LONDON — Chantelle Cameron had expected to start this week as the WBC junior welterweight champion.

The WBC ordered undisputed champion Katie Taylor to defend against its interim titleholder Cameron and instructed both sides to reach a deal by Aug. 28 to avoid a purse bid hearing.

But with zero discussions between the sides about the matchup, Cameron expected Taylor to vacate the green and gold strap as she plots a return to the ring next year.

Instead, Taylor’s team requested a last-minute extension on the negotiation period and the WBC obliged, with Sept. 18 set as the new date.

Cameron, who won the interim title in July 2024 and has racked up two successful defences since, was mystified with the request given the lack of communication with Taylor and her promoter Eddie Hearn’s suggestion that the Irish icon might even retire.

Taylor and Cameron, of course, have history given their two memorable fights in 2023. Cameron successfully defended her 140-pound belts in their first clash with a majority decision in Dublin. Six months and five days later, Taylor had her revenge by edging a majority decision after 10 more action-packed rounds in the Irish capital.

It has at times been a bitter rivalry, and now Cameron has accused the 39-year-old of purposely jeopardizing her career by what she perceives as a "pointless delay."

“She doesn’t want the fight with me,” Cameron told The Ring. “And her team don’t want the fight, either. I feel like this is all just a ploy and a game. It’s crazy because if you don’t want to fight me, that’s absolutely fair enough, but let’s just both go on our own paths.

“There’s no need for this delay, it’s pointless. I think it's a game, and it just shows you people's character. Why would you do that to someone else's career? Fair enough, you have rivalries and stuff, but you shouldn't try and jeopardize someone else's career when you know that you're going to vacate anyway.

“I thought I was going to be elevated to full world champion, but my manager phoned me to tell me the bad news. I thought he was joking, but he was deadly serious. I thought he would be telling me I was champion and that I could make my first defence, but instead it was that I just have to wait even longer.”

Cameron’s last outing came on the undercard of Taylor’s victory over Amanda Serrano on July 11 at Madison Square Garden, a unanimous decision over Jessica Camara. It was Cameron’s first fight of her new deal with Most Valuable Promotions, but she says the hold up with the WBC is preventing her from moving on to her next fight.

She added: “It’s really tricky because we can’t plan ahead. We’re stuck in the mud. All I know is I’m going to be boxing for the world title, but there can’t be any real negotiations with any opponents because we don’t know what will happen with the belt.

“So now I’ve got a few more weeks of waiting. But I can handle that. I’ve waited long enough already.”

During an interview with The Ring this week, Hearn suggested that instead of a trilogy fight between Taylor and Cameron, the 34-year-old from Northampton should have an all-British derby with former welterweight champion Sandy Ryan instead. Cameron does not agree.

“It’s not a fight I would welcome,” she said. “Sandy is coming off two losses to Mikaela Mayer. What does beating her do for me?

“Eddie has always talked about that fight, but give me Katie Taylor first and then I’ll give him what he wants by fighting Ryan. For the time being, Sandy’s not on my radar.”