Olly Campbell

Since 2014, Olly Campbell has brought readers clear ringside perspective and a steady voice on boxing’s biggest nights.

Audley Harrison: Say It Aint So!

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harrison564By Olly Campbell: Over the last couple of hours news has been trickling out of yet another (yes, ANOTHER!) possible comeback from dreary, over the hill, 42 year old British heavyweight pantomime villain, Audley “A-Force” Harrison. (31-7, 23KOs).

I usually prefer to write articles of a balanced and objective nature, so you will have to forgive the somewhat sarcastic tone and derisive feel of this piece.

Audley first burst onto the British consciousness back in 2000, having become the first Brit to ever win an Olympic super heavyweight gold medal.

Brook and Thurman: The Future of the Welterweight Division.

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thurman3By Olly Campbell: With a lack of any domestic action throughout January here in the UK, I have grown quite reflective over what has been and what is to come as far as the best of British are concerned. Tyson Fury, Carl Froch and Ricky Burns have all been subjected to my scrutiny as of late.

Today, however, I am turning my attentions to not just a British fighter, but an American one too. Two young, hungry and talented men who I believe are not only the future of the welterweight division, but who are also on something of a collision course for the future provided both their careers follow the paths their respective talents have them earmarked for. Those two men are Britain’s Kell Brook (31-0 21KOs) and Keith Thurman from the United States (22-0, 20KOs).

Burns vs. Crawford: Fears Unfounded?

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burns453By Olly Campbell: I am a boxing fan first and a British boxing fan second. That means I admire ANY fighter with the necessary skills and ring craft to take on all comers, yet if that fighter just so happens to be British, I get behind and root for them just that little bit more.

On March 1st in Glasgow, Scotland, that is exactly what I shall do when Ricky Burns (36- 2-1, 11KOs) faces unbeaten American Terence Crawford (22-0, 16KOs). That, however, hasn’t ALWAYS been the case as far as Burns is concerned. It is only through the latter part of his career that he really began to impress me, the majority of his wins something of a pleasant surprise.

What’s Next? Part 2: Carl Froch

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froch656By Olly Campbell: Just yesterday, I was fortunate enough to have my debut article for BN24 selected for print. The piece, entitled “What’s next for Tyson Fury?, attracted kind and positive comments as well as igniting debate amongst fellow fans, both British and American alike.

A subsequent article by a regular BN24 contributor, and some careful thought and insight on my part, has prompted me to write a sequel about another top British fighter, one different to Fury in almost every aspect, both as a fighter and as a human being. The man in question is of course, the hugely popular, and very “current”, Carl Froch. (34-2, 20KOs).

What’s next for Tyson Fury?

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fury11By Olly Campbell: Boxing always throws up divisive figures. The type of love ’em or hate ’em fighter who draws in a crowd – be it the type of mob who cheer their man to victory, pray to see a guy knocked out, or more often than not, a combustible mix of the two.

With such a stale heavyweight scene, arguably the most divisive figure in the division is Britain’s undefeated star, Tyson Fury (21-0, 15KOs).

There can be no doubt that its been a torrid few months for the self proclaimed future heavyweight king, and my sympathies are extended to him.