I had the pleasure of speaking with former world champion, Nate Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KOs). He is currently in training for his May 15th bout with Victor Ortiz (26-2-1, 21 KOs).
8CN: Hi Nate.
NC: How you doing, Lorne?
8CN: I’m doing good. How are you?
NC: I’m great.
8CN: Thanks for taking the time to talk with me.
NC: Oh, thank you for having me.
8CN: Ok. Big fight coming up with Victor Ortiz. How’s training camp?
NC: Training camp is great. I’m in really great shape. Actually, I’m pretty close to weight.
8CN: Ortiz is a good fighter with kind of a stiff, awkward style. Tell us what you know about him.
NC: That’s what I know. He’s awkward and he’s a good fighter. He is what he is. I’m gonna do what I do and he’s gotta be able to deal with it.
8CN: You had a very controversial decision overturned in your bout with Timothy Bradley. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
NC: You know, I always have a bad taste in my mouth about that fight. I told them it was a headbutt and the referee saw it was a butt. I told him right after it happened that it was a butt. But that guy had already made his mind up that I was the bad guy and Tim was the good guy so it didn’t make any difference.
(A TKO victory originally went to Bradley because the referee ruled that a cut over Campbell’s eye was caused by a punch. It was later overturned and ruled a NC because the cut was actually caused by a headbutt.)
8CN: I know you have a fight lined up, and Bradley has a fight lined up, but are there any plans for a rematch?
NC: Ah, you know, I want it but he’s talking the foolishness.
8CN: So you don’t think a rematch will ever happen?
NC: I don’t know. I hope it does.
8CN: Aren’t you training some guys?
NC: I manage guys. I do a little bit of training, but I manage mostly.
8CN: Do you have any up and coming prospects that you’d like to talk about?
NC: Yeah. Cordaro Simpkins. He’s 4 and 0. I have a young man by the name of Antton Slaughter. He turns pro in July. I have the Willis brothers, Marcus and Quinton from Fort Myers. And I have a kid named Kenneth Moody. I have 5 kids. I’m basically just pushing these kids to the next level.
8CN: How did you get into boxing?
NC: I started as a kid, but I never competed until I was 25 years old. My first amateur fight, I was 25.
8CN: You didn’t have many amateur bouts, but you’ve certainly done well for yourself.
NC: Well thank you. I’m blessed of God.
8CN: What boxers inspire you?
NC: Anything I’ve ever seen of Ray Robinson made me want to be an aggressive guy. I love Ricardo Lopez. You know I love Roy Jones. He’s a Florida boy. I love Bernard Hopkins. That’s when I couldn’t stand to watch them fight. Umm… a lot of guys… Marvin Hagler. I just grew up watching the greats.
8CN: Floyd Mayweather or Shane Mosley? Who are you picking?
NC: Ah, I’m not picking, but I’m hoping Shane can pull it out. We’re signed for the same promotion company. You know I’m gonna vote for my promotion company.
8CN: I think Shane has a shot at it.
NC: Yes he does. He has everything he needs.
8CN: Ok, Nate. Is there anything that you’d like to say to your fans?
NC: I just want to thank everybody for supporting me, man. I feel honored and blessed that I still have people who like what I do and love me for who I am. I just want to stay before the face of God. That’s my most important thing right now.
8CN: When somebody who has a high profile like you speaks up for their Lord and Savior, that’s awesome.
NC: I wasn’t always this way, you know what I’m saying? Something happened in my life that really made me realize that I needed God more than I needed anything else in this world. No amount of money, or nothing could change that I needed God.
8CN: Alright, Nate. Thank you for taking the time to talk to me and God bless you.
NC: Thank you for having me. Thank you so much.
