Nate Campbell Gears Up for Junior Welterweight Contention

On May 2nd the eyes of the world were upon the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao did battle with junior welterweight supremacy at stake. A star studded crowd, peppered with hardcore and casual boxing fans alike took in Pacquiao’s spectacular performance, but what few people saw that night was a fast approaching, charismatic new threat to the 140 lb. scene. His name is Nate Campbell, and at 37 years young, he has no intentions of cooling off.
“What makes me special is I’m not showing any signs of slowing down, and I’ll be even stronger at 140 because I won’t have to keep the weight off”
Although age proved to be no burden for Campbell during his campaign in the lightweight division, weight did, and the scale emerged as the factor that would ultimately dethrone him in 2009. Campbell failed to make weight in his title defense with Ali Funeka in February, prompting the WBO and IBF to strip him of the lightweight title he captured one year earlier at age 36. Campbell’s next move would be to set up shop in the junior welterweight division, where he has yet to announce the details of his debut. Although the division is dripping with talent, Campbell is far from specific in terms of who he targets in the near future, but the overall goal could not be clearer.
“I just want to fight, and make my presence known in the division”
One way to make his presence known, would be to snatch a belt, and at the moment WBO champ Timothy Bradley makes a strong case as the most established fighter in the division. Bradley made junior welterweight history last month by unifying the titles when he beat Kendall Holt via unanimous decision. Although Manny Pacquiao made short work of the division’s previous kingpin, Ricky Hatton, it is unclear whether Pacquiao will continue to compete at 140, leading some to conclude that Bradley may be the most formidable match up for Campbell.
“I’ll fight any of these guys. I like Timothy (Bradley) as a person, but when it’s time to fight, that’s my job.”
Capturing world titles in two divisions is never an easy feet, especially after 35. Any fighter who has pulled off such an accomplishment will likely tell you that a firm, established relationship with their trainer is a crucial card to their hand. Campbell has nothing to worry about in that department, as long as world class trainer John David Jackson makes a home in his corner. Jackson led Campbell to the Promised Land once before, and while the plan is to create a carbon copy of their success at a new weight class, the tandem consider themselves two of the most avoided figures in their respective professions.
“I’ll be with him until the end of my career, he’s the best trainer in boxing… John’s the best trainer because nobody wants to fight his fighters. Everyone knows I’m one of the most overlooked and avoided fighters in boxing”
In a chapter of his career that is filled with uncertainty, one thing can be concluded; age and size will not be on Campbell’s side. However, another thing that boxing fans can be sure of is that Campbell won’t care. If the same Nate Campbell that stood toe to toe with the heavily favored Juan Diaz for a world title victory in 2008 shows up in the junior welterweight division, the world may have to take notice once again. Nate Campbell has tasted world title glory one time before, but whether he and John David Jackson will be able to trek one more time to the top of the mountain remains to be seen. Even at 37, questions have yet to be answered for Nate Campbell, but it would be a safe bet to say those answers are worth waiting for, because Nate Campbell is not backing down anytime soon, and what an unpredictable treat his career has been thus far.