Luke Campbell - World class?

[davie]

Is anyone else of this opinion?
The Sky/Matchroom team are all on board....


I've been sceptical about the whole 2012 olympic team since day one and may be allowing that scepticism to cloud my judgement here.
But these guys have been hyped as world beaters, since they turned over and I've been resisting the temptation to proclaim them as future world champions until I see them challenged

Until now Luke has looked very impressive against sub-domestic level opposition and the Sky sport team have used these impressive performances to sell the hype.... "that was every bit the world class performance" Jim Watt wails.
But a domestic level fighter can look "world class" against Krzysztof Szot & Aboubeker Bechelaghem. I want to see him tested
This was Lukes first real, not of world class credentials may I add, simply against a domestic level opponents topping a high profile bill. And he passed with flying colours.
But he was far from punch perfect and Coyle got to him. For me a more talented or harding hitting version of Coyles brawling style will give Campbell problems, that's before we start talking about world class boxers/technicians.

Admittedly, this is all part of the learning curve and Luke will continue to improve and it's hard to be overly critical of what was ultimately a very solid performance. He may be on route to the top but I'm just not buying the hype fully yet.

He will get positioned into a world title shot, Hearns will make sure of that & there's a good chance it will be against Flannigan (or Crolla/Mitchell if they can get their hands on a title) but I'm not even certain he beats those guys If I'm honest.
I'd like to see him in with Cardle next or even "interim /ordinary WBA champ" Derry Matthews to see how he handle a good crack on the jaw

[crusader]

To me he looks to have world class potential, but beating Coyle, even in that dominant manner, doesn't mean that he is world class.

[mickey1975]

A boxer won't beat him. He's an extremely accomplished amateur. We will have to wait and see when a world class guy sticks it on him.

[TheCobra]

Potentially yes, has a lot of good attributes, he's a mature lad and was very calm under the pressure of Coyle last night, he didn't look flustered at all and has enough power to at least deter people from him as he goes up the levels.

[digzee]

There are not many world class lightweights out there, he could pick up a paper title next year I think but that doesn't make you world class these days.

He doesn't have much pop so I wonder if he put on some muscle and went up to 140 if that would help. He's technically good, fast, accurate with good composure but without more power he wont be able to stop world class guys from bullying him as they're just walk him down.

[davie]

There are not many world class lightweights out there, he could pick up a paper title next year I think but that doesn't make you world class these days.

He doesn't have much pop so I wonder if he put on some muscle and went up to 140 if that would help. He's technically good, fast, accurate with good composure but without more power he wont be able to stop world class guys from bullying him as they're just walk him down.

I don't doubt he can pick up a title but as you say, that doesn't neccesarily mean you're world class

Different people have different descriptions of world class of course

[Taansend]

Another way to look at it is "where do you rank him in the UK right now" & "where do you rank him st World level".

And who does he have to beat to rise up in either.

[davie]

Another way to look at it is "where do you rank him in the UK right now" & "where do you rank him st World level".

And who does he have to beat to rise up in either.

2 very tough questions to answer. The British lightweight scene is buzzing, lot's of guys who are fringe level. But it's not unimaginable we could end up with 2 or 3 guys with versions of world titles.
I think Campbell loses to Flannigan just now and struggles with Crolla and Mitchel.
Cardle would be a tough but winable one
Burns? Think he's done, he looked slow at the weekend
Derry?
Ormond?

as for World level? Not sure, there's a lot of solid names but no-one you would say is approaching the "elite" kind of level. It's an interesting division.

Plenty to look forward to from a British perspective and I really hope Luke proves me wrong and adds his name to those challenging on the world scene

[johnswan1]

Great boxer, but I think he lacks power. His accuracy would suggest that he may be able to hurt a lot of opponents to the body more than the head, but I was impressed with what I saw and I was pretty skeptical of him before. He's big at the weight. He's actually the most baby faced fighter I've seen since Chavez Jr in his early days, yet his is almost 28 years old. Time now to kick on and every opponent on here should be at least Coyle level.

[freddydoesdallas]

I don't think he's close to proving that he's world class yet. He proved a couple of things on saturday night due to the style of Coyle on the night and the rough nature of it. The domestic scene here would set him up perfectly if he fought Cardle, Matthews, Mitchell/Burns then Crolla/Flannigan.

We could know how good he is by next year. I think Mitchell especially will be the litmus test for him. He will bring an intensity similar to Coyle but a lot more measured. If he can't beat Mitchell then he's not world level

[Yes We Can]

he could beat some of the guys around the fringes now.... but thats because lightweight is such a piss weak division its unreal.

When Derry, Flannagan and Crolla have a claim to a trinket or a gripe you know the division isn't of the highest standard. Ticking over fight next before he steps in against Crolla would be my guess, with mitchell vs Coyle on an undercard.

[mickey1975]

He's the best in Britain right now.

[Marlo Stanfield]

Is anyone else of this opinion?
The Sky/Matchroom team are all on board....


I've been sceptical about the whole 2012 olympic team since day one and may be allowing that scepticism to cloud my judgement here.
But these guys have been hyped as world beaters, since they turned over and I've been resisting the temptation to proclaim them as future world champions until I see them challenged

Until now Luke has looked very impressive against sub-domestic level opposition and the Sky sport team have used these impressive performances to sell the hype.... "that was every bit the world class performance" Jim Watt wails.
But a domestic level fighter can look "world class" against Krzysztof Szot & Aboubeker Bechelaghem. I want to see him tested
This was Lukes first real, not of world class credentials may I add, simply against a domestic level opponents topping a high profile bill. And he passed with flying colours.
But he was far from punch perfect and Coyle got to him. For me a more talented or harding hitting version of Coyles brawling style will give Campbell problems, that's before we start talking about world class boxers/technicians.

Admittedly, this is all part of the learning curve and Luke will continue to improve and it's hard to be overly critical of what was ultimately a very solid performance. He may be on route to the top but I'm just not buying the hype fully yet.

He will get positioned into a world title shot, Hearns will make sure of that & there's a good chance it will be against Flannigan (or Crolla/Mitchell if they can get their hands on a title) but I'm not even certain he beats those guys If I'm honest.
I'd like to see him in with Cardle next or even "interim /ordinary WBA champ" Derry Matthews to see how he handle a good crack on the jaw

Not totally sure on this but when has Hearn ever lined up one of his boys to fight one of Warrens world champions? (not that Warren has had many since Hearn took over at Sky)

[mickey1975]

Luke is a very, very good kid. He's as tough as they come, I've watched him since he was a little boy.

[freddydoesdallas]

He's the best in Britain right now.

Bold statement. I think he could be the best of the bunch in the next year but i would have worries about him facing Mitchell in October and i'm not a Mitchell fan.

[Tarkus]

Lightweight division is not that strong right now. I would only favor Gamboa clearly over Campbell at this stage. Him vs Mitchell, Linares, Vasquez is about 50/50. I think he beats Crolla and Burns.

[Rogers21]

I thought he looked pretty good against Coyle and it was a goof learning fight, Coyle gave everything he had and did not stop going forward.

Campbell was just to good, fast hands and very good accuracy, i dont think he has world level power but he definitely has pop.

his legs looked like twiglets at weekend, which worries me for some reason.

[ElJefe]

As others have said, there are no elite fighters at lightweight now that Terence Crawford has gone to 140, Campbell could do big things in the division.

Mitchell gave Linares a tough night and Crolla deserved the win against Perez, there doesn't seem to be a big gulf between the best of the British and the best in the world, Luke can certainly be up there after another couple of fights imo.

[davie]

Not totally sure on this but when has Hearn ever lined up one of his boys to fight one of Warrens world champions? (not that Warren has had many since Hearn took over at Sky)

Ah, is Flannagan with Frank? it's easy to lose track.

[Marlo Stanfield]

Not totally sure on this but when has Hearn ever lined up one of his boys to fight one of Warrens world champions? (not that Warren has had many since Hearn took over at Sky)

Ah, is Flannagan with Frank? it's easy to lose track.

Yes he is sadly, think he's lining Derry up to fight him

[GPTM1403]

Only worry I'd have with Campbell is age. Whilst he hasn't had a lot of pro fights and has had time out, so that might mean he's effectively a couple of years younger than calendar age, he could have a very short peak at this rate. Having said that for me he is the most talented British lightweight in a long time. Much as I'm a fan of Burns he was a technically proficient guy who really over achieved, help massively by being hard as nails and tall at the weight. Campbell could be better than him.

[Superheavy]

Interesting to draw a comparison between Campbell and Frankie Gavin - big things expected of both following highly distinguished careers in the unpaid ranks, yet Campbell seems infinitely more likely to make it to the top of the pro game. No dramas with him, no issues outside the ring, no weight problems, a natural athlete, absolute pro.

[expe]

Interesting to draw a comparison between Campbell and Frankie Gavin - big things expected of both following highly distinguished careers in the unpaid ranks, yet Campbell seems infinitely more likely to make it to the top of the pro game. No dramas with him, no issues outside the ring, no weight problems, a natural athlete, absolute pro.

Campbell's has had problems outside the ring, difference is that he's dealt with them differently to Frankie. I do see some similar problems with the two of them though, whether Gavin is living the life or not and even if he gets down to 10st, he doesn't carry much power and he lacks the physical strength to deal with opponents that can get inside and go to work on him and the lack of power means he can't keep them off. Campbell will have similar issues IMO, he'll be ok strength wise while he can make lightweight, but he isn't a big puncher and when he's forced to move up he'll struggle at anything close to world level. Right now he can get away with it because he's simply too good for the opponents he's fighting and he hits them clean and often enough to stop them or at least discourage them, I don't see that happening as his opposition gets better.

[Boxerbeetle]

Only worry I'd have with Campbell is age. Whilst he hasn't had a lot of pro fights and has had time out, so that might mean he's effectively a couple of years younger than calendar age, he could have a very short peak at this rate.

A lot of people overlook Campbell's age - probably because he looks so young