Unified lightweight world champion Nate “Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KOs) gave a stern warning to International Boxing Federation No. 1-Ranked lightweight mandatory challenger Ali “Rush Hour” Funeka (30-1, 25 KOs) at a Don King-hosted press conference at BankAtlantic Center today promoting their Valentine’s Day meeting in South Florida.
Nate Campbell
Campbell vs. Guzman: Look For An Easy Win For Joan
By Manuel Perez: WBO/IBF lightweight champion Nate Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KOs) will put his titles on the line on Saturday night against former two-time champion Joan Guzman (28-0, 17 KOs) at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, in Biloxi, Mississippi. Guzman, 32, is trained by Floyd Mayweather Sr. and, as one would guess, has a fighting style very similar to Floyd Mayweather Jr., which entails a lot of defensive movements, pot shots, flurries and lateral movement. It’s a frustrating style for most fighters to have to deal with, which makes him so dangerous as a fighter.
His power is marginal, but he more than makes up for it with his fast hands. However, he is at a slight disadvantage going into this bout as he’s moving up from the super featherweight division to take on the bigger, more powerful Campbell, and that can possibly be a problem for him. Guzman won’t likely try to stand and trade with Campbell like Nate’s last opponent did, Juan Diaz, because Guzman probably realizes that would be a recipe for defeat. Campbell is much more rugged and powerful than Guzman, and if the two were forced to go at it at close quarters for 12 rounds, Guzman would probably be taken out long before the final bell.
Is Manny Pacquiao Being Protected From Nate Campbell?
By Manuel Perez: When Manny Pacquiao (47-3-2, 36 KOs) was in the process of beating David Diaz last Saturday night to win his WBC lightweight title, a question that was somehow overlooked by the boxing world was why was Pacquiao fighting Diaz, considered to be the weakest of the lightweight champions, rather than Nate Campbell, the fighter considered to be the best by far in the division. The word circulating around the boxing community is that Campbell was considered too dangerous for Pacquiao, and that he would have beaten him.
Having seen Campbell fight on many occasions, I’d have to agree with that opinion. Campbell would be simply too strong for Pacquiao, and could counter him and break him down in the fight, much like Erik Morales did in his first fight with Pacquiao in March 2005.
Boxing News: Guzman-Campbell Verbal War
Nate Campbell: Joanie, Joanie, Joanie. You still don’t get it. Let me see if I can make this clear. YOU ARE NOT MY MANDATORY. Casamayor is. And if Casa don’t sign, you STILL might not be my mandatory. Unless Paco elevates you over Khan as my mandatory (which he hasn’t done yet, regardless of what you think you heard), you don’t matter at all. So enough of all your yapping..
Boxing News: Hatton-Lazcano, Mijares-Munoz, Guzman-Campbell
In stark contrast to the circulating stories of an illness during training camp, which turned out to be nothing more than a fleeting minor virus, IBO/Ring Light Welterweight World Champion Ricky Hatton extended an open invitation to the British press yesterday to witness a rigorous display of his healthful condition. There has been no denial from Team Hatton that Ricky picked up a virus for a short period, but he was so far advanced in his training that he was already preparing to cut back.
Campbell Decisions Diaz
By Eric Thomas: In a shocking upset, 36 year-old Nate Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KOs) had too much stamina for WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Diaz (33-1, 17 KOs), beating him by a decisive 12-round unanimous decision tonight at the Plaza de Toros, in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. The final judges’ scores were 116-111, 115-112 and 114-113, all for Campbell. The first card, though, seemed the most accurate of the bunch, for Campbell dominated the fight after the sixth round when Diaz faded badly after tiring out from his early fast start.
The timing of the fade for Diaz conveniently came about at the same time that Diaz was cut over his left eye, which perhaps gives him an excuse for his loss. However, Campbell appeared to just have better overall endurance than Diaz, and just plain out-hustled from the six though the twelfth as he landed both the sharper and more numerous shots during that time.