Luke Campbell Should Not Be Held Back After Victory over Tommy Coyle in Hull
Luke Campbell and Tommy Coyle both emerged with great credit after their fight in Hull, England, on Saturday night.
While Coyle—the underdog who had promised to bite back in the build-up—was lauded for his bravery in defeat, Campbell further enhanced his reputation with the biggest win of his career to date.
The gold medalist at the 2012 Olympics produced another demonstration of his boxing abilities at the KC Lightstream Stadium in Hull, stopping his old gym-mate in the 10th round to gain local bragging rights.
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That the bout lasted so long was down to the perseverance of Coyle (21-3, 10 KOs), not to mention his high pain threshold. His ability to absorb punishment meant he left the ring with plenty of plaudits.
However, what he had really wanted was a win over an opponent he had known since they both attended the St Paul's club in their youth.
Coyle and his trainer, Jamie Moore, had both talked before the bout about the timing being all wrong for Campbell, suggesting he was taking on too much too soon in his career.
As it turned out, Cool Hand Luke was prepared for anything his opponent could launch at him, which was often his head.
Coyle lunged forward with his chin tucked into his chest throughout the contest. His method was crude but clear—he wanted to get up close and drag his rival into a scrap, knowing he couldn't hope to out-box him from long range.
The plan of attack drew the ire of referee Victor Loughlin on several occasions, and Coyle was fortunate to avoid being deducted a point at times. It also failed to have the desired effect on Campbell, too.
Rather than get drawn in, Campbell just about coped with Coyle’s roughhousing tactics. He complained at times, but he found the best way to deal with his opponent's method was to launch counter measures.
The left hand to the body was a particularly productive shot. One such punch to the midsection saw Boom Boom crumple in a heap during the second round. Desperately sucking in air, Coyle did well to rise up in time to beat the count.
He was knocked down three more times in the 10th, but on each occasion, he picked himself up.
It needed Loughlin to step in and eventually save Coyle, who ended up slumped into a corner after coming under heavy punishment. His disappointment in defeat was obvious when he shed tears in the immediate aftermath.
He told Sky Sports (h/t Bad Left Hook): "I was confident I could upset the odds and even knock him out, but he's too smart. I'm a domestic fighter at best and that's it. He's a great fighter."
The question now is: How quickly should Campbell be moved along?
His 12th successive victory as a professional saw him secure the WBC international title, as well as put him next in line for a shot at the reigning WBC champion, Jorge Linares.
The Venezuelan, now based in the Far East, was last seen defeating another Englishman, Kevin Mitchell. He would be a huge risk at this stage for Campbell, who has only taken on seven fighters boasting winning records.
However, promoter Eddie Hearn doesn’t seem keen to hold one of his prized assets back, per Sky Sports:
"In two years I want him fighting for a world title here. In the meantime, it's a red-hot division domestically.
Kevin Mitchell is here, Anthony Crolla is here and there's Terry Flanagan, Derry Mathews and Ricky Burns.
He's going to be a world champion. It's a wonderful time for British boxing and in the lightweight division and this kid is going to be right in the mix.
"
Campbell isn’t quite a kid, as Hearn called him. Despite his boyish looks, he will turn 28 next month.
He may yet want to win a British title. Scott Cardle claimed the vacant Lonsdale belt with a victory over Craig Evans in May, and he is due to make a first defence on September 5 in Leeds, England.
Becoming national champion is seen as the first step towards bigger and better things, normally followed by tilts at European and Commonwealth glory before a world-title shot.
Still, Campbell should not put the brakes on his career just to focus on domestic matters.
There is no need for him to follow the traditional path to the top—he has already been a pro for two years and has an Olympic medal in his possession. Getting hold of the British strap should not be a major priority.
Vasyl Lomachenko won two Olympic golds in his amateur career, then fought for a world title in just his second fight in the paid ranks.
Although the Ukrainian lost on that occasion in controversial fashion to Orlando Salido, he bounced right back to beat Gary Russell Jr. in his next outing, in the process claiming the vacant WBO featherweight strap.
While comparing Campbell to Lomachenko may be a little unfair on the Englishman, there are some similarities: Both were outstanding amateurs for their country, and both were southpaws who had to prove their skill set would translate smoothly to the pro game.
If Hearn wants to seriously test Campbell, he should look no further than another fighter in his Matchroom stable.
Ricky Burns (38-5-1, 12 KOs) fought on the undercard in Hull, recording a fifth-round stoppage over Ghanaian Prince Ofotsu.
The Scotsman is a former lightweight world champion who has the stomach for a scrap, as shown when he fought the majority of his bout against Raymundo Beltran in 2013 with a broken jaw, per BoxRec.
Burns would be a considerable step up in class for Campbell, but his experience and lack of power—he has a 27 percent knockout percentage—would make him the perfect foe.
As Gareth A. Davies noted in his fight report for the Telegraph: “Campbell, a world-class amateur, showed he is developing into a world-class professional.”
Campbell is at the stage now where he needs to be pushed rather than protected. He is the pride for Hull after beating Coyle, but his sights are set on dominating much further afield.
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