Cameron vs Mekhaled Predictions: Chantelle finally takes centre stage

Chantelle Cameron returns to the ring this Saturday, July 20 as she takes on Elhem Mekhaled. The fight is Cameron’s first under her new deal with Queensberry, having left Matchroom following her rematch defeat to Katie Taylor. TNT Sports 1 will broadcast her debut as part of the latest Magnificent Seven show at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham.

Here are my Cameron vs Mekhaled predictions ahead of this super lightweight square-off.

Cameron felt aggrieved enough with Matchroom to switch sides. In May 2023, she inflicted Irish hero Katie Taylor’s first-ever pro defeat in Dublin. Rather than capitalising on the star-making display, she felt the promotional company worked hard to redress the balance. 

Despite being the challenger, Taylor was once again allowed home-field advantage for the rematch. ‘Simply The Best’ took Cameron’s undisputed super lightweight title from here in another Dublin humdinger, mirroring Chantelle by winning a majority decision.

Cameron must have considered that she had done enough to earn a trilogy fight, perhaps even outside the Emerald Isle for once. Instead, Matchroom supremo Eddie Hearn steered Taylor into a rematch with Amanda Serrano, whom she defeated in a Madison Square Garden classic back in 2022. 

‘Il Capo’ found herself left out in the cold and she wouldn’t stand for it any longer. Cameron signed on with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and makes her debut here on another bumper Magnificent Seven card.

Cameron gets a chance to re-enter the world title mix here with the WBC interim super lightweight championship on the line. We could complain until the cows come home about why the WBC feels the need to crown an extra champion in a division Taylor indisputably rules. But the simple answer is “sanctioning fees” so the bovines will have to stay out a little longer I’m afraid.

Still, it is a chance for Cameron to make a compelling case to take on the Taylor-Serrano winner. Her opponent has merit too. Mekhaled is no A-lister, but she has taken some top fighters the full distance. 

Mekhaled has lost decisions to Delfine Persoon and Alycia Baumgardner, the latter in an undisputed world super featherweight title bout. But ‘The Diamond’ is not defined solely by her world-level losses. The French fighter has also reigned as WBC interim and European super featherweight champion.

Realistically, Mekhaled remains a level below Cameron, who is a proven fighter among elite company. But as the first test on a comeback trail, this is a decent match-up for Chantelle.

Cameron vs Mekhaled Fight Odds

Cameron is a convincing 1/16 favourite to pull off the win in the Second City. Mekhaled can be backed at 9/1 to win the big one while a draw is 18/1.

Cameron vs Mekhaled Prediction

I think this fight will serve as a solid reminder of Cameron’s skills. She has been unfairly sidelined while Taylor, whose only defeat came against ‘Il Capo’, gets to move on to a fighter with Serrano.

I think Cameron can finish this one early. Mekhaled’s best work came at super featherweight while Chantelle has proven herself as a full-fledged super lightweight. My pick is Cameron by stoppage at 3/1.

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