Brick City Boxing

Commentary

By: Christopher Roche

Nate Campbell’s biggest win of his career came in large part because his opponent was viciously cut, but Juan Diaz did not quit in that memorable bout in Mexico. Diaz fought like a true warrior, and under the strain of his breakup with Don King, the Baby Bull left everything in the ring, including his title belts.

Tonight, on Showtime Championship Boxing, the tables were turned on Campbell, and he was the one faced with a bad cut. Campbell, unlike Diaz, quickly opted out, as he pleaded with his corner that he could not see.

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WBO light-welterweight champion Timothy Bradley was beating Campbell from pillar to post in this fight, but an apparent head butt caused a bad cut over Campbell’s eye. Campbell went into his corner and immediately told them he could not see, at the conclusion of round three. Despite his corner telling him he was “alright”, they had no choice but to stop the fight. Despite Campbell’s lobbying, the official decision came back as a TKO in Bradley’s favor.

What makes this even more curious is that Campbell dedicated this fight to the memories of Arturo Gatti and Vernon Forrest, and he actually entered the ring to “Thunderstruck”, which was Gatt’s signature song. Campbell also wore a hat commemorating Forrest and a T-Shirt in memoriam of Gatti.

It is worth noting that despite several massive injuries, neither Forrest nor Gatti ever quit in the ring like Campbell did tonight. Forrest fought one-handed with brutal shoulder problems, and Gatti suffered broken hands and various cuts in the ring. The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the little “extra”. Forrest and Gatti certainly had that, and they will be remembered fondly by the boxing public.

With this victory, the 25 year-old Bradley retains his WBO belt and moves to 25-0, 12 KO’s. Campbell, 37, drops to 33-6-1, 25 KO’s.