Held on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise,
Fla.
SUNRISE, Fla.—Unified lightweight world champion Nate “Galaxxy
Warrior” Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KOs) gave a stern warning to
International Boxing Federation No. 1-Ranked lightweight
mandatory challenger Ali “Rush Hour” Funeka (30-1, 25 KOs) at a
Don King-hosted press conference at BankAtlantic Center today
promoting their Valentine’s Day meeting in South Florida.
“I’m a New Age guy that likes to be on the Internet,” Campbell
began. “Then I went on the Web and read what Ali Funeka said
he’s going to do to me on Valentine’s Day. He said he sees
nothing special in me. He said he knows me like the back of his
hand. That’s rhetoric but he’s going to pay for it. I’m going
to beat him like he tried to steal something from me.”
Campbell said there was no previous ill will between him and his
South African opponent.
“This was a basic training camp for me until I heard his mouth.
Now it’s personal. He’s got to pay the retail American price for
his words, not the South African price. I’m going to hit this
6-foot-1-inch Funeka everywhere it’s legal and maybe where it
ain’t if the referee turns his back. If he truly wants to win,
he better be ready to fight, kill or die.”
Campbell’s comments caught the attention of the assembled media
and his promoter, Don King.
“He’s not fooling around,” King said of Campbell’s comments.
“Don’t forget what this man did to Juan Diaz, and he did that
partly on my behalf. I hope Funeka knows what he’s getting
into.”
King announced tickets to the fight, priced at $200, $75, $40 and
$25 (with all seats buy one, get one free excepting a limited
number of golden circle seats) will go on sale at 10 a.m. on
Friday and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, charge
by phone at (800) 745-3000, by visiting
www.ticketmaster.com or at the
BankAtlantic Center box office.
Dubbed “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” by King, the card will also
feature colorful former three-time world champion Ricardo “El
Matador” Mayorga (28-7-1, 22 KOs) tangling with undefeated
Alfredo “Perro” Angulo (14-0, 11 KOs) to determine the WBC’s No.
1 ranking and mandatory challenger at the 154-pound limit as well
as another important match at 154 pounds with interim WBC super
welterweight champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (44-1-1, 24
KOs) taking on former IBF welterweight champion Kermit “The
Killer” Cintron (30-2, 27 KOs).
A full undercard, with opponents to be announced soon, will
showcase heavyweights Ray “The Rainman” Austin (26-4, 17 KOs) and
Bermane “B-Ware” Stiverne (16-1, 16 KOs); undefeated
cruiserweight Francisco “The Wizard” Palacios (16-0, 9 KOs);
welterweight Ivan Kirpa (22-1, 14 KOs); lightweights Anges Adjaho
(23-1, 14 KOs) and Angelo “The Cobra” Santana (4-0, 3 KOs);
junior lightweight John “Action” Jackson (13-1, 13 KOs);
undefeated light heavyweight Anthony Dirrell (14-0, 12 KOs); and
featherweight Gary Russell (1-0, 1 KO).
The event is promoted by Don King Productions. Campbell vs.
Funeka is presented in association with One Punch Productions.
Mayorga vs. Angulo is a co-promotion with Gary Shaw Productions.
Campbell vs. Funeka, Mayorga vs. Angulo and Martinez vs. Cintron
will also be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at
10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
