By Chris Williams: According to Boxing Talk, former IBF/WBA/WBO lightweight champion Nate Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KO’s) could be the next opponent for unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. for March 13th or whatever date that Golden Boy Promotions decides on making the fight. The question about whether Mayweather would be facing the 37-year-old Campbell was put to Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, who said “No comment.”

However, if Campbell does turn out to be the next opponent for Mayweather, this would be a slightly better opponent than Paulie Malignaggi, in my view. Campbell recently up in weight from the lightweight division where he was a champion last year because of difficulties making weight for the division. Campbell has fought once at light welterweight, fighting to a 3 round no contest with World Boxing Organization light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley in August 2009.

The fight was stopped because of a cut that Campbell has suffered due to a head butt. At the time of the stoppage, Campbell wasn’t looking that great, missing with many of his shots and looking slightly sluggish at the new weight class. If Campbell, 5’7”, was to get a shot against Mayweather, it would mean that Campbell would have to put on even more weight to fight Mayweather at welterweight.

One has to wonder whether Campbell would be slowed down at welterweight. Also, Campbell will be turning 38 in March, which is an advanced age for fighters in the lower weight classes. However, if Campbell does get picked, it would be in keeping with Mayweather’s recent trend of fighting smaller opponents than him.

Mayweather is 5’8”, and would have an inch height advantage over Campbell in addition to his huge speed advantage. It’s unclear how boxing fans would take the news of Campbell getting the pick by Mayweather.

Some would wonder why Mayweather is fighting a light welterweight rather than someone from his own weight class, while others might wonder why Mayweather is picking an older fighter to mix it up with. Campbell was great as a lightweight, but he hasn’t proven anything at light welterweight in his one bout. To be sure, the fight against Bradley ended quickly after three rounds, but Campbell wasn’t shining at the time of the stoppage.