Luke Campbell MBE says Tommy Coyle won’t want to have a war with him when they meet in an official eliminator for the WBC World lightweight title at the KC Lightstream Stadium in Hull, live on Sky Sports.
Campbell and Coyle clash in an east versus west fight that has divided their hometown and with local pride and a boost in the WBC rankings on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Hull pair.
The Olympic hero riled Coyle with comments made in an interview with Boxing Monthly, but Campbell says that the fight is just business to him as he looks to move onto the world scene and says he’ll prove that Coyle’s reputation for loving a war in the ring is misguided.
“Tommy says he loves a war but in his last few fights he’s boxed on the back foot,” said Campbell. “If you are doing that, you are not going in for a war, you are going into box. But we’ll seen 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.
“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.
“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.”
Campbell and Coyle clash on a massive night of action in Hull, with former World title challenger Brian Rose looking for revenge in his rematch with Carson Jones, former two-weight World champion Ricky Burns back in action after his heroic performance in Texas against Omar Figueroa, Martin J. Ward defending his WBC international super-featherweight title and unbeaten Brixton heavyweight Dillian Whyte in action.
