International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association lightweight champion Nate “Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KOs) continued his verbal assault on Ali “Rush Hour” Funeka (30-1-2, 25 KOs), the man he will face in the main event on Saturday night at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla. (HBO Boxing After Dark tripleheader, 10 p.m. ET/PT). “I listened and read what he [Funeka] was going to do to me,” Campbell said. “He talks trash over an ocean and then he gets here and doesn’t have nothin’ to say. I’m going to be doing the talking in the ring on Saturday night. He’s going to have to face me..”
Campbell’s trainer, former world champion John David Jackson, piled on.
“This boy [Funeka] didn’t earn his No. 1 position,” Jackson said. “He only beat a junior lightweight to get this match. You’ve been talking trash over in Africa, now you better back it up. Nate’s going to whip your ass.”
Funeka, who did have some boastful quotes attributed to him while training in South Africa, was brief in his thoughts.
“It’s good to be here and I want to thank everyone but it’s too close to the fight for more talk,” Funeka said. “It will be a good match.”
Newly crowned World Boxing Council super welterweight interim champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (44-1-1, 24 KOs) feels he is continuing to grow as a prizefighter.
“I feel I am much stronger with each fight,” Martinez said. “I felt great in taking the championship in my last fight against Alex Bunema and I feel even stronger now.”
Martinez should receive a stiff challenge from former IBF welterweight champion Kermit “The Killer” Cintron (30-2, 27 KOs), who will be making his first appearance at 154 pounds. It is interesting to note that Martinez’s only loss and Cintron’s two career losses came at the hands of the same man: Antonio Margarito.
“I busted my ass in this training camp and my team worked me really hard,” Cintron said. “You will see the results on Saturday night when I win the title again.”
Another significant match at 154 pounds will feature undefeated WBC and WBO No. 1-ranked super welterweight Alfredo “Perro” Angulo (14-0, 11 KOs) facing dangerous veteran Cosme “Chino” Rivera (31-11-2, 23 KOs), who has stepped in to challenge Angulo on five days’ notice.
Tickets priced at $200, $75, $40 and $25 (with all seats 2-for-1 excepting a limited number of golden circle seats) are on sale now and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000, by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or at the BankAtlantic Center box office.
The event is presented by Don King Productions in association with Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler Attorneys at Law, V Georgio Vodka, The BOVA Restaurant Group, Renato Watches and QTask. Campbell vs. Funeka is presented in association with One Punch Productions. Martinez vs. Cintron is presented by DiBella Entertainment. Angulo vs. Rivera is a co-promotion with Gary Shaw Productions. Campbell vs. Funeka, Martinez vs. Cintron and Angulo vs. Rivera will also be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT. A full, domestically non-televised, undercard will begin at 5:30 p.m. with 12 bouts in total scheduled for the event.