Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MCGUIGAN Campbell’s set to leave Ryan cryin’
LUKE CAMPBELL has had to do it the hard way. Being mandated to fight Ryan Garcia for the interim WBC lightweight title is just the latest example.
Alongside Teofimo Lopez and champion Devin Haney, Garcia is another incredible talent in a red-hot division already topped by the peerless Vasyl Lomachenko.
Garcia (above left, knocking out Romero Duno) is precocious and desperate to make his mark.
He has lots of natural ability and gets out of the blocks like lightening.
He’s also a handsome kid, second generation Mexican with a huge following on the west coast of America.
“Bring it on” he tweeted when the fight was announced. “I finally get to fight a southpaw”.
He might not be so keen once the first bell rings. Campbell (above right) is a late developer. Always ready, always in great condition.
This is a great fight for him. It’s not made yet but if it all comes together, it is a fantastic opportunity for him to put himself on the map in America.
Campbell turned over comparatively late after realising his Olympic dream with bantamweight gold in 2012.
He fought for his first world title against Jorge Linares two weeks after the death of his father. His next crack was against Lomachenko, arguably the finest exponent of the boxing art in a generation. He took Linares to the wire and landed more shots on Lomachenko than any before.
Campbell was due to meet Javier Fortuna for the interim title and the right to face champion Haney.
Typically, Fortuna pulled out to fight Linares for the WBC Diamond belt, leaving Campbell to adjust again.
So be it. He has the experience and loves fighting tall guys.
Ultimately Haney is the target. I’m not sure how much Haney fancies it after watching from ringside when Campbell whacked Adrian Yung in Philadelphia last year. He was sat with his father, who had plenty to say before the fight and not a peep after it. Luke leaned over the ropes and winked at them in victory.
At 32, Campbell has a lot of fight left in him and a degree of frustration with the fragmented title situation at the WBC.
He is a world champion-in-waiting and ready to unload on somebody. Hopefully Garcia will be the one to feel the heat.
FIFTY years ago today a Great Britain team brimming with confidence and swagger clinched the Ashes in such style they were applauded from a packed Sydney Cricket Ground.
Little did they know that half a century later they would remain the last Lions to triumph over Australia in a three-match contest.
Thirteen series, five whitewashes and a cumulative score of 31-8 in the Aussies’ favour later, the wait goes on, extended by the cancellation of this autumn’s planned return.
It meant July 4 1970 has become an iconic date for British rugby league and one that will never be forgotten by any of those involved.
The Lions lost just one of 24 matches over three months with a team including legends such as
Malcolm Reilly,