Nate Campbell-Victor Ortiz agreed to for May 15
by Scott Christ on Feb 9, 2010 4:49 PM EST
in Boxing News Analysis
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The rumored fight between junior welterweights Nate Campbell and Victor Ortiz has been agreed to and will be televised on May 15, with the main event of that show hopefully being Amir Khan-Juan Manuel Marquez. Rick Reeno reported the deal's agreement earlier today.
Ortiz does have an upcoming fight on February 25, but his opponent Hector Alatorre is as soft a touch as could possibly be considered even remotely acceptable. Alatorre has lost eight of his last 10 fights. The bout is nothing but a TV showcase for Ortiz on Golden Boy's "Fight Night Club" series.
Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KO) has had a rough go of it since upsetting Juan Diaz in 2008. He had a defense of his lightweight titles later that year canceled when Joan Guzman couldn't make weight, which led to Campbell filing for bankruptcy. By the time he got back into the ring against Ali Funeka in February 2009, nearly a year had passed. He got out of that tough fight with a close victory, and then was getting beaten up by Timothy Bradley in August of last year before the fight had to be stopped after three rounds when Campbell suffered a bad eye injury due to an accidental headbutt.
Campbell, 37, has a lot of resolve and toughness left, but my instinct is 140 isn't the best weight for him at this stage of his career. At the same time, Ortiz has a lot of questions left to answer after his loss to Marcos Maidana last year, which was followed by a tentative December performance against veteran Antonio Diaz.
It's a big-time crossroads fight for both. Both guys have a ton to gain with the win and just as much to lose with the loss. A loss would put Ortiz in a serious hole and possibly cast him as something of another Joel Julio, while a loss for Campbell could spell the end of his days as a legitimate contender.
And it's a good fight, too. A win for either possibly puts them right into line for a title shot by the end of 2010.
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campbell is going to school him
"Newspapermen ask dumb questions. They look up at the sun and ask if it is shining."
-Sonny Liston
.
I think you might have the beat…..
"If you sit there and watch a person take about an hour to tie his shoestrings, then you realize that whatever problems you got ain't that significant"
---Vernon Forrest 2006
by The Midnight Rambler on Feb 9, 2010 5:27 PM EST up reply actions
It’s not unfair at all. I do too. I’m not trying to disrespect his warrior gladiator spartan 300 watchmen dark knight spirit whatever, but he quit against Maidana and did so in a very strange manner. I think people tend to overdo all that “let’s not ever question the fighter because you can’t do that.” No, I can’t, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have thoughts on it. All Ortiz has to do is prove that he’s got the heart necessary to be a top fighter — not to me or you, necessarily, just in general. Talent is not a problem for him.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Feb 10, 2010 2:57 AM EST up reply actions
And that’s part of why I like this fight so much. Campbell may be past his best, but he’s a tough cat and will make Ortiz fight, unlike the can Golden Boy has Ortiz against this month.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Feb 10, 2010 2:58 AM EST up reply actions
Agreed...
For me the jury is still out on Ortiz, but I’m hoping he bounces back from the Maidana loss…..I think most of all he needs to prove it to himself that he has heart. A solid win over a scrappy vet like Campbell will hopefully give him his confidence back.
by ultimoshogun on Feb 10, 2010 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
Campbell always puts up a good fight
I think he can possibly beat Ortiz.
The Seattle Times linked to my website in June 2009. I wasn't aware of this until January 2010.
Campbell’s got too many slick moves for Ortiz, what Emmanuel Steward would call the little turns of the shoulder. Ortiz needs to get on Campbell like a cheap suit if he’s going to win this one and exert his weight and strength, but he just doesn’t seem like that kind of guy. And when he does come forward, he opens himself up too much and even Campbell at this stage of his career can shoot enough right hands through the center to win this fight by stoppage or decision.
Maidana made it look really difficult to miss with a straight right.
For the duration of the 5th and 6th rounds, he literally could have sent a postcard detailing to Ortiz exactly what was coming and he still couldn;t have missed him with a straight right.
And a Maidana straight right is not, to paraphrase Mr Mayweather, ‘nothin to fuck with’.
Some people are acting like Pacquiao should be expected to have just gone, "Yeah sure, let’s do something I’ve never done before because your dad made some dumbass baseless comment."
(SC, 28/12/09; http://www.badlefthook.com/2009/12/27/1221143/mayweather-pacquiao-update-bob#comments)
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