21.01.08 – By Chris Robinson: Talk to Nate ‘The Galaxxy Warrior’ Campbell these days and you’ll find yourself speaking with one of the most upbeat, focused, and determined individuals around. Campbell, a top ranked Lightweight Contender, has seen his life take a turn for the better simply because he has been granted with a wish that he has been dearly desiring for a long time; A good old fashioned fight.
Come March 8th Campbell will be squaring off with WBA Lightweight Champion Juan Diaz and for ‘The Galaxxy Warrior’, this is all he ever wanted.
‘This fight means everything to me,’ a vibrant Campbell stated earlier this week. ‘I’ve been up since I found out about this fight. This has made my day, and made my year already. I learned about this and everything that I went through to get to this point has been worth it..’
Campbell introduced himself to the Lightweight division in October 2005 with a thorough thrashing of heavily favored Almazbek ‘Kid Diamond’ Raiymkulov yet he has never been able to lure one of the division’s champions into the ring with him, until now that is.
In Diaz, Campbell will again be doubted by many, as he is going up against a younger foe who is strong, aggressive, and coming off of two impressive victories over former champions Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz. The waters are again deep, but Campbell is familiar with the situation and even the opponent in front of him.
“I’ve been knowing Juan since he first turned pro,’ Campbell said, ‘I can tell you that I genuinely like the guy. We were both signed with Main Events and we were both coming up at the time. He’s a good person and we got along well. At the time I didn’t know how far he would go as a professional but I knew that if Main Events geared him in the right direction that he would have a chance for a good career. He has done well for himself but he hasn’t faced anyone like me yet.’
When asked bluntly what his thoughts were of Diaz’ characteristics inside of the ring, Campbell was neither dismissive nor overly impressed.
‘What stands out about Juan is that he is such a tough guy,’ Campbell said with respect. ‘He’s a strong kid and he comes with a lot of aggression. I like his style but when the bell rings on March 8th he is going to know that he is in for the fight of his life. I’m going to be fighting for more than just his title and he’s going to have to fight harder than he ever has in his life.’
But what about Juan Diaz’ performances in 2007 against Freitas and Diaz? In both bouts he overwhelmed his older, more experienced foes with sheer tenacity and an abundance of punching that gave neither man room to breathe. In making both men surrender before the final bell rang, Diaz opened up the eyes of many and placed himself as the man to beat in the Lightweight division. Impressive performances no doubt, but Campbell has a different take on what went down.
‘Juan Diaz didn’t make them quit,’ Campbell rebutted. ‘They were already thinking about quitting after they signed those paychecks for the fight. Of course he has progressed as a fighter but it’s been against guys who are shot or didn’t want to really fight to begin with. He’s going to be facing something completely different when we meet.’
Despite a career that has seen some losses since 2003, Campbell’s confidence has never been broken. His belief in himself is un-wavered and when sizing up this fight, Campbell sees more than just what lies inside the ropes.
‘I guarantee Juan hasn’t been through the things I have been through,’ Campbell said as if almost angered. ‘He hasn’t had to suffer the way I have. Growing up I didn’t even know where I would be sleeping one day to the next. Juan didn’t have to go through homeless nights, sleeping in abandoned houses, or under bridges. This means everything to me.’
When turning his attention to the ring itself, and what will transpire when the bell rings for round one, Campbell’s perspective is straight and to the point.
‘I just need to go in and be Nate Campbell,’ he stated. ‘I can punch with either hand, I can box, and I’m courageous, strong, and sturdy as any fighter out there. I’ll never quit in a fight. Right now I’m at a perfect weight and I am the most dangerous thing in this world right now. On March 8th I’m spitting venom and fire.’
Campbell, however, is just one man and no matter how much he favors himself in this showdown he is sure to hear from his detractors and those who may give him little chance when competing with a rising force such as Diaz. Surprisingly, those words are music to Campbell’s ears.
‘I want people to keep counting me out,’ Campbell claimed. ‘I want them to keep saying derogatory things about me. Stuff like that only fuels me and what people don’t realize is that was the exact same stuff people were saying right before my fight against Kid Diamond. I like it, keep doing it, it’s just what I need.’
Campbell is loved by many fans while others are turned off by his brash nature, mistaking his confidence for arrogance. Campbell understands this, and offers up his own viewpoint.
‘My fiancé’ told me that I can be egotistical and self-centered,’ he says without denial. ‘I told her that if I didn’t believe in myself the way I did that I would have quit boxing a long time ago. If I didn’t believe that I could do this I would have already went away. I had to believe in myself 100% or I would have easily given up from the cards that I have been dealt. I was dealt a bad hand from the start but I made my own world out of it. I was given sour lemons and I made sweet lemonade out of it. I can’t let anybody force doubt upon me and I will never doubt my skills or ability. Because of the life I have had to lead to get here, nobody can make me disbelieve myself.’
Nate Campbell is a man who wears many hats and presents himself in many different styles, both in and out of the ropes. You can catch him being dead serious at one moment and cracking jokes the next. He often has a loose, care-free style towards the life he was given, but make no mistake about it, underneath everything lies a passionate professional with his eyes set on the prize.
‘When I start training camp to shake off these final pounds and eventually step into that ring, you know it’s going to be fire and brimstone. I can’t wait for the world for this fight to happen. I can’t wait to make all of those who doubted me and all of those that bet against me eat their very words by doing the very best job I can do.’
Questions and Comments can be emailed to Chris at Trimond@aol.com