Says He Will Teach Diaz ‘Things He Doesn’t Want to Know’.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.—International Boxing Federation No. 1-ranked lightweight and mandatory challenger Nate “Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell is confident going into his match against undefeated unified lightweight world champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz on March 8 at Plaza de Torros in Cancun, Mexico.
“I don’t want to sound conceited or overconfident but Juan Diaz is not a demigod,” Campbell said. “A demigod is half mortal, half god and I just don’t see that. Unless my team and I have been in this sport too long—or not long enough—we are seeing a lot of hype.”
Campbell (31-5-1, 25 KOs), who is co-promoted by Don King Productions and One Punch Productions, made his comments about Diaz (33-0, 17 KOs) recently while visiting King’s South Florida headquarters.
“Take a good look at who this man has fought and ask yourself, ‘Who has he fought?’ There are lots of fighters out there who throw a lot of punches. I’m going to teach things to Juan that he doesn’t want to know. I can stop this man and I don’t believe he can beat me.”
Campbell thinks he has been underestimated throughout his career, and he looks forward to utilizing a six inch reach advantage over Diaz.
“Nobody thinks I can punch,” he said, “but there’s something about the way I punch that makes guys change their mind when they get in the ring with me. Juan Diaz will ask himself after the first punch I land that makes clean contact, ‘What part of the game is this?’
“Joel Casamayor has fought Jose Luis Castillo, Acelino Freitas, Diego Corrales and me. When a reporter asked him who hits the hardest, he said, ‘Nate Cambell.’ On top of that, I heard Casamayor predicted that I’m going to win against Diaz.”
Campbell’s fight is part of the History in Cancun event that will include the first world heavyweight championship ever decided in Mexico when World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev faces WBC interim champion Sameul “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter. Both Diaz vs. Campell and Maskaev vs.
Peter will be televised live in America on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT. The event is being promoted by Don King Productions in association with Duva Boxing, Pepe Gomez Promotions and One Punch Productions.
Tickets priced at $1,000, 500, $300, $150, $100, $70, $50 and $10 are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets including www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster in Mexico at +5255 5325 9000.
Campbell said his preparation for the fight has been going well while splitting training time in West Palm Beach and Pembroke Pines in South Florida.
“I hate it when fighters say, ‘I’m in the best shape of my life,’” Campbell said. “I’m always in great shape. I will say though that this is the first time in a long time that I’ve been able to focus only on my training and no other outside stuff like relationships or family problems.
“I have stayed away from everything and everyone that could distract me from winning these titles. My promoters Don King and Terry Trekas have taken good care of me. My trainer John David Jackson and his assistant Noel Carbajal and all my gym mates have been great as usual.”
Don King Productions has promoted over 500 world championship fights with nearly 100 individual boxers having been paid $1 million or more. DKP also holds the distinction of having promoted or co-promoted seven of the 10 largest pay-per-view events in history, as gauged by total buys, including three of the top five: Holyfield vs. Tyson II, 1.99 million buys, June 1997; Tyson vs. Holyfield I, 1.6 million buys, November 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, 1.58 million buys, August 1995.
DKP has promoted or co-promoted 11 of the top 15 highest-grossing live gates in the history of the state of Nevada including four of the top five: Holyfield vs. Lewis II, paid attendance: 17,078, gross: $16,860,300 (NOTE: Also second-highest live-gate gross for any event in history.), date: Nov. 13, 1999; Holyfield vs. Tyson II, paid attendance: 16,279, gross: $14,277,200, date: June 28, 1997; Holyfield vs. Tyson I, paid attendance: 16,103, gross: $14,150,700, date: Nov. 9, 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, paid attendance: 16,113, gross: $13,965,600, date: Aug. 19, 1995.
Dino Duva, the president of Duva Boxing, has promoted great fighters and great fights during four decades in boxing. Growing up in a renowned boxing family, the Duva name has become synonymous with excellence in the fight game as the “First Family in Boxing.” Working closely with his Hall of Fame father, Lou, and his late, great brother Dan, Duva has been involved in the promotion of over 100 world championship fights including such titlists as Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Pernell Whitaker, Arturo Gatti, and Mark Breland. Duva is presently the promoter of Samuel Peter, regarded by many as the top young heavyweight contender in boxing.
Alan Hopper, Don King Prouctions
EVENT PAGE LINK: http://www.kevincalero.com/donking/event%5F3808/
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