WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán announced that Chantelle Cameron will face Sandy Ryan for the newly vacated WBC 140-pound championship. The title was vacted yesterday when world champion Katie Taylor was transferred to the WBC's "emeritus champion" or "champion in recess" designation. “She [Taylor] let us know that she plans to take some time away from the ring to attend to personal matters.," said Sulaiman. Cameron (pictured) has a 21-1 record and was the world champion in the junior welterweight division until she split two 2023 fights with Taylor, winning the first but losing her titles in the second. She now holds the WBC's interim title belt. Ryan is 8-3-1 and a former welterweight champion who lost twice to Mikaela Mayer in the past twelve months, once controversially and once legitimately.
According to the WBC, a "champion in recess" is: "a special recognition granted by to boxers who have had an outstanding career and achieved elite status in the sport. It is not a regular championship title defended in the ring, but rather a lifetime honor given in specific situations, such as injuries, personal issues that will keep them away from the sport for a period, moving up in weight class. The designation allows the title to be vacated so other fighters can compete for it and keep the division active, while granting the boxer a special status and the possibility of returning to fight for the belt in the future."
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE
SEPT. 17, 2025: According to WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, the WBC Board of Governors unanimously voted in favor of appointing Katie Taylor to WBC emeritus champion status. Taylor, the world champion at 140 pounds, last fought in April, defeating multi-divison champion Amanda Serrano for the third time. The WBC's move allows the sanctioning body to appoint two contenders to compete for Taylor's now-vacant title. Sulaiman wrote, "We wish our proud champion great success in the future and she may return to the ring in case she decides to do so to continue representing the green belt."
