Luke Campbell MBE and Tommy Coyle are ready to overcome the final obstacles in the way of their summer showdown in Hull, as they both appear at the Ice Arena in Hull tomorrow night, live on Sky Sports.
Coyle faces Martin Gethin over 12 rounds tomorrow night, with the Walsall man keen to derail ‘Boom Boom’s’ plans to face the Olympic gold medal man in the summer. Campbell is back on the bill after initially withdrawing through the ill health of his father and faces Levis Morales over eight rounds.
Both men landed impressive wins last time out in the Ice Arena, with Campbell seeing off former Coyle fight of the year foe Daniel Brizuela in five rounds and Coyle destroying Australian legend Michael Katsidis with a brutal second round KO – a win that has the 25 year old believing he can mix with the best.
“In my last fight Katsidis started well,” said Coyle. “He was closing my range down quickly, his feet were quick and I think if I hadn’t got him out of there it would have been a long, gruelling fight. He was in great shape, he looked really up for it but I caught him with a perfect counter. It would have probably knocked out most people as it was one of those shots that no matter who you are, it would have taken you away. It probably was the best counter I have ever thrown.
“You could tell from my reaction that I was surprised to get him out as early as I did. I had trained very hard for Katsidis and as I said, when I feel the pressure is on it brings the best out of me.
“The crowd play a huge part. They played an absolutely massive part in that fight against Brizuela, when you are down on the canvas but you hear your own fans behind you it is a big lift. This is why you are doing this, for all the support you have got. As that fight got tougher the crowd got louder and it is great knowing that you have that support.”
If both Coyle and Campbell emerge victorious on Saturday, then that support could be divided in the summer as the Hull Lightweights do battle – and Coyle says it’s because of the fans and the city that have given them so much support that they both want to put on a huge show.
“It would be the biggest fight and probably the biggest event that has ever happened in Hull,” said Coyle. “I am so, so excited about it. Luke and I are quite good friends but I have a job to do and I want to be number one. Luke wants to be number one as well, so we will put that friendship aside and go to war. I am sure once the fight is over, whatever the result, we will embrace and be friends as we are now.
“Martin is first and foremost and I have to do a job. I am not really looking too much into the fight with Luke. It is hanging over my head but I am not giving it too much thought because I have to do a job on Martin for that fight to remain as big as it is. I will concentrate on Martin because he is a tough, tough opponent. He has won a British title, something I have never won before, so I have to be at my very best.”
Coyle and Campbell are part of a massive night in Hull, as rising Birmingham star Sam Eggington challenges Shayne Singleton for the WBC International Silver Welterweight title, World-rated Super Middleweight Rocky Fielding returns to action following his hand injury, Newcastle’s Light Welterweight star Bradley Saunders warms-up for his Commonwealth title challenge, Birmingham’s young Featherweight blaster Gamal Yafai is in action alongside a quintet of local talents Tom Knight, who faces Erick Ochieng over eight-rounds at Welterweight, Nathon Smith, Charlie Payton, Connor Seymour and Ryan Fuller.
Tickets are on sale now priced £40 and £60 are available from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900 and at www.matchroomboxing.com
Running order (subject to change) and the weights (where available)
5.35pm 6 x 3 mins Featherweight Contest
CHARLIE PAYTON (9st 2lbs 2oz) v BOBBY JENKINSON (9st 1lb)
(Hull) (Lincoln)
6.05pm 4 x 3 mins Middleweight Contest
CONNOR SEYMOUR (11st 5lbs 6oz) v DANNY BROWN (11st 6lbs 3oz)
(Hull) (South Woodham Ferrers)
6.30pm 4 x 3 mins Heavyweight Contest
RYAN FULLER v JAMES BARNES
(Hull) (Newcastle)
6.50pm 6 x 3 mins Super Bantamweight Contest
GAMAL YAFAI (8st 12lbs 7oz) v KRYSZTOF ROGOWSKI (8st 12lbs 4oz)
(Birmingham) (Poland)
LIVE FLOAT
6 x 3 mins Light-Welterweight Contest
BRADLEY SAUNDERS (10st 4lbs 5oz) v STEPHANE BENITO (N/A)
(Sedgefield) (France)
LIVE on Sky Sports 1 from 7.30
7.35pm 8 x 3 mins Light-Middleweight Contest
TOM KNIGHT (10st 9lbs 7oz) v ERICK OCHIENG (10st 11lbs)
(Hull) (Stoke Newington)
Followed by
8 x 3 mins Super-Middleweight Contest
ROCKY FIELDING (12st 3lbs 9oz) v OLEG FEDOTOVS (12st 1lbs 4oz)
(Liverpool) (Latvia)
Followed by
10 x 3 mins WBC International Silver Welterweight Championship
SHAYNE SINGLETON (10st 6lbs 2oz) v SAM EGGINGTON (10st 6lbs)
(Colne) (Stourbridge)
Followed by
8 x 3 mins Lightweight Contest
LUKE CAMPBELL (9st 10lbs 6oz) v LEVIS MORALES (9st 11lbs 5oz)
(Hull) (Nicaragua)
Followed by
12 x 3 mins Lightweight Contest
TOMMY COYLE (9st 11lbs 4oz) v MARTIN GETHIN (9st 11lbs 8oz)
(Hull) (Walsall)
