THE career-defining, title fights are still hopefully to come for Nick Campbell but he is getting in plenty of useful practice in the meantime.
The Glaswegian returns to the ring this weekend after a 10-month absence to take on Steve Robinson in what Campbell describes as a “50:50” heavyweight clash at the Bournemouth International Centre, broadcast live on Sky Sports.
This is just a sixth professional fight for the former rugby professional and he has prepared for it with sparring of the highest calibre.
Robinson (5-1) will provide another test of Campbell’s credentials but the Scottish champion ought to have nothing to fear having tuned up with sessions with elite heavyweights in the shape of Joseph Parker, Martin Bakole and Tyson Fury, the latter of whom invited Campbell into his camp for a week’s training ahead of his own recent contest with Derek Chisora. For someone who only turned professional less than two years ago, that experience was invaluable.
“I got the opportunity to train with Tyson at his gym in Morecambe,” Campbell (5-0) revealed. “That was unbelievable what I picked up there. I learned more in a week there than an entire year in the gym.
“You can understand after spending time with Tyson why he’s the number one heavyweight on the planet. His mindset and his mentality towards his training and everything else he does is second to none.
“He was a really nice guy who took the time to chat about different things. As soon as he steps through the ropes he’s a different animal! But when we went for a run or were doing other bits and pieces of other work he was always trying to impart as much knowledge on to you as he could.
“He’s a real scholar of the game, too. There won’t be too many people who are more knowledgeable about the sport of boxing. It was just an unbelievable overall experience for me in my development.”
Campbell, nicknamed the Glasgow Warrior as a nod to his old rugby club, is based in Jersey now but took the chance recently to travel home for a mixture of business and pleasure.
As well as catching up with family and friends, he stepped into the ring for some sparring with Bakole, the Greengairs-based heavyweight from the Congo who is on the cusp of challenging for a heavyweight world title.
“Martin is ranked number one in the WBA and in the top 10 with all the other governing bodies,” Campbell explained. “After this year the WBA are going to change their rankings and Martin is going to be the mandatory for a world title shot in the next few months.
“So he’s a top level fighter and you can’t really buy sparring like that. It’s good to be in with guys like that and learning from them. And the fact he lives in Scotland meant I could come back and see my family as well.”
Bakole’s trainer, Billy Nelson, is a fanatical Rangers supporter, something he has also tried to instil in his fighter. Campbell, a Celtic fan, reckons he might have helped win Bakole over to his side of the divide.
“Big Martin actually told me he started supporting Celtic recently after we beat Rangers,” laughs Campbell. “Billy wasn’t too happy about that! But it was all good banter. It was just great to spend time with the two of them.”
Campbell’s last fight was a memorable one as he became Scotland’s first heavyweight champion for 71 years following a slug-fest with Jay McFarlane on the undercard of Josh Taylor’s world title defence against Jack Catterall at the Hydro.
Campbell is proud to have the belt but, with so few Scottish heavyweights around, doesn’t expect to defend it any time soon.
“Jay was as tough as they come. He lets himself down with some aspects of his lifestyle but he’s a warrior who goes out on his shield. He gained my respect that night but I got the job done and came away with the Scottish championship. That was a great night and a good experience but it’s all in the past now. That box has been ticked and we move on.”
A hand injury has prevented Campbell from fighting since that contest in February but there is little panic about lost time, the 32 year-old instead focusing everything on trying to defeat Robinson.
“I’ve been training for a long time now and out of the ring for longer than I would have liked,” he admits. “But I had plenty of injuries during my rugby days so I know how to handle that side of things. I’ve now got this massive 50:50 clash. We’re similarly matched but it’s an opportunity that I’m ready to take with both hands. And then we’ll see what next year holds for me.”
