CAMPBELL BY MAJORITY DECISION OVER FUNEKA BUT LOSES TITLES TO THE SCALE... by Frank Gonzalez Jr.
After eleven months of inactivity, Nate "The Galaxxy Warrior" Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KOs) was finally back in action Saturday night at the BankAtlantic Center in his home state of Florida, where he failed to make the contracted weight of 135 pounds and lost his WBA/IBF and WBO titles on the scales before the first bell rang to start the fight against Ali Funeka (30-2-2, 25 KOs) of South Africa.
Relatively unknown Ali Funeka proved to be a high quality boxer/puncher. Had he beaten Campbell, he would have taken Campbell's lost titles back home to Africa. Funeka's only claim to fame on this side of the planet was his KO win over slick boxer, Zahir Raheem last July. At six-foot-one, Funeka uses his height and his long jab to dictate the action against typically smaller opponents.

 

Official quotes from Campbell:
"had two knockdowns, of course I thought I won the fight.  This guy was tough.  He could punch, take a shot.  He tried to keep me away with his jab, but body shots is how I win fights.  His day will come.
"I felt fatigue from trying to make weight in rounds five, six and seven.  I'm moving up to 140 pounds."
(On lingering disappointment from failing to make weight) "I worked my whole life to be world champion, to be the best at what I do.  Of course it hurts but the win feels good."

 

 

CINTRON PLEADS HIS WAY TO A DRAW... by Oleg Bershadsky
This fight showed that Cintron wasn't simply the victim of two possibly now questionable losses to Margarito, but that he still has plenty of work to do in the gym. In short this fight further highlighted his weaknesses and perhaps lowered his stock in the division. Martinez, on the other hand, faired well in a high profile fight, which should give him more opportunities in the future. Instead of going on a tirade about incompetent judges and referees this writer will conclude this article by saying that official records and titles have lost their meaning a long time ago and now the only opinion that matters is that of the fans. 

 

 

ALFREDO ANGULO IS "TOP DOG" AGAIN...
Eighty years to the day, undefeated No. 1 super welterweight contender ALFREDO "Perro" ANGULO played Al Capone, mowing down Cosme Rivera in his own St. Valentine's Day Massacre.  Making his case as boxing's most exciting fighter tonight, Angulo (15-0,12 KOs), of Mexicali. Mexico, extended his incredible knockout streak to 11, dating back to July 14, 2006, stopping the game Rivera at 2:38 of the fifth round.

 

 

OTHER RESULTS FROM THE BANKATLANTIC CENTER.... Courtesy of Chris Robinson @ ringside

1. Undefeated WBA #4 rated cruiserweight Francisco Palacios, 17-0, 10 KOs scored an impressive knock out over Lawrence Chapman, 19-6-2, 13 KOs, at 2:58 of round one to retain his WBA Fedelatin belt.
   
   Olympian featherweight Gary Russell Jr., 2-0, 1 KO beat John Wampash, 1-0-1, 1 KO in a four-rounder, 40-33 all.

2.  

3. Former lightweight amateur star from Cuba, Angelo Santana, 5-0, 4 KOs, scored a 2nd round TKO over Mario Garcia, 7-9, 4 KOs. The fight was stopped after a knockdown in round two. Time was 1:36.
    

4. Lightweight Anges Adjaho, 25-1, 14 KOs scored an eight round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Fernando Angulo 22-5, 14 KOs. The scores, which were announced some time after the end of the fight were 79-72, 78-73 twice.
    

5. Heavyweight Bermane Stiverne, 17-1, 16 KOs dropped Robert Hawkins 23-12, 7 KOs in rounds1 and 6, scoring a unanimous decision  77-73, 77-73, 78-72.
   
   Super middleweight Anthony Dirrell remains undefeated, 15-0, 12 KOs, as he scored a unanimous decision over Jose Medina, 40-35 all.
    

6. Former heavyweight title challenger Ray Austin, 27-4-4, 17 KOs, scored an eight round unanimous decision over Julius Long, 15-11, 13 KOs, 40-35 all.
    

7. In a serious mismatch young lightweight John Jackson, 14-1- 13 KOs, defeated Ricardo Medina, 31-33-5. 17 KOs unanimously 80-71, 79-72 twice.

WHEN 6 THOUGHT IT WAS 9: THE MAYORGA SAGA... by Martin Wade

Nate Campbell Keeps It Popping: After all of the trash talk from Joan Guzman you can understand why Nate would have fought the dude at 170. I felt for the brotha Nate because he did what he was supposed to do to prepare and to have a payday go down the drain like that hurts. Campbell is no young stud, and it is obvious that his complete undressing of Juan Diaz is of no consequence to the big money brokers in the sport. His only recourse now is to 'Hopkins'  the lightweight division until the names either step to him or step away. If he keeps winning maybe a come backing Casamayor (or Katsidis) will see his strap as a road back into the mix at 135. I Credit HBO for keeping the Galaxxy Warrior in play, and paying Ali Funeka enough to take the risk of crossing the pond. The best thing for viewers is Funeka can fight, standing at a freakish 6' 1" the South African dusted off Zahir Raheem (in 4 rounds) like Pledge. He can be hurt but it never stopped him from racking up 25 KOs to go with his 31 victories. I don't see Brother Nate slipping; he's what I'd like to call the rare 'hungry champion.'

 

 

NATE 'THE GALAXXY WARRIOR' CAMPBELL BLASTS ALI FUNEKA AGAIN....
International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association lightweight champion Nate "Galaxxy Warrior" Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KOs) continued his verbal assault on Ali "Rush Hour" Funeka (30-1-2, 25 KOs), the man he will face in the main event on Saturday night at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla.  (HBO Boxing After Dark tripleheader, 10 p.m. ET/PT).

"I listened and read what he [Funeka] was going to do to me," Campbell said.  "He talks trash over an ocean and then he gets here and doesn't have nothin' to say.  I'm going to be doing the talking in the ring on Saturday night.  He's going to have to face me."

Campbell's trainer, former world champion John David Jackson, piled on.

"This boy [Funeka] didn't earn his No. 1 position," Jackson said.  "He only beat a junior lightweight to get this match.  You've been talking trash over in Africa, now you better back it up.  Nate's going to whip your ass."
Tickets priced at $200, $75, $40 and $25 (with all seats 2-for-1 excepting a limited number of golden circle seats) are on sale now 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.

 

 

DON KING'S "ST. VALENTINE'S DAY MASSACRE" WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING CARD; PROMOTER TO SELL SEATS 2-FOR-1...
Boxing promoter Don King will present another tremendous international boxing event in South Florida when his "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" lands at BankAtlantic Center on Saturday, Feb. 14 featuring unified lightweight world champion -and Jacksonville native- Nate "Galaxxy Warrior" Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KOs) opposing International Boxing Federation mandatory challenger Ali "Rush Hour" Funeka, from East London, South Africa.
The BankAtlantic Center will be configured in a fan-friendly half-house configuration with only the best seats in the lower bowl and floor areas being placed for sale.  In addition, promoter Don King has created a special "Valentine's Day 2-for-1" ticket promotion where almost everyone who buys a seat will get an additional ticket for free, starting at just $25 (except a small number of golden circle seats).
 

 

DANGEROUS VETERAN COSME RIVERA STEPS IN TO FACE UNDEFEATED ANGULO AT BANKATLANTIC CENTER ON SATURDAY...

Former International Boxing Federation No. 1-ranked welterweight Cosme “Chino” Rivera (31-11-2, 23 KOs) has agreed to step in on five days notice to face undefeated World Boxing Council No. 3-ranked super welterweight Alfredo “Perro” Angulo (14-0, 11 KOs) on Don King’s “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” boxing card on Saturday at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla.

 Mercurial former three-time world champion Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga, from Nicaragua, was to have faced Angulo, but pulled out 10 days before the match. 

Rivera, 32, from Huatabampo, Mexico, is a dangerous veteran who has been in 45 prizefights and fought in nearly 350 rounds.  By contrast, the 26-year-old Angulo, from Mexicali, Mexico, will be entering just his 15^th professional match and has participated in less than 50 rounds.

The main event showcases unified (IBF/WBO/WBA) lightweight world champion -and Jacksonville native- Nate “Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KOs) opposing International Boxing Federation mandatory challenger Ali “Rush Hour” Funeka, from East London, South Africa.

Another match of great importance at 154 pounds pits interim World Boxing Council super welterweight champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (44-1-1, 24 KOs), from Buenos Aires, Argentina, against IBF welterweight champion Kermit “The Killer” Cintron (30-2, 27 KOs), from Reading, Pa.

Tickets priced at $200, $75, $40 and $25 (with all seats 2-for-1 excepting a limited number of golden circle seats) are on sale now 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.

 

UNIFIED LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION NATE CAMPBELL RESPONDS TO IBF MANDATORY CHALLENGER ALI FUNEKA...
"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..." 
 

 

THEY DON'T CALL HIM "THE MATADOR" FOR NOTHING!
Undefeated junior middleweight sensation ALFREDO ANGULO of Mexico, has lost the scent of his scheduled next victim - former world champion Ricardo "The Matador" Mayorga.  The Angulo-Mayorga WBC super welterweight title elimination bout was scheduled to take place on February 14, 2009 Valentine's Day at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla., and televised live on HBO, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. However, word has leaked out that Mayorga has taken an extended smoke break from training camp and has pulled out of the fight to determine the WBC's No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger. 

 

 

Post your comments here...