IT’S wild to think that Luke Campbell versus Tommy Coyle might well be the most well attended British fight this year. Even though it’s not for a (major) title, it could summon 20,000 of the Hull faithful to Craven Park stadium on August 1. Campbell is only 11-0 (9) but the Olympic gold medallist is one of Britain’s best professional prospects and in Coyle, who has a 21-2 (10) record, he has a ready-made local rival.
“It’s crazy but all those years of sacrifice and hard work, it’s paying off. People can see that now. No one was never there when I was working and grafting hard and performing well when I was in the amateurs. But people can actually see what I’m doing now and they can see that I’m working hard and performing in the ring and they’re enjoying watching me. It’s a real difference. It’s a good feeling to have and it pushes me on to work even harder,” Campbell told Boxing News. “This fight’s been on the horizon now for the past year. I’m expecting a full house August 1. I’m expecting 20,000. I think it’ll be great.
“My dream is to capture the British public’s eye. I want to entertain them and give them good fights.”
Campbell was Britain’s most decorated amateur boxer, winning medals at European and World championships as well as the Olympics, and has adapted, with his trademark cool precision, to professional boxing.
“There’s a hell of a lot of people who say that we’re not in the same league and they think I’m going to knock Coyle out. They’ve got the right to say that through my past performances and Tommy’s performances. In saying that, it’s a new day, no one’s going to know what’s going to happen on the night but I can tell you for sure that Tommy Coyle will bring the best out of Luke Campbell,” said the London 2012 star.
He believes that the opponents he’s already faced have prepared for this next challenge. Coyle may have had more pro fights but Campbell has looked better in comparison. Common foe Daniel Brizuela shared an up-and-down thriller with Tommy for instance, in which Coyle did triumph, while Campbell dominated the Argentine and halted him in five rounds. “I don’t take anyone for granted. You could say Brizuela was more of a threat, more of an awkward opponent than Tommy Coyle because he’s quicker, he’s got better movement and he’s been the distance a fair few times and boxed for a world title. Now that’s a lot more than what Tommy Coyle has done. Styles make fights at the end of the day. It’s going to be an exciting fight, it’s going to be a great occasion for Hull. I wish Tommy all the best and I’m going to be training my hardest,” Luke said.
This fight will be an eliminator for the WBC lightweight title. Victory would put Campbell on course for a final eliminator and a possible world title shot next year. Soon Luke could be hunting down the scalp of WBC champ Jorge Linares. “Linares is probably the best in the division right now,” Campbell said. “I watched the Mitchell-Linares fight at the O2, it was cracking fight. I’m gutted for Kevin, I really wanted Kevin to do the business. I was gutted for him. It’s boxing, he’s a warrior, he’ll come back. Linares is a good fighter, he’s fast, he’s strong. He can box. I’ve got my eye on a few of them.
“As soon as this fight’s finished I’ll be on the move, on the way up. I’m sure my team’s got interesting stuff planned that we can move forward and start fighting in a lot bigger fights.”
