With WBC lightweight champion David Diaz slated for a summer showdown with Manny Pacquiao, the other hot fight at 135 lbs. appears to be showdown between newly crowned WBO/WBA/IBF champion Nate Campbell and interim WBO champion Joel Casamayor.
Reportedly, when Casamayor beat Michael Katsidis last month, the WBO sanctioned the interim title fight with the condition that the winner be matched against Campbell on or before July 6. With both camps purportedly interested in making Campbell-Casamayor happen, the Puerto Rican-based sanctioning body has given the two groups 15 days to negotiate and possibly request a purse bid. Otherwise, a purse bid will be ordered shortly thereafter.
Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KOs) surprised many on March 8 when he dethroned unified champion Juan Diaz via split decision in Mexico. Diaz, who had just recently won unifiers over Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz, came into the fight versus Campbell undefeated in 35 fights. The 36-year-old Campbell fights out of Tampa, Florida.
Casamayor, also 36, has a record of 36-3-1, 22 KOs. He beat Katsidis in a thrilling bout which featured multiple knockdowns on March 22 to reestablish himself after a shaky showing, albeit a controversial split points win over Jose Armando Santa Cruz back in November at Madison Square Garden. The Cuban is a former WBA super featherweight and WBC lightweight world champion.
