Luke Campbell out to beat Gary Sykes and regain respect

By Tim Hobbs

Image: Luke Campbell was beaten by Yvan Mendy last time out

Luke Campbell is planning to put on a show against Gary Sykes and regain the respect he feels he has lost.

The Olympic gold medallist is chief support to Kell Brook's latest IBF world title defence against Kevin Bizier, live on Sky Sports 1, on Saturday.

It will be his first fight since losing a split decision to Yvan Mendy last December and he'll be under the guidance of new trainer Jorge Rubio at the Sheffield Arena.

Campbell (12-1-KO10) admits he was a "shadow of his former self" when losing for the first time as a professional and is adamant he will be back to his best against Sykes (28-4-KO6).

"I let let myself down and I let my fight fans down because they shouldn't haven't seen me like that," he told Sky Sports.

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"I should've pulled out a few days before out the fight but I take full responsibility and I have to deal with the consequences.

"I always seem to learn the hard way in boxing. It's no excuse, and I shouldn't have been in there but I was and it was my decision to be in there.

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"It's changed a lot for me and I've changed a lot of things I am doing. Everything happens for a reason."

It's changed a lot for me and I've changed a lot of things I am doing.
Luke Campbell

Campbell has been working with Rubio - best-known for training Amir Khan and agreeing to fight Breidis Prescott - on and off for a couple of years, but the training arrangement has now gone full-time.

The Hull fighter admits he would've made the switch even if he'd won the decision against Mendy, even though spending time training out in Miami keeps him away from his family.

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"It was a really hard decision to make, a massive decision and a tough one," he said.

"But I am glad I made the decision and let's now move forward. I was feeling tired, weak, there was just nothing about me, no focus, nothing in the week before the Mendy fight.

"But it's been and gone and it's over now all I want to do is regain the respect of the fight fans and show them what I am capable of.

"Even if I'd have got that decision [against Mendy], I think I'd still have done it, but I don't know, everything happens for a reason and I want to gain respect from the fans."

Campbell reacts to his first defeat as a professional

Campbell could also gain his first traditional title as a professional when he and Sykes scrap it out for the vacant Commonwealth lightweight strap on Saturday night.

'Sykesy' was the British and English super-featherweight champion before moving up in weight and has lost twice in Prizefighter. His two other career defeats saw him push Liam Walsh and Gary Buckland all the way.

The Buckland loss happened at Ponds Forge in Sheffield so Sykes is familiar with the surroundings, while Campbell will make his Steel City debut.

Campbell said: "I am really looking forward to it. I've never boxed in the Sheffield Arena so I am looking forward to it. It's right down the road from me, and I'm chief support for Kell Brook, which is good.

Image: Gary Sykes (right) is tough and durable, says a confident Campbell

"It's one of those, you'll soon find out. I believe you are going to see a lot more of what I am capable of doing.

"Sykes is a good fighter, so I've been working on a few things and I am going to go in there and put a great show on, show everybody what I am capable of doing. 

"You are not going to see anything you saw in my last fight. This is going to be me on it.

"If I start getting through with shots, it doesn't matter how durable he is and I know he's a warrior, but every warrior meets his end."

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