By Scott Gilfoid: Thanks to some clever match-making, Luke Campbell (17-1, 14 KOs) is now on the verge of getting a title shot against WBA World lightweight champion Jorge Linares (42-3, 27 KOs). The World Boxing Association has ordered the 31-year-old Linares to defend his title against the #1 Campbell. The two fighters have 30 days to negotiate a deal before it goes to a purse bid.
By Gav Duthie: This summer marks the 5 year anniversary of the London 2012 Olympic games with some fantastic stories for the heroes. Of the 10 successful male gold medalists we have 4 world champions with the 7 boxers who turned pro boasting a combined record of 88-4-1 (67). Some have gained super stardom, others are already pound for pound contenders and 3 never turned professional at all. Here follows the mixed fortune of the 10 male Olympic gold medalists at the 2012 games. Following articles will discuss the successful women followed by team GB and team US.
By Jim Dower: #2 WBC, #8 WBA Luke Campbell (17-1, 14 KOs) defeated former WBA World lightweight champion Darleys Perez (33-3-2, 21 KOs) by a 9th round injury stoppage on Saturday night in a WBA World lightweight title eliminator at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Perez injured his left arm in round 9 after attempting a left hook. The fight had to be stopped at that point.
By Allan Fox: Former knockout artist Mike Tyson is picking Anthony Joshua to beat Wladimir Klitschko by an early knockout tonight in their fight in London, England. Tyson says Joshua ‘s fighting style is similar fighter to a young former heavyweight champion George Foreman. Tyson sees the 27-year-old Joshua as a real “beast” and he’s looking forward to watching him fight the 41-year-old Klitschko tonight in their fight on HBO/Showtime Championship Boxing from Wembley Stadium in London, England. The Joshua-Klitschko fight will also be televised on Sky Box Office PPV in the UK.
By Scott Gilfoid: Anthony Joshua says his goal is to become a billionaire in the sport of boxing. The IBF heavyweight champion Joshua (18-0, 18 KOs) says his original goal when he first started out in the pro ranks was to be a millionaire. Now that he’s achieved that, he wants to go past what he sees from ordinary people to that of the billionaire status.
By Scott Gilfoid: WBC Silver lightweight champion Luke Campbell (16-1, 13 KOs) made easy work of little known 2nd tier fighter Jairo Lopez (21-7-, 14 KOs), stopping him in the 2nd round on Saturday night in a mismatch at the Ice Arena in Hull, UK. Campbell knocked down Lopez twice in the fight in dropping him once in the 1st and a final time in round 2.
By Scott Gilfoid: #4 WBC Luke Campbell (15-1, 12 KOs) has the style to do well against WBC lightweight champion Mikey Garcia (36-0, 30 KOs), according to British promoter Eddie Hearn. Campbell, 5’9”, wants to fight for a world title, but he’s now faced with the reality where Garcia could soon by holding the WBA and WBC lightweight titles, as he’s likely going to be fighting the winner of the March 25 fight between Anthony Crolla and WBA champion Jorge Linares.
If Campbell wants to fight for a world title, he’s going to need to likely go through Garcia or go in another dangerous direction against the 5’11” IBF champion Robert Easter Jr. That’s a bad match-up for Campbell.
By Scott Gilfoid: WBC Silver lightweight champion Luke Campbell (15-1, 12 KOs) retained his Silver strap with a 4th round knockout win over grizzled veteran Derry Mathews (38-11-2, 20 Kos) on Saturday night at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, UK. Campbell, 29, knocked Mathews down three times in the fight in dropping him once in round three and two more times in round four.
By Scott Gilfoid: Derry Mathews (38-10-2, 20 KOs) is really up against it tonight in facing A-side fighter Luke Campbell (14-1, 11 KOs) in lightweight action at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England.
Campbell is the World Boxing Council Silver lightweight champion, which means absolutely nothing, because it’s not a major title. However, the 29-year-old Campbell is the one that is being given a major push towards a world title. He’s the one with the cache in this fight, as he’s a 2012 Olympic gold medalist from the UK. As such, you can argue that Mathews will be starting the fight tonight six rounds in the hole.
By Scott Gilfoid: #6 WBC lightweight contender Luke Campbell (14-1, 11 KOs) weighed in at 134 ¼ pounds for his defense of his World Boxing Council Silver strap against former world title challenger Derry Mathews (38-10-2, 20 KOs) on Saturday night at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England.
The Campbell vs. Mathews fight is the chief support on the Tony Bellew vs. BJ Flores card. Campbell-Mathews may overshadow the main event. We’ll have to see, but I have a feeling we’re going to see more action in the Campbell vs. Mathews fight than we can ever hope to view in the Bellew-Flores fight.