Luke Campbell v Tommy Coyle: All Set For August 1st

By Olly Campbell - 06/11/2015 - Comments

It’s already being billed as a huge domestic clash that will serve as an official eliminator for WBC champion Jorge Linares’ 135 lb title – and after leaking online earlier in the week, promoter Eddie Hearn this morning dropped the news that London 2012 gold medalist Luke Campbell and hometown rival Tommy Coyle, will indeed headline Matchroom’s “Rumble On The Humber” card from Hull’s Craven Park – with ample support coming in the form of Scotland’s Ricky Burns – (who put in a heroic shift vs Omar Figueroa Jr in Texas recently, when he fights a TBA opponent.)

Also propping up the bill will be Blackpool’s Brian Rose – who is looking to avenge Carson Jones’ Valentine’s day massacre of him earlier this year, which saw the Brit stopped inside a round. A loss in this rematch will not be tolerated and an impressive outing is what’s required and expected – or else it could be the end for Brian Rose’s career at anything other than domestic level.

While the headliner is a good domestic fight in terms of British interest – it is technically something of a mis-match, with the Olympian holding significant advantages in every aspect of his game – and in my eyes, is evidently levels above the gutsy, yet one-dimensional Coyle.

It’s a fight I certainly don’t see going the distance – and sadly for Eddie Hearn, after the well received O2 triple header, it will no doubt further fuel the twitter hashtag’s #MisMatchroomBoxing and #EarnWithHearn, that fans use to vent their frustrations at the competitiveness (or lack of) of the domestic fight cards proffered up week in, week out.

It’s interesting much emphasis is already being placed on the fight as an eliminator when both men are ranked 14 and 15 with the WBC respectively. Hardly worth shouting about right now but at least a sign of the route the expected winner – Campbell – intends to go towards his world title dreams.

Announcing the fight, promoter Hearn attempted to drum up some enthusiasm for the mis-match from the boxing public – the reality being it is little more than a very routine scrap outside of the people of Hull and something of a total irrelevance to most fans internationally.

He said via Sky Sports;

“The stage is set for one of the biggest sporting events the city of Hull has ever seen. Two world ranked lightweight contenders will battle it out in an official eliminator for the WBC world title – it’s East versus West – a city divided, with everything on the line.”

“Fans can expect a huge card with the rematch set for Brian Rose to exact revenge over Carson Jones, 2 weight world champion Ricky Burns and undefeated super featherweight Martin Ward defending his title. It’s going to be an epic night for the city.”

For any who have yet to hear of Luke Campbell though, the prodigious talent is (11-0, 9 ko) and climbing fast through the rankings.

Coyle (21-2, 10ko) holds a notable win over Michael Katsidis, whom he stunned in dramatic fashion when he knocked him out in the 2nd round of their fight last October. Following that he got the ‘W’ over Martin Gethin after being knocked down in the second, before fate intervened and Gethin was forced to retire after the 5th – having burst his ear-drum.

The two former friends share Argentina’s Daniel Brizuela as a common opponent, with Coyle securing a hard fought victory in an 8 knockdown thriller in which both touched down 4x a piece.

Coyle eventully forced the stoppage in the final round in Feb 2014 before Campbell finished off Brizuela himself inside 5 rounds just 8 months later – it was a far sharper, crisper, clinical and more accurate breakdown.

Completely representative of the gulf in class that exists here.

Expect Campbell to stop Coyle before the halfway point in the fight I say.

Twitter @Undilutedpoison