2012 British Olympian Luke Campbell and Tommy Coyle will fight in a Lightweight elimination bout on August 1st, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.
“The stage is set for the one of the biggest sporting events the city of Hull will ever see,” said Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn. “Two world-ranked lightweight contenders will battle it out in an official eliminator for the WBC world title. It’s east versus west, a city divided with everything on the line.”
Although they have been friends, comments that Campbell made about Coyle in Britain’s Boxing Monthly got Coyle riled up and have strained their friendship. Coyle addressed the situation at the kickoff news conference to promote the fight.
“I was annoyed that he called me an associate. I think that was personal,” Coyle said. “He forgets the days when we didn’t have any money at all and we were selling toys for a pound a go. I traveled five hours to watch him in the ABA [amateur] finals, shared a room with him in Australia. I think that’s a bit more than an associate.
“It had been playing on my mind. He’s said a few things in the press and even in the press conference. It’s disappointing and I think it’s unnecessary. The fight doesn’t need bad blood. It would sell on two Hull lads that are mates getting in there and the best man winning a tear-up. We have been friendly in the postfight interviews up to this point, so why has it changed? Is it because I said I was going to knock him out? I am not going to outbox him. I am just being truthful. It’s business.”
Campbell downplayed their personal relationship.
“I have had a close-knit group of friends since I was a kid; they are my friends,” he said. “I see Tommy once in a blue moon. That’s it. We have a past, we’ve boxed in the same gym, traveled to Australia and Denmark before, but we hang around in different circles though, and, really, who cares?
“If he has a problem, he should ring me instead of trying to get sympathy votes. It’s not like he comes ’round to my house for a cup of tea and we go out and socialize. We’re not proper mates. I respect everything he has done in boxing, and he’s a great fighter. I don’t dislike Tommy at all. We just see friends differently.”
“I think that this is the wrong fight for him at the wrong time. I’ll be too much for him,” Coyle said. “I think Luke is being chucked in at the deep end against me
“People keep saying I need to step up. You don’t get a better step up than a world title eliminator,” he said. “My team sees me day in, day out, and I am making great progress. They evaluate each fight and we believe in each other, and if that is the path that they have chosen, then that’s the right path for me.
“I have never had it easy in boxing in 14½ years. I’ve always done it the hard way, and I believe that WBC champion Jorge Linares is the best lightweight in the world, so it’s not the easiest route. But we’re not bothered about that. We want to take the right route and take on the best.
“This is a massive event for the city. It’s a one-time thing. I don’t think they’ll see a fight like this here again — two local lads with good followings, both top fighters and boxing in a world title eliminator. The city won’t see this again — that’s what makes it special for Hull.”
