Katie Taylor says she is “better than ever” as the legendary boxer prepares for her rematch with Shantel Cameron on Saturday night at the 3 Arena, reports RTE.
Taylor suffered a surprising first pro loss to the reigning super lightweight champion in his homecoming fight in May.
Now, as the underdog in the rematch, Bray faces the biggest challenge of her career: a comeback at age 37 against an undefeated and growing opponent.
Cameron was strong in the first fight, looking more natural at his weight and started much smarter than her opponent.
Still, Taylor invoked the rematch clause to give Cameron a second chance, knowing that another loss would be a potentially fatal blow to his career.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport at a public workout in Dublin today, she said: “It’s hard to pinpoint what went wrong. I just didn’t feel my best. I wasn’t myself. Everybody who has seen the fight realises that. At the same time, all credit to Chantelle. I just have to step it up now on Saturday. I’m very, very confident I’m going to overturn things. I’ve been absolutely fine. It was obviously a heartbreaking night. It was not how I wanted my homecoming to go, obviously. I have a second chance here. I went back to the gym straight away and started working. You learn so much from the failures and losses. I’m not one to dwell on the past,” reports RTE.
“I don’t want to look back and feel sorry for myself. I just get on with things. I was in the gym that week (after the loss) and working towards the rematch. Here we are a few days away and I’m very grateful I have this opportunity and the chance to bring big-time boxing back to our nation again,” reports RTE.
“I have a chance to rectify things. It was a very, very disappointing night but that is all part of the journey. Life is full ups and downs. That is where all the growth happens, throughout the failures and losses. I have a lot of hope. I knew the rematch was coming. I put the work in and I feel better than ever for the rematch,” she added, reports RTE.
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