In the main event at the KC Lightstream Stadium, Hull, England, Campbell vs Coyle proved to be a crowd-friendly, back-and-forth Lightweight clash. Campbell was in the hardest fight of his professional career, and had to work hard en route to scoring a 9th round TKO.
Coyle fancied his chances of bringing the upset from round 1, and this warrior deserves a lot of credit for fighting his heart out.
The fight looked to be over in just the 2nd round when Coyle was dropped from a body shot. But Coyle, being the stubborn do-or-die fighter he is, got back up, regrouped, and went back to work. Coyle had his moments in the fight, and did all he could to rough-up Campbell and break his rhythm.
But Campbell showed he really is on another level, and quite likely, a world beater. Campbell was strong, composed, picking his shots perfectly, always finding holes in Coyle’s defense. Head or body, this guy found ’em.
And it was in the 10th round that Campbell found another fight-changing shot. One that would mark the beginning of the end for his brave foe: another body shot. Coyle of course regained his feet, but was drilled into the canvas following a barrage of full-blooded blows from Campbell.
Coyle climbed off the deck, but was sent back another twice more, eventually causing the referee to call it a night. The crowd applauded both men post-fight, and quite rightly so. Campbell now extends his record to 12-0, 10 knockouts, while Coyle falls to 21-3, 10 knockouts.
Don’t miss our Whyte vs Costa, Burns vs Ofotsu and Rose vs Jones undercard reports.
Campbell vs Coyle Round by Round
Round 1: Size difference is very evident as action gets underway. Coyle looking a bit rugged, Campbell the more composed. Fighters getting tied up. Campbell missed with one-two. Campbell looking to keep this guy at a distance. Lands a right-hand. Coyle rushes in, gets tied up. Not many landing shots, but Campbell nicks it. Campbell, 10-9
Round 2: Campbell makes Coyle pay as he rushes in. Campbell all about timing. Puts down Coyle with body shot. Gets back up, rushes and fires at Campbell. Coyle chasing down his man, standing his ground. Quality differential can’t be mistaken between these two. Coyle chopping away still. Credit to the guy. Campbell, 10-8 (20-17)
Round 3: Campbell goes on assault, finding hurtful, accurate shots. Classy stuff from the Olympian. Coyle in trouble. Campbell boxing well on outside, Coyle charges in again. Campbell unloads heavy shots on rope-bound Coyle. Coyle lands to body, putting in a good showing here. Coyle misses with counter right-hand. Coyle out of his depth as far as boxing is concerned, looking to spoil Campbell’s work. Campbell, 10-9 (30-26)
Round 4: Campbell landing clean, accurate shots. Looking for counters, refusing to be thrown off his game. Campbell catches Coyle on ropes, unloads, Coyle ties him up. Body shot from Campbell. Campbell is punishing his man, finding holes everywhere. Body shot from Campbell. Coyle bites down and fights on. Campbell, 10-9 (40-35)
Round 5: Campbell uppercut. Coyle going in ‘headfirst’ a little too much here. Just bull-rushing Campbell now. Gets a warning from referee. Campbell straight-left. Coyle still wants this. Gets tagged on way in. Coyle goes to the body. Coyle jab. Gets caught again. Coyle is losing on the cards, but making Campbell work for it. Campbell, 10-9 (50-44)
Round 6: Campbell almost drops Coyle with body shot, keeps his footing. Campbell unloading on rope-bound Coyle. Both men trading. Coyle chopping away. Both men trading again. Coyle courageous, for that, you can’t fault him. Campbell back to the body – the dander shot. They trade again. One-two from Campbell. Right-hand from Coyle. Campbell knows he’s in a fight, make no question. Campbell, 10-9 (60-53)
Round 7: Coyle smothering Campbell, looking to rough-house Campbell. Coyle chasing Campbell around the ring. Campbell answering on the inside, coping well under pressure. Center-ring now. Coyle to the body. And again. Campbell feels it. Both men throw leather. Coyle digging deep, giving it everything here. Coyle, 10-9 (69-63)
Round 8: Campbell back to boxing his man. Straight shots. Coyle charges in, gets tied up. Coyle answering everything, landing or not. Coyle jab. Counters Coyle on way in. Coyle looking to take away the distance. Campbell to the body. Campbell lands two thudding shots – Coyle says ‘bring it on!’. Coyle tiring now, but still hungry. A pitbull in the ring. Campbell, 10-9 (79-72)
Round 9: Campbell one-two. Boxing clever. Coyle still coming forward. Coyle jab. Coyle tiring, for sure. Both men trade. Coyle failing to find the target, Campbell controlling the distance, landing cleanly. Coyle getting caught. Campbell shakes Coyle in closing seconds, but the bell saves him. Campbell, 10-9 (89-81)
Round 10: Coyle caught by another body shot, but gets back up. Campbell goes straight to him, decks him again in the corner. Coyle back up. Coyle goes down again, gets up and holds on. Campbell drills him to canvas again and referee jumps in. Good stoppage.
Result: Campbell wins via 10th round TKO
Boxing Base Scorecard: 89-81, Campbell
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