In the Fall of last year Nate Campbell and Timothy Bradley were scheduled to face separate opponents on a scheduled September 13th card from the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. Then both champions at the time, Campbell was set to defend his IBF, WBA, and WBO Lightweight belts against Joan Guzman while Bradley looked forward to a fight with Edner Cherry.
During the final pre-fight press conference for the event, both Campbell and Bradley had their respective belts lined up in front of them for those in attendance to gaze upon. When it was his turn to take the podium Bradley couldn’t help but mention his desires to one day be a multi-belt holder just like Campbell.
“I may be a champion right now,” Bradley said in reference to his WBO hardware. “But I like the way Nate is looking over there with those three belts. That’s what I am after in my career, is to become the unified Champion at 140 pounds.”
Those dreams just may come true for the Palm Springs, California native but ironically he just may end up having to face the man he was praising not too long ago as talks for a Bradley-Campbell showdown have again been sparked. Bradley is coming off of a unanimous decision over Kendall Holt last month where he had controlled the tempo of the bout despite being dropped by Holt in rounds one and twelve. Campbell himself is coming off of a hard-fought majority decision over Ali Funeka on Valentine’s night and will now be campaigning in the Jr. Welterweight division after claiming he can no longer make 135 pounds.
The matchup would be intriguing, as both men are extremely savvy while also possessing sound boxing fundamentals. Despite moving up in weight Campbell has shown tremendous physical strength at Lightweight and will surely be a threat in his new division. Bradley himself has proven his mental fortitude on different levels but a bout against Campbell would be a new test for the young champion.
Wanting to get a better sense of what everyone is saying about the contest, 8 Count News dove into some select forums to get a feel for the early buzz on this fight. This is what the boxing fans online had to say about everything regarding a potential Campbell-Bradley meeting…
(Anonymous @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“Nate will punish Bradley and dispose of him like yesterdays newspaper.”
(JanesChicken @ EastSideBoxing.com)…
“I like Bradley a lot. Big right hand, determined as fuck, pretty good chin, but when we saw him step up in class against Holt, his defensive flaws were there for all the world to see. The only reason Holt lost that fight with Bradley is because he decided to take the fight off after the first two rounds. Holt had Bradley down with a HUGE left hook in the first and also knocked him down in the final round I believe. Bradley won that fight on workrate alone, not class. If they guy who destroyed Diaz showed up on the ring with Bradley, desert storm would be in a lot of trouble, regardless of weight class. “
(OnePunch @ BoxingScene.com)…
“I'd make a large bet though that as soon as Nate beats him, Bradley suddenly becomes "exposed" or "overrated". You watch”
(Atman @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“Bradley/ Guzman was easy to predict (Bradley outworking Guzman), this is harder to get a handle on. Both are slick, both throw a good deal of punches, both are body punchers. I think Nate's better on the inside. Anyways, hope it gets done.”
(Bernie4366 @ EastSideBoxing.com)…
“Campbell wins, as long as he doesn't suddenly get old. He's an entirely different class of fighter.”
(Prodigious1 @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“I love this fight. Perfect fight to see what Nate has left. Bradley will make him dig down, and if he doesn't have enough left in the late going, he will lose. Though Bradley is there for his right hand. Toss-up for me. Perhaps a slight edge to Bradley because of superior fitness.”
(Rebel @ BoxingFanatics.com)…
“Bradley via ownage. Too quick and slick for ole' Nate. I'd love to see Holt/Campbell. That would be a nice little war while it lasts. Holt KOs him.”
(Bradman @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“If Nate fights Bradley like he fought Diaz, he wins; if he fights like he fought Funeka, he loses.
Either way, it will be a very nip and tuck affair.”
(HeartAttack @ BoxingScene.com)…
“Good fight for both men. Bradley at this point is refusing to face anyone who isn't a top fighter at LWW, And Those are only the type of fights that Campbell wants.”
(Mike Quartey @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“Nate better get his ass into better shape than he was for the Funeka fight. Something tells me it's Bradley's time to shine, though. I won’t predict anything yet as Nate is one of my favorite fighters.”
(Marsh All @ BoxingScene.com)…
“Isn’t this a bad move on Campbell? if he loses this fight, his short run in the upper levels of boxing is gone. this is too dangerous of a fight for a guy that hasn’t cashed out yet and if he loses he isn’t young enough to rebuild his career.”
(Monzon @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“I agree completely. Nate wasn't a huge puncher at 135. I doubt he's going to have the kind of one punch power at 140 that will give Bradley too much cause for concern. He may be the harder, sharper puncher and I think he's better defensively. But Bradley is going to be all over him, and if Holt didn't have the power to keep Bradley off him, I don't see Nate doing it. Nate is also getting to the point age wise where his body may be less willing to do the stuff it did only a year ago. I like Bradley in this one.”
(Dave Murphy @ BoxingBB.com)…
“I hope they can get it done, it's frustrating to see Nate sitting. Who'd have believed that he'd only have the one fight with Funeka from this post-Diaz period where he should be capitalizing. I know HE certainly didn't.”
(TheChiefSecond @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“While I can understand why most people have Timothy Bradley picked in this potential matchup with Nate Campbell, because he is by far and hands down, the best 140 lbs fighter, in the world today. However, at the same time, I am not one of those who are ready to write Nate Campbell's obituary just yet either. Let's just keep in mind, that in many times past, Nate has been written off and left down for the count, just to rise up, comeback and prove everyone wrong, by overcoming several insurmountable odds. We can all say, what we will about Nate Campbell, but the man has definitely proven to be both a fighter and survivor.”
(RudyPoop @ BoxingBB.com)…
“I don't really like the Bradley fight for Campbell, Funeka was able to outwork him and he's nowhere near as quick or talented as Bradley IMO. Nate has a shot because he has power and it's a good money fight but I'm not sure he'd be able to beat Bradley.”
(Oliver’s Tears @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“I love this fight. Two talented boxers that like getting in there tight, digging to the body, and throwing a shitload of punches. It's got exciting SD all over it. Bradley uses his head masterfully. Nate's got a lot of scar tissue around the eyes. He better be on the lookout for that.”
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