BRING THEM ALL ON
Luke Campbell is on a mission, and is happy to fight anyone from Vasyl Lomachenko to Mikey Garcia, writes John Dennen
LUKE CAMPBELL wants revenge. The Olympic gold medallist has lost twice in his professional career, two 12-round points defeats, one to Frenchman Yvan Mendy
and one failed world title challenge against WBA lightweight boss Jorge Linares. Campbell wants to rectify those results and rematch both fighters.
“For me it’s cleaning the record now. I want to clean the record. Beat them both and then really I’m back to undefeated because I’ve rewritten them losses, I’ve written them off,” Campbell told Boxing News. “I’d love a Linares rematch. I think I’ll win the fight comfortably a second time round. I thought I just nicked the first fight, it was close, they give it to him. But come second time round I think I win the fight comfortable. He might have other plans. I want him and Mendy.”
Campbell lost a split decision to Linares in Inglewood in September. His team had tried to get a second fight with the Venezuelan earlier this year. “I don’t think he wants to fight a rematch with me. We’ve already pushed for it before his last fight,” Luke said. “I’d love the opportunity to have a rematch with him and beat him, like I know I can.”
Linares is now expected to clash with Vasyl Lomachenko in New York on May 12. However, with Campbell and old rival Mendy ranked one and two respectively in the WBC ratings, that is an appealing fight that could be for a world title.
Mendy outhustled Campbell at the O2 in a 2015 upset. Luke subsequently linked up with Cuban trainer Jorge Rubio and picked up high level experience. He insists he is a more advanced professional now. “I’m a completely different fighter from then, a different person all round,” Campbell said. “And even back then, even though I’m a different fighter from what I was then, I wasn’t the fighter I was even when I got in the ring that night. I shouldn’t have got in the ring. And that was a tough lesson learned for me. I should have pulled out a few days before the fight. It’s my fault, my doing. I’m not taking anything away from Mendy. He’s a very good, tough fighter, a very avoided fighter. He’s always on the road.” And Luke notes, “Actions will speak a lot louder than words.”
If they were to fight for the WBC 135lbs belt, current holder Mikey Garcia will have to vacate. The American has recently fought at super-lightweight, beating Sergey Lipinets, to become a four-weight world champion.
“If he’s going to vacate then vacate,” the Englishman said of Garcia. “If you’re not then come back down and fight.”
“There’s talk of him fighting at welterweight. He’s called out [Keith] Thurman and other fighters like that so he could move up.”
If Garcia does move back down though, Luke would gladly box him for the world title.
“He’s a world class fighter. He’s in the top three pound-for-pound list I think at the minute so he’s a class fighter. He can certainly punch, put it that way. He can do it all,” Campbell said.
The Hull fighter however maintains he won’t shirk a challenge. “We’re in boxing to face the best and try to be the best. It’s certainly my mission. My mission is to be the best,” he continued.
The best available at lightweight will quite likely be Lomachenko when he moves up from super-feather. Campbell and Lomachenko both won gold at the 2012 Olympics (back then Lomachenko was in the weight class above) and both have competed the same amateur tournaments innumerable times.
“Everybody’s only just getting to know Lomachenko. I’ve known him for 15 years, since 2003, when I first seen him. So I know how good he is.
“He’s in the top two pound-for-pound list [but] this is why we’re in boxing.
“It’s the thought of being in exciting fights like this that really get me up and get me excited and focused. It’s a fantastic challenge for sure. I’m confident in myself and I know what I’m capable of. I know my abilities. I’ll fight anyone. I am confident against Lomachenko. I mean he’s one of my favourite fighters, definitely, but I’m still confident.”
He has already been linked to a fight with Lomachenko. There are few apparent weaknesses in the Ukrainian’s mastery but Campbell would approach Vasyl, a two-weight Olympic gold medallist and already a two-weight world champion, just as he did the Linares fight.
“You’d have to wait and see. He can do everything can’t he? I think it’s just about reacting to whatever’s in front of you and doing what you do best. Don’t adapt. Don’t change things to try to do what they do, you need to go in there and try and do what you do best. React to what’s in front of you,” Campbell said.
He is out training in America, preparing for a fight possibly on May 12 or else later that month. Another world title shot could be coming very soon.
“I believe I’ve still got a lot more to prove and I believe you’ve still got a lot more to see out of me,” he promises. “I’m focused. I’m on a mission.”