Wadi Camacho says bitter Cruiserweight rival Stephen Simmons has ‘lost his marbles’ as he prepares to take the Scotsman’s WBC International Silver belt back to London when they meet at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow on Friday June 27, live on Sky Sports.
The Cruiserweight duo have been at loggerheads on social media sites and they clashed at a press conference in January before their first scheduled meeting in March that Simmons was forced to pull out of through injury.
Their bitter rivalry finally makes it to the ring in 11 days’ time and with two defeats to China Clarke and Tony Conquest on his CV already, the Londoner says he has to leave the lion’s den against the Scotsman with the title and he doesn’t know what to expect from the fiery Scot when he travels north of the border next Wednesday for the final press conference for the fight.
“He started to go a bit crazy at the last one,” said Camacho. “He must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed and lost his marbles. Simmons was asking me to take it outside with him, but fighting outside doesn’t get us paid and I’m happy we can get it on properly in the ring.
“Losing to him is not an option. It’s the mistakes I’ve made that have seen me lose and I have learnt from my two defeats as I gave those fights away, I am strong-minded and in a happy place. I’ve got this boy in front of me and I need to do the business, I’m going there full steam and it’s going to be a hot night for him, too hot.
“There’s only going to be one man throwing bombs and that’s me, he’s going to be chucking wild shots, but I am not predicting what I am going to do, everybody knows what I do, so I’ll let the fans talk about that, I am just going to go and enjoy myself, and put on a beautiful performance for the Scottish fans.”
Camacho and Simmons were former teammates in the GB setup in the past and Camacho says he doesn’t know where the animosity comes from but says that the Edinburgh man has not improved since they were at close quarters on the same squad.
“We were on the GB team together and went to America on the same team and I even have photos of us two together as mates,” said Camacho. “Maybe he was worried about me taking his place on the squad? I don’t know.
“We did a bit of sparring a few years ago, but it was just a bit of technical stuff. With him what you see now is that same as he was six or seven years ago, he hasn’t been exposed properly and on June 27 I’m going to expose him.”
The ‘Macho Man’ is expecting a hot reception on fight night but says he’ll rise to the occasion and will keep his cool at the press conference.
“I’m expecting a hostile atmosphere in the Braehead Arena come fight night,” said Camacho. “Booing and jeering, loads of noise, but I say to his fans: keep that coming, the more boos I get the more it will lift me up. I’m going to take all the negativity and turn it positive, it’s going to be great.
“I will stay cool, calm and collected at the press conference but you never know what he will be like, he might throw another tantrum. I’m just grateful that I have the chance to box on a big bill and fight somewhere I have never fought before and put on a great show on Sky Sports.”
Camacho and Simmons lock horns on a huge night of boxing in Glasgow as Ricky Burns is gunning for a return to winning ways against the unbeaten Montenegrin Dejan Zlaticanin for the WBC International Lightweight title and as an official eliminator for the World title.
Willie Limond defends his Commonwealth title against Curtis Woodhouse, Jon Slowey faces Kris Hughes for the vacant Celtic Featherweight title, unbeaten Lightweight star Scotty Cardle is set for a step-up fight and there is action for unbeaten Scottish talents David Brophy and Michael Roberts.
Tickets are on sale priced £40, £60 and £100 on 0844 499 1700, at braehead-arena.co.uk and in person from the Braehead Arena on Thursdays from 12pm-9pm, Fridays from 12pm-5pm and Saturday from 10am-2pm.
VIP tickets priced at £200 are available exclusively from Matchroom Boxing on 01277 359900 and at matchroomboxing.com
