Suge Green’s Boxing Notebook…Campbell, Cotto-Jennings, Gamboa, Dirrell, Brinkley, Klitschko-Haye

by Suge Green, OnTheGrindBoxing.com – Nate Campbell had a tough bout but came out on top Saturday night, in his native Florida in the main event of Don King’s HBO card. Nate admitted post bout that he was physically effected by his failed attempt to make weight, and psychologically so by losing his titles at the scale. Campbell fought through the physical and emotional adversity however, along with the adversity that turned out to be the very game Ali Funeka. The African employed a solid strategy for defeating Nate and probably would have got the nod from many observers had he not suffered two knockdowns, one in the 2nd round and the other in the 11th..

Funeka displayed the heart of a champion in climbing up off of the canvas not once but twice, and in making it to the final bell against an experienced warrior and a champion. Any who would say that the Galaxy Warrior is no longer a champion need only consider that People’s Championships are not made of Gold with the purpose of adorning an athlete’s waist, they are made of the hearts and minds of the boxing public…it will take more than a failed trip to the scales on a Friday the 13th in February to strip Campbell of that title. The boxing world now awaits his campaign at 140lbs.

Anthony Dirrell 15(12)-0, gets another win under his belt by besting Jose Medina in a super middleweight, contest by 4 round UD. The former Olympian has fought three times in the last four months, and while not yet back in top form his trainer Leon Lawson says, “He’s coming around and doing really well.” Anthony’s brother Andre Dirrell 17(12)-0, is scheduled to fight an unnamed opponent on the 28th of March.

Both Breidis Prescott and Yuriorkis Gamboa will be competing in separate bouts on the next installment of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights. For Gamboa it’s the second month in a row he’s featured on the popular live boxing broadcast, and the appearance should only serve to increase his popularity as he fights much closer to home this time, in the state of Florida.

We are only six short days away from the vacant WBO welterweight championship being assigned a new owner, as MIguel Cotto and Michael Jennings make final preparations to do battle in New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Jennings spent his Valentine’s weekend getting acclimated to his new surroundings as he arrived in the Bronx. According to Michael, his wife isn’t expecting a necklace or ring upon his return, but a championship belt. While the outcome of this fight may be a forgone conclusion to many, Jennings reminds the public that, “I’ve got speed and height on him, (and) I’m a good mover.” We will see on the 21st if these attributes aid him against a recharged Miguel Cotto.

Reports are coming in that the Klitschko-Haye battle is now in trouble. I wouldn’t worry about it much boxing fans, all parties involved want this bout. Summer is still several months away, and they’ve got to keep our interest and the profile of this fight up somehow. There just aren’t enough colorful comments that we haven’t heard from a fighter before, for David Haye to keep coming out with one every day.

Two former stars of televison’s “The Contender” did battle Saturday night in Reno, as Jesse Brinkley defeated Joey Gilbert via 12 round UD, in a defense of Brinkley’s USNBC super middleweight title.

Along with “Iceman” John Scully and “BigTime” Tim Kudgis, Suge Green is part of the On The Grind Radio team. OTG Radio is live at 8pm est/5pm pst Sundays and Thursdays (1am gmt, Mondays and Fridays) right here on eastsideboxing, listen to past episodes by clicking the “On The Grind Boxing Radio” button.