Chantelle Cameron has hailed Katie Taylor as a trailblazer, and credited her for opening the door for women in boxing.
The undisputed super-lightweight champion came through the amateur ranks around the same time as Katie and agonised over whether or not to turn professional.
She eventually did in 2017 and has gone on to become one of the most successful female fighters in history.
READ MORE: Katie Taylor blown away by 'amazing' support as she gears up for homecoming bout
But this may not have been the case had Taylor not attained superstardom as a female in the sport of boxing.
“I actually never planned to turn professional,” said Cameron, “After the 2016 Olympics, I didn’t know what I was going to do.
“That’s why I’ve got so much respect for Katie Taylor and Clarissa Shields because they won the gold medals at the Olympics and turned professional.
“Women’s boxing was growing and that’s when I thought I’d have a go at the pros, but it wasn’t in my plans.
“I saw there was an opportunity for women. That’s why Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields are trailblazers. They opened up the door for me and other females.”
Taylor and Cameron have faced off once before in 2011 as amateurs, a fight which Cameron believes has no relevance to Saturday’s bout.
But Taylor has been in Cameron’s crosshairs for a long time, with the Northampton bruiser admitting that even when it looked like a pipe dream, she has long been eyeing up having a crack at the Irish megastar.
“It’s always been talked about and people have always mentioned it, but in all honesty, I didn’t think it was ever going to happen. It always seemed to be way too far away and never in touching distance.
“The universe works in strange ways and I’m here, that’s all that matters now.”
Everything worked out for the best for the 32-year-old defending Champion, but if she hadn’t turned pro, she may have been earning a wage doing a very different type of work.
“Hopefully I would’ve gone to university, gotten a degree and become a school teacher.
“I wanted to be a PE teacher.”
For Cameron, Saturday isn’t just about world titles and a chance at history. It’s an opportunity to change her life.
“Beating Katie Taylor puts me at the very top. Hopefully, it will be life changing.”
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