BRITISH CHALLENGER AND former Olympic gold medallist Luke Campbell says he sparred three opponents at a time in an attempt to prepare himself for his lightweight world-title fight with Ukrainian pound-for-pound star Vasyl Lomachenko.
The Hull native [20-2, 16KOs] faces Lomachenko [13-1, 10KOs], himself a two-time Olympic champion, live on Sky Sports Box Office from the O2 Arena in London this Saturday, where the WBA, WBO and the vacant WBC titles will be on the line.
The Eastern European has stopped six of his last seven opponents, causing four of them to forfeit on their stools either through the battering dished out or sheer humiliation, but the Shane McGuigan-trained Campbell is doing his best to ensure he’s not overwhelmed by Loma’s fleet footwork and clever angles this weekend.
Speaking to GQ UK, Campbell said: “The only thing that I have been doing that is very different is sparring three people at once. So three guys in the ring against me.
“It was good, but obviously it is really difficult at first. You get punches coming at you from all angles and from unexpected areas, but it certainly makes you sharp.”
The Briton, who fell just short against Jorge Linares in his only world-title shot to date (Linares would later become one of Lomachenko’s stoppage victims), is more than familiar with Lomachenko given they used to frequent the same major international tournaments before they each turned professional following the London Olympics in 2012.
Campbell beat Ireland’s John Joe Nevin to take gold in his native land but never faced Lomachenko as an amateur due to their operating in different weight classes.
However, he’s not overawed by the significant task facing him in the professional ring when both he and ‘Hi-Tech’ return to the English capital in four days’ time.
“To be honest, I have been watching him for years and we had been to loads of the same amateur events,” Campbell said. “I knew who he was and I’ve watched some of his fights, but I didn’t concentrate on him because he wasn’t fighting in my weight division and I didn’t need to.
“I was waiting to see if the WBC was going to announce who was going to be in the rankings for their vacant title, so I didn’t know who I was going to fight. Then when they put Lomachenko in there I knew that he was the man I’d have to beat to become a world champion.
“The truth is I didn’t care who I was fighting. All I want is to be a world champion and I will take on anyone to achieve that.”
Mcdaids performance should be lauded the same way as Clifford’s and Walsh’s. Actually think mcdaid should get player of the year.
@Barry Newell: Mcdaid was unbelievable yesterday, MOTM for me.
@Barry Newell: Yes indeed, I’ve watched McDaid since the CShip started, He was excellent in every match . Scored Four points yesterday from Midfield- he is a powerhouse . Just a pity they have a habit of giving Man of the Match to the winning side. There was a case for JOINT Man of the Match there yesterday , — Walsh gave an exhibition .
I think everyone was expecting Kerry to annihilate Galway yesterday BUT Galway were brilliant. They might have been second best but that only happened when things began to unravel near the end. They have the tools and talent and have obviously bonded well that it is now only a matter of working on the finer points of the game before they start collecting several Sam’s over the coming years. As a Dub, I cannot help but admire the resilience of that Kerry team and even though they beat Galway and Dublin, in the game of the year, given their ‘resources’, I expected them to be more convincing against both Congratulations to both Kerry and Galway on a brilliant game and the real winners in the future will be the fans. I hope the Ulster teams will learn from these displays, get rid of ‘ possession football’ and incorporate the hidden skills they obviously have.
@Barrycelona: an Ulster team won Sam just 11 months ago or did that slip your mind
@Barrycelona: it might have Been because I was hungover but I thought the game was crap. Virtually no atmosphere for long periods and possession seemed to be what we were watching for the most part. Soft fouls as well are terrible to watch. I hate to back up hurling snobs but it’s such a better game to watch now.
Walsh was clear MOTM match IMO – even better than brilliant Clifford
Mayo next year me thinks?
Barrycelona Kerry had 14 men in their own half for much of the game it appears that they have adopted the Ulster way. One very bad Refereeing decision yesterday at a vital time in the game.
@Kevin Byrne: 2 very bad decisions in quick succession. Both teams scored from the frees so evened out.
A dour affair, we were all spoiled by the silky skills of the Dublin six-in-a-row team. Maybe next year.
@Jim O’Sullivan: are ya catching much lately Jim. Great time for fishing.
Rule is 4 steps – 7 or 8 by Walsh for one great point that should have been disallowed