TEARFUL LUKE: I DID MY DAD PROUD

LUKE CAMPBELL has revealed his father died two weeks before his WBA lightweight title defeat by Jorge Linares in California.

Campbell’s dad Bernard was diagnosed with cancer in 2014, prompting the 2012 Olympic gold medallist to take time away from boxing. He said: “I probably cried once a day. I had to try to shut feelings off. After the fight I had a good cry.

“If someone had found out I would have denied it. I didn’t want Linares’ camp thinking it was a weakness.

“I didn’t want them thinking I was hurt. The only thing that kept me going is that I know what my dad would have wanted for me. To fight and to win. I did my dad proud.”

Campbell (right) lost to Linares on a split decision on Saturday, recovering from a second-round knockdown. He said: “I shut a lot of mouths and I thought I actually won the fight.”