Lightweight champion Nate Campbell makes no bones about it – when he takes on South African Ali Funeka at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida this Saturday night as the main event performer on HBO’s ‘Boxing After Dark’, he is facing a live dog, a guy who may be unknown and anonymous to most casual fans, but a fighter who is dangerous.
Funeka comes in with a record of 30-1 with 25 knockouts and back in July he impressively halted Zahir Raheem in four rounds in an IBF elimination bout to earn this shot at ‘the Galaxxy Warrior’.
“He is a ‘live dog’, that’s what everyone?s saying,” Campbell would tell Maxboxing. “What I know about him is he’s tall, he’s rangy and he punches. But he’s basic, ain’t no tricks going on. It’s going to be straight up, coming down the line with the straight right hand. I mean, what world class lightweight did he really beat, that actually beat a world-class lightweight?”
How bout Raheem?
“He’s not that good, ever,” responded Campbell quickly. “I mean, I never thought that much of Zahir Raheem. That’s my opinion. They say, ‘Oh, he beat Erik Morales.’ Morales was so past shot when they fought, but everybody makes it as his crowning achievement.”
But Funeka does resemble Isaac Hlatshwayo, another tall, lanky, African boxer that defeated Campbell back in April of 2006. But Cambpell will tell you and anybody else that facing ‘the Angel’ was basically like boxing a welterweight – which he is currently. Funeka, at least based on the fight with Raheem, uses his height well and has a sharp 1-2. But Campbell sees a very basic, fundamental fighter. His style could pose more problems for him than Juan Diaz, who Campbell defeated to win his collection of lightweight belts last March.
“Depends on who you ask,” states Campbell. “I think that he brings a lot of problems because of his height. But that’s neither here nor there when the bell rings.”
Regardless, it should be a competitive fight. Campbell is just glad to get back in the ring. Since his victory over Diaz, he has not been in the ring. But that’s not to say his life has been uneventful. His summer appointment with Joan Guzman was cancelled as Guzman failed to make weight, and because he missed out on that payday, Campbell had to file for bankruptcy and he left his promoter Don King. All this while getting married shortly after the Diaz fight.
?It?s not been easy but I mean, it is what it is,” he says. “You just gotta live your life and go day by day and not allow anything like that to disrupt your life.”
In an ironic twist, this weekend?s fight card is being promoted by King.
?It?s funny because a lot of people don’t understand how serious it is to be where I am at this point in my life. I am in this point in my life, they think it was peaches and cream for me, but it’s not. I’m a regular guy, with regular problems. People overlook that. That’s just the way life is,” explained Campbell.
As for married life, the normally rambunctious Campbell sighs, “Man, it’s up and down.” Is it tougher than the fight game? “Some days it is,” he admits.
Spent any days sleeping on the couch?
“I don’t do that,” insisted Campbell. “I don’t understand how guys are like, ‘My wife put me on the couch.’ I don’t do that. No, you don’t put me out of my bed.”
Campbell is just glad to get back into the ring and ply his trade.
?I feel good, I feel like I’ve done my job, I’m prepared,” he says. “Everybody is worried about ring rust, you gotta remember, ring rust comes when you don’t train. But I train.”
He’s 36 years old, but he feels he has plenty of time to make all the big fights and money. He feels time is still on his side.
“Why would I run out of time?” he asks. “For what reason would I possibly run out of time is my question. I’m chomping at the bit because I’m going to prove to the world that I’m the best lightweight out there. Ali Funeka says he is. I know that I am. I’m willing to step in the ring with my belts on the line and prove it.”
MID-WEEK FLURRIES
As you read this, I will have spent the bulk of the week in beautiful, fun-filled Pensacola, Florida taking care of some Maxboxing duties….So I guess Chris Brown and Rihanna won?t be spending Valentine?s Day together, I’m assuming?….On Saturday night in Reno, Nevada, Jesse Brinkley and Joey Gilbert face off at the Reno Events Center….Does anyone in the States really care all that much that Joe Calzaghe announced his retirement? He certainly should be given respect for all his accomplishments and he is a sure fire Hall-of-Famer, but I have a feeling the game will go on just fine without him….Speaking of which, I know nobody gave a damn out here about David Beckham when he got here and certainly as he might be leaving. That’s the great thing about this country; we don’t care about soccer all that much…..
