Cameron beaten by the wizard of Oz

Pummelled '˜Pommy' lost his Commonwealth title shot 10,000 miles from home - but gave his Australian hosts a lesson in respect and dignity.
Liam Cameron, left and Zac Dunn before the fightLiam Cameron, left and Zac Dunn before the fight
Liam Cameron, left and Zac Dunn before the fight

The Sheffield super middleweight was outpointed 117-111, 115-113, 116-112 by Zac Dunn for vacant Commonwealth title - a completely fair result.

Dunn had thrown huge amounts of combinations in most rounds, many of them body shots against the taller man.

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Cameron had employed a defensive strategy - taking most of the punishment on his high guard.

But he didn’t throw enough meaningful shots back and didn’t take advantage of his reach.

What Cameron can take from this is a sense of self-respect, after being denied courtesy in the bear-pit of Australian boxing.

At the weigh-in, Cameron was abused by a member of Dunn’s camp who shouted: “Kill the Pommy piece of s***.”

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And in a previous promotional event, Cameron was the subject of some highly offensive remarks from show presenters who should have known better.

Having been beaten in the ring, the South Yorkshireman spoke over a microphone to the audience at The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington, Victoria, saying: “I tried my best. Zack is in the top 10 in the world and I pushed him all the way and gave him his hardest fight.

“That’s not bad for a cocky Pommy!”

Cameron then sportingly said he hoped his opponent, who has won 23 straight victories, would “go all the way.”

Cameron, whose own record now stands at Won 19 Lost 5, was never at the races. He defended the barrage of body and head shots well, but was frequently taken to the ropes by a dominating Dunn.

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After seven rounds, Dunn’s corner told him: “You are breaking him now” - but the durable Brit has never been stopped and had no intention of wilting.

It was just a pity he couldn’t take out the tireless Aussie as he came inside.