GARCIA’S BEEN THROWN INTO THE LION’S DEN
LUKE CAMPBELL believes Ryan Garcia’s promoters have “thrown him to the dogs” by putting the rising American star in with him.
The Hull lightweight (above) is set to face the unbeaten cocksure Californian in November at a yet-tobe-decided venue in the US.
The clash will be for the WBC interim belt, with the winner promised a shot at the world title next year.
But there has been some surprise that Garcia’s promoters Golden Boy have stuck their 22-year-old prospect in with the London 2012 Olympic gold medallist and former world-title challenger at this stage of his career.
Campbell said: “He has bitten off more than he can chew. His promotional team must think they’ve had enough of him and they’ve thrown him to the dogs. I was surprised they put him in with me.”
Garcia has had differences with the Oscar De La Hoya-led Golden Boy Promotions team in the past.
The American is certainly not shy and has become a big social-media star, which has increased his appeal. It has even seen the 20-0 fighter call out YouTube star Jake Paul for a fight in a video that went viral this week.
Campbell, whose last outing was a points defeat by superstar Vasyl
Lomachenko, is ready to show Garcia (knocking out Filipino Romero Duno, above) what it is like to share the ring with an experienced fighter.
He said: “I’m looking forward to this one. This is a big opportunity to show the world that I’m not playing games.
“All these are great at talking, they are playing games. This guy is just playing games. I’ll teach him a lesson. He’s going to be sorry for this one.”
Campbell, 32, is opening a boutique gym – Coolhand Fit24 – in his home city of Hull as he prepares for life after boxing. But the Shane McGuigan-trained boxer has no plans to hang up his gloves yet.
Campbell has lost two world-title chances – to Lomachenko and Jorge Linares – but is not feeling sorry for himself. “I’m not one of them who is bitter and thinks ‘I deserve it’ he said. “I just go in and put 100 per cent in and I know the best of me can beat anyone in the world.
“I’ll retire when I want. There are no miles on the clock and I’m still fresh, but when I’ve had enough it will be my decision.”