We just have to get better – Thompson
BOXING politics could determine who Luke Campbell faces in his second attempt to win a world title.
The 30-year-old from Hull earned a shot at the WBC lightweight title on Saturday night when he outpointed Frenchman Yvan Mendy by a unanimous verdict.
In theory, that should have made him the No 1 challenger to WBC champion Mikey Garcia.
But the American has expressed a desire to move up in weight to fight Errol Spence, the reigning IBF welterweight champion, and conqueror of Sheffield’s Kell Brook at Bramall Lane 16 months ago.
If Garcia does step up and therefore surrenders his belt, then Campbell’s next fight for a world title could come against Javier Fortuna of the Dominican Republic for the vacant WBC lightweight belt.
Either way, Campbell should not have to wait too long to learn who stands in his way with promoter Eddie Hearn set to force the issue at a WBC convention in Kiev next week.
Hearn said: “Mikey Garcia will not want to fight Luke, because he is after bigger fights. But Garcia is long overdue his mandatory defence.
“He will either have to face Luke, or vacate the title.”
Campbell lost his first world title fight to Venezuela’s Jorge Linares in Los Angeles last September, but Saturday’s victory over Mendy was his 19th win from 21 professional fights.
Tony Bellew is convinced he will defeat Oleksandr Usyk and become undisputed world cruiserweight champion.
Bellew challenges Ukraine’s Usyk, holder of four titles, on November 10 at Manchester Arena. The 35-year-old Liverpudlian said: “Everyone asks why. I was on my honeymoon watching Oleksandr beat up Murat Gassiev on a mobile phone. The fight stops, and then he makes the ultimate sin – he says my name. Soon as he said my name, I knew.” UNDER-FIRE Sheffield Steelers head coach Paul Thompson has vowed to turn his team’s poor start to the season around, but says he must first rebuild his players’ confidence.
Steelers crashed to their third defeat in four games on Sunday when Elite League champions Cardiff Devils triumphed 6-2 at Sheffield Arena. Deflated Thompson admitted afterwards that his team were a long way off the quality shown by their South Wales rivals.
Last week Thompson released ineffective twins Matt and Ryan Rupert with veteran forward Brendan Brooks brought in for the weekend to help replenish numbers. Thompson hopes to add further reinforcements although it will not be in time for tomorrow’s home encounter with Dundee Stars (7.30pm)
His roster is further depleted by injuries to forward Rob Dowd and defenceman Davey Phillips with no firm date for either player’s return.
“I hold my hands up, I’m not getting away from the fact that I’m the leader of this group and it is my job to put a winning product on the ice,” said Thompson.
“And it isn’t that right now and, regardless of our injuries and who we have got out, we just have to get better.
“We need to get back in the market and see what is out there, but I also need to build confidence.
“It’s alright building confidence, but players have also got to start doing the right thing and start listening to what they are being told.”