The HBO Saturday double-dip from Cancun, Mexico coughed up a dandy co-feature to the Maskaev-Peter heavyweight title fight with a show stopping lightweight multi-title scorcher with Juan Diaz defending against veteran Nate “Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell. 

Expectations from most precincts was the young champion Diaz would likely wear down the age 36 veteran Campbell - but the “Galaxxy Warrior” would have other plans - going in the Tampa, Florida, old school Campbell was quoted as seeing it a simple grown man vs. fat kid. 

The opening bell hinted that Campbell believed he would be too battle hardened for the undefeated Diaz - the stanza set the table for a furious pace with both waging battle at close quarters and neither giving an inch - single blemish saw Diaz cut over left eye. 

The wounded orbit played no part in a round two barn burner that on my card saw it all square after two - Diaz has the edge over numbers three and four as he mixes a little early round boxing with closing flurries. 

The ring action continued at a hot pace with Diaz the more effective after five rounds - and then numero six and a point deduction to Campbell for head butt - and from then on it would become all Campbell as Diaz would be slowed by the cut eye. 

The head, the old school savvy of the veteran, would prove too much for the Texas college scholar during the run to the wire - try as he did it was Diaz and not Campbell springing a leak in the gas tank over the championship rounds of 10-11-12. 

Then the scoring: Campbell 116-111, 115-112 and Diaz 114-113 - and winner and new champion Nate Campbell. My unofficial agreed Campbell 114-113 in points and 7-5 under round by round method. 

Post Scripts:

• Nate Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KO) ~ age 36 but far from burned out after 38 kept appointments. Showed solid chin over first half give and take exchanges - mixed in borderline infractions that only seasoned veterans with skills can get away with. All paid off down them critical late rounds. Split-verdict translates to do-over with losing champion a must.

• Juan Diaz (33-1, 17 KO) ~ age 24, the kid handled serious adversity with true grit to make this one to the finish line. Showed quality of true champion. Left eye completely closed come the finis. The scholar will have learned off this first serious lesson from the school of hard knocks. Much like WW2 Gen. Douglas MacArthur once shouted when leaving Corregidor, he too shall return. 

Closing Comments: Lived up to expectations until late rounds when eye injury slowed Diaz to a walk. Surprise was in seeing Campbell at advanced pugilistic age able to handle the fast pace over first half. The inside action was wicked. Both earned a curtsy - Campbell deservedly owns temporary property of IBF, WBA, WBO belts.

MIA department: The Campbell-Diaz scrap deserved a Larry Merchant teamed with Manuel Steward.