Campbell guts one out against Funeka in Florida
Former three-body lightweight titlist Nate Campbell won a war of attrition against tough South African Ali Funeka in tonight's main event in Sunrise, Florida, winning a majority decision (114-112, 115-111, 113-113) after knocking Funeka down in the second and eleventh rounds. Bad Left Hook scored the fight 115-111 for Campbell.
The 6'1" Funeka acquitted himself quite nicely on the world stage, and was overcome by emotion after the fight, crying in his corner. His corner told him they have nothing to be ashamed of, and they're absolutely correct. He tested Campbell and gave him a real fight, and he recovered well from both knockdowns. Here's hoping HBO and Showtime give him some attention in the future. He's a quality contender.
Campbell appeared gut-shot by his inability to make weight, apologizing very sincerely and stating his intention to move up to 140 pounds. As Max Kellerman said, he's instantly one of the division's most attractive names.
On the undercard, Sergio Martinez and Kermit Cintron went to a majority draw in a fight I thought Martinez clearly won. The fight was plagued by a strange seventh round incident. Cintron went down from a left hand he genuinely believed he was a headbutt, and referee Frank Santore counted him out, and appeared to have called the fight off. Replays showed that Cintron had made it to his feet before the count of ten, and he was incensed that it was (1) called a knockdown, and he was wrong there, and (2) that he appeared to have been counted out, which he was right about.
The fight, which had been an ugly clash of styles before the incident, picked up after it was surprisingly restarted. The draw, I feel, robs Martinez of a win, but neither man exactly made an entertaining fight. Bad Left Hook scored it 117-109 for Martinez. The official judges' scores were 113-113 twice and 116-110 for Martinez.
In the TV opener, Alfredo Angulo punished Cosme Rivera for four-plus rounds before finally the commission stopped it in the fifth. The referee should have stepped in well before that. Rivera actually lost a pound overnight, putting him at a 15-pound weight disadvantage in the ring. He was game, but his corner and the referee let him take way too much punishment, even after he openly admitted to being tired.
We'll have much more tomorrow on the fights. Thanks to everyone who joined us for the round-by-round. We'll be back for a two-card weekend starting Friday.
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so whos next for campbell at 140 … i wouldn’t mind seeing him fight judah.
by 3zilla on Feb 15, 2009 2:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
He could wait on the Bradley-Holt winner, or if Hatton wins against Manny and Floyd isn’t available, there are only so many fights for Ricky. Same for Manny. Judah would be a good fight and I think he’d break Judah’s will by the eighth. Malignaggi needs an opponent. Vivian Harris wouldn’t be the worst step up in weight. Kotelnik has a title. Urango has a title — that one could be good.
Lotta options. Almost everyone in the division would be thrilled to fight him I’d think.
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by SC on Feb 15, 2009 2:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Also Witter could be a good opponent and name. There really are some great options out there for him.
by 3zilla on Feb 15, 2009 8:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Just watched the fights on DVR
Was out for a Valentine’s Day dinner before. My thoughts:
- I’m glad the commish stepped in during the Angulo fight. I can see why the ref didn’t stop it, but it was looking like shades of Mancini-Kim there.
- The HBO staff was on crack when they kept saying the fight ended, Martinez was clearly up, and the ref clearly never waved off the fight. To top it all off, the crew couldn’t even admit they screwed up before. Embarrassing for HBO to me. Martinez did get robbed though. I gave Cintron 4 rounds, and I thought I was giving him the benefit of the doubt.
- I’m with the judges on the Campbell fight. Overall, Funeka looked better, but I gave Campbell 6 rounds (1, 2, 3, 8, 11 and 12), even though he was completely dominated in many of the rounds he lost. Fact is, a blocked punch doesn’t count for much, and in the rounds Campbell won, Funeka just kept hitting gloves and elbows, while the most effective punches of those rounds were landed by Campbell. Funeka did well enough though that he probably becomes the most avoided fighter in the division. I think he’d give anyone trouble other than Pacquiao and Valero (who he seems tailor made for). BTW, was I the only one who kept thinking Funeka looked like a T-Rex with such disproportionately short arms compared to his torso?
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on Feb 15, 2009 3:13 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Cintron didn’t even contest the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th or 12th round. Thats 7 one-sided rounds for Martinez. I’m not saying the guy looked good but this was a bad robbery.
Did anyone give Cintron 6 rounds?
by BabyBull1289 on Feb 15, 2009 3:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Apparently 2 people did....
Does the fact a boxer doesn't switch weight divisions during their career detract from their overall P4P ranking?
Cos I'd take Hagler over most heavies in history, P4P, and also over "6 weight world champion" Oscar De La Hoya, and Marvellous Marvin never really messed about with his weight, did he?
by Chaos100 on Feb 15, 2009 8:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
nope
bad decision. Cintron lost every part of the fight. Martinez was throwing better power, faster, better ring control. And, look at the 12th, to me that was close to a 10-8 round before the point got taken.
I like Cintron, it seems like he should be better than he really seems to be. I’m concluding he’s got two problems: he’s not that hungry and he’s dumb
by lcollins1 on Feb 15, 2009 11:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

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