encounter – a fight of the year contender – ended in a draw, the sequel did not disappoint as Heaney suffered a first career loss in his 20th fight.

It was an electric atmosphere as Heaney, 35, and his raucous and loyal travelling Stoke faithful cheered on every punch.

But with the champion controlling the bout, Pauls landed a clean backhand right to send Heaney to the canvas in the fourth.

Both men tired before ‘The Newquay Bomb’ found a second wind in the championship rounds.

Pauls dropped Heaney again with a barrage of punches in the 12th before the referee stopped the contest.

Earlier in the night, bantamweight Andrew Cain beat Ashley Lane in the fifth round of their British title fight and unbeaten heavyweight Solomon Dacres stopped Michael Webster in the seventh to win his ninth pro contest.