You wouldn’t be wrong to place Luke Campbell among Britain’s top Lightweights. The Olympian showed his mettle and elite skills by taking out durable Tommy Coyle in 10 rounds, but Campbell isn’t at the top of the pile just yet. Boxing Base explores Britain’s 135 pound scene which is currently brimming with talent. The question to consider: how would Campbell (12-0, 10 KO) fair against them?
Note: ‘Interim’ world title experience is not included in stats.
Luke Campbell vs Britain’s Best Lightweights
1. Kevin Mitchell
Record: 39-3, 29 KO
Age: 30
World title experience: Ricky Burns (lost, TKO 4), Jorge Linares (lost, TKO 10)
Notable victories: Daniel Estrada (TKO 8), Ghislain Maduma (TKO 11), Marco Antonio Lopez (TKO 6), John Murray (TKO 8), Breidis Prescott (UD 12)
Why the fuss? Mitchell (right) is arguably Britain’s top Lightweight. His refined tool set coupled with eye-catching power make him a dangerous foe for any 135-pounder. His dreams of capturing that elusive world title may have been crushed by Jorge Linares in July, but Mitchell’s transcending performance proved he belongs with the division’s top dogs.
Chances against Luke Campbell: Right now, the Romford-born fighter has a good chance of beating Campbell. But, with every victory Campbell clocks up, Mitchell’s chances significantly weaken. (A Campbell vs Mitchell dust-up would be huuuuugggggeee!) Our prediction: Campbell or Mitchell via close decision following a venomous 12 round chess match.
2. Anthony Crolla
Record: 29-4-3, 11 KO
Age: 28
World Title Experience: Darleys Perez (Majority Draw 12)
Notable Victories: Darleys Perez (Majority Draw 12), John Murray (TKO 10), Gavin Rees (Majority Decision 12), Derry Matthews (Split Draw), Willie Limond (UD 12)
Why the fuss? Anthony Crolla may not boast the prettiest record, but don’t let those sporadic defeats and draws fool you. Crolla is a savvy boxer capable of outworking and hurting his opponents with a single blow. He also possesses one of the division’s best jabs.
Despite many career setbacks such as a 6th round knockout to Derry Matthews, Crolla has bounced back every time. Along the way he has knocked out fellow Mancunian John Murray in 10 rounds, and fought to a Draw (the man was robbed!) against WBA champ Darleys Perez in July.
Chances Against Luke Campbell: Crolla would be able to mix it up with Campbell, especially given his spearing jab that often allows him to control a fight’s tempo. But you have to wonder how long it would take before that weapon became a weakness against a counter-puncher like Campbell. Campbell may not be quite ready for a fighter like Mitchell (above), but he could likely decrypt and outpoint/even stop this savvy Mancunian.
3. Terry Flanagan
Record: 28-0, 11 KO
Age: 26
World Title Experience: Jose Zepeda (won, RTD 2) – WBO Lightweight title
Notable Victories: Jose Zepeda (RTD 2), Stephen Ormond (DQ 10), Martin Gethin (RTD 7), Nate Campbell (RTD 4), Gary Sykes (SD 3 – Prizefighter Tournament)
Why the fuss? The Mancunian is one of the division’s finest boxers. He may have captured his first world title under unsatisfactory circumstances, but he demonstrated the best of what he has to offer in that short-lived bout: power and accuracy.
We don’t know what would’ve happened if Zepeda’s shoulder hadn’t ‘popped out’, but we do know Flanagan is an elite fighter – certainly on the domestic/European scene. Flanagan beat Derry Matthews and Gary Sykes to win 2012’s Prizefighter Tournament, and Retired a big name in Nate Campbell later in 2013.
Chances against Luke Campbell: Mitchell’s chances may look slightly greater, but Flanagan isn’t far behind. Like Mitchell, the Mancunian doesn’t make many mistakes, and would likely bring out the best in Campbell. If this fight were to happen now, it wouldn’t be absurd to see Flanagan going the distance and losing a close decision – or even winning. But, as with Mitchell and Crolla, Flanagan’s chances will drastically decrease with every victory Campbell clocks up.
4. Ricky Burns
Record: 38-5-1, 12 KO
Age: 32
World Title Experience: Two-weight champion; WBO Junior Lightweight (3 successful defenses), WBO Lightweight (3 successful defenses)
Notable Victories: Jose A Gonzalez (RTD 9), Kevin Mitchell (TKO 4), Paulus Moses (UD 12), Michael Katsidis (UD 12), Roman Martinez (UD 12)
Why the fuss? Burns (right) may no longer be the force he used to be following a string of losses starting with Terence Crawford in 2014, but he’s still one of Britain’s top Lightweights. Burns is a two-weight world champion, who in addition to defeating fellow domestic talents like Kevin Mitchell (TKO 4), has made six successful title defenses at 130 and 135. Burns is no longer considered a major threat at world level, but this tough, durable Scotsman is far from done in the sport.
Chances against Luke Campbell: To bag a win, Burns would have to box his socks off. But there’s no getting past the fact that Burns’ performances against top opposition lately (Dejan Zlaticanin, Omar Figueroa) have failed to instill much confidence in critics. There’s also speculation that Burns hasn’t been the same since Raymundo Beltran broke his jaw in 2013.
Whatever the reason, it’s unlikely Burns could go too many rounds with a rangy, cunning fighter like Campbell. Burn’s experience would allow him to go beyond 6 rounds, but he would be stopped for the first time in his career before the final bell rings.
5. Derry Matthews
Record: 38-9-2, 20 KO
Age: 31
World Title Experience: None
Notable Victories: Tony Luis (UD 12), Martin Gethin (SD 12), Tommy Coyle (TKO 10), Anthony Crolla (TKO 6), Stephen Foster (UD 12)
Why the fuss? Matthews will never please boxing purists or be considered a true talent; he’s a somewhat crude fighter who’s been knocked out seven times in his pro career. Needless to say, Matthews knows all about comebacks. But, it’s his ability to keep coming back and upsetting the odds that can make him a nightmare opponent.
More specifically, it’s his raw power that makes him lethal; Tommy Coyle boxed his heart out in 2013, but was knocked out courtesy of a single Matthews left-hook. Need we say more?
Chances against Luke Campbell: The Liverpudlian is one hell of a gutsy fighter, but unfortunately there’s little he could do to compete. On any level. Unless Matthews could land a concussive punch out of nowhere, he would likely be boxed into oblivion by Campbell, and eventually stopped inside 6 brutal rounds. It wouldn’t be pretty.
Now it’s time to give us your opinions on the domestic rivals of Luke Campbell. Would any of these fighters ask questions of the Olympic Gold Medalist – or even capture victory? Knowing Matchroom Boxing‘s habit of making huge British fights happen, we can all expect to see one of the above clashes unfolding in 2015/early 2016.
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