Sunday 23 September 2018 00:24, UK
Luke Campbell masterfully outpointed Yvan Mendy to avenge his 2015 defeat and set up a shot at the WBC world title.
The Hull lightweight, working with Shane McGuigan in his corner for the first time, promised a much-improved performance from that loss three years ago and he delivered with a clinical boxing display at Wembley.
Working behind a southpaw stance, Campbell's skill overwhelmed the Frenchman's come-forward pressure throughout the WBC final eliminator, before scores of 119-109 118-111 and 116-112 confirmed a crucial win.
With a buoyant atmosphere engulfing the national stadium, it was the Briton who managed to deploy his game plan the better, circling cleverly and firing skilful shots around the guard in a composed opener.
'The Lion' Mendy characteristically bulldozed forward to suggest another difficult night in the second, but from then on, Campbell took over and delivered somewhat of a boxing lesson.
The fourth period saw a beautiful right-left to the head and body catch the eye before more thudding blows to the midriff area stopped the Frenchman in his tracks.
The 2012 Olympic gold medallist began to ooze quality, circling on the back foot in the next few, keeping out of range, expertly showcasing that amateur boxing pedigree as a series of cuffing rights crashed home.
Mendy was proving as tough as he was the first time around at times and was finding some success, every clean shot followed by rampant roars in the away corner, but it was simply no match for the swift combinations greeting him on the way in.
Well up on the scorecards, Campbell hit cruise control down the stretch, beating out classy combinations from his southpaw stance as the rounds continued to pile up in his favour.
In the 11th, Mendy went for broke, marching out and hitting 'Cool Hand' with a bruising straight right that backed the Brit up on the ropes under fire. Campbell though showed his class and experience to regain his senses and he controlled things from then on, making the decision a formality.
The Hull favourite will now target a shot at the WBC world title which is currently held by pound-for-pound rated star Mikey Garcia. The Californian man carries a daunting record of 39-0.
