Campbell ready for war with Coyle in Rumble on the Humber
Hull fighters Luke Campbell MBE and Tommy Coyle will finally come face-to-face in the ring in Rumble on the Humber, a lightweight showdown which is set to divide the city at the KC Lightstream Stadium.
Britain’s 2012 Olympic Gold medallist Campbell will enter the ring on home turf as the overwhelming favourite, and is 5/2 with Coral to secure a points victory over his former youth sparring partner.
Local pride will truly be at stake, as Coyle looks to end his counterpart’s dominant professional career (15/2 to win), with the talented southpaw having won all 11 of his fights since a triumphant Olympic games campaign.
Although, 27-year-old ‘Cool Hand’ is ready to go to war with his fellow Hull fighter, and believes Coyle isn’t up to the challenge, despite vowing to hand him a maiden career defeat in front their home fans.
“Tommy says he loves a war but in his last few fights he’s boxed on the back foot,” stated Campbell.
“If you are doing that, you are not going in for a war, you are going in to box. But we’ll see on the night, I’ve prepared for anything that he can bring and I am ready. I’ll go in there and do what I do best. I know I can hurt him and we’ll see if he wants a war when I do.
“People have wanted me to step-up – this is a world title eliminator. Tommy’s fight with Daniel Brizuela was a 50-50 fight and I don’t believe he’s any better than Brizuela – different style, but that’s about it.
“I should be in with Tommy or better, and once I deal with Tommy in good style then we’ll step up again against the next opponent and prove myself again.”
Campbell admitted he had no ill-feelings towards his counterpart, despite a heated exchange of words in the build-up to their potentially enthralling showdown on Humberside, though the successful Olympian declared he will show his nasty side nevertheless.
“I don’t dislike Tommy, he’s an obstacle in the way to reach my goals – that’s it. When all the talking is done and it’s just me and him in the ring, that’s it, not talking, boxing,” continued Campbell.
“There’s a nasty streak in me, definitely. People can take me however they want to take me, but as soon as the bell goes then I want to hurt the guy in front of me.”
In front of a sell-out crowd on their home patch, live on Sky Sports 1 from 8pm on Saturday night, Coyle’s trainer Jamie Moore believes a lack of experience for Campbell will ultimately haunt him in his 12th professional match-up.
“It’s been tough finding weaknesses in Campbell as he hasn’t got that many, but four-round fights are majorly different to 12-round fights,” he stated.
“We started this camp four months ago and Tommy has cut no corners and is in phenomenal shape.
“He’s applied himself as I’ve asked him to and I honestly believe he can pull it off on Saturday. We have a specific game plan that Tommy has been following to a tee and he has to make sure he follows it through in the ring.”
Campbell is 7/2 to stop his former friend early in rounds 1-3, while Coyle is 12/1 to triumph by knock-out. The Hull duo will be fighting in a WBC title eliminator, meaning an encounter with world champion Jorge Linares could be the possible prize for the victor, high stakes which only add to tensions surrounding such an anticipated contest.
