The former Jersey Reds rugby player admits he still has a lot to learn but hopes to ‘make a statement’ when he takes on Czech Petr Frohlich on the undercard of the WBA continental welterweight clash between Conor Benn and Samuel Vargas tonight.
The Scottish-born heavyweight was due to make his debut against Croatian Igor Milhajlovic in Belgium on 20 March, but the British Board of Boxing Control refused to sanction the fight as they would not allow him to make his professional debut outside the UK.
Campbell said he was ‘gutted’ that he could not make his debut in Belgium but now realises the opportunity to fight on a Matchroom show, organised by world-renowned promoter Eddie Hearn, was the best possible outcome.
‘There is no bigger stage to make your debut and I am going to go out there and put on a top performance and show everyone that I am no gimmick,’ he said.
He added: ‘I have played in front of big crowds before during my rugby days and I always try to be as professional as possible so hopefully the pressure does not get to me.’
When questioned on how far he thought he could go in boxing, Campbell replied: ‘You don’t get into professional boxing without having aspirations to achieve big things.’
Campbell, who started his amateur boxing career in Jersey and has been based here since, says he owes a lot to the Island, describing it as a ‘hidden gem’.
‘There are so many talented athletes across all sports in the Island and there is so much happening for such a small space,’ he explained.
‘I am happy to fly the Jersey flag alongside that of Scotland and I think it shows to a lot of people in the Island that if you set your mind to something, you can achieve great things.’
Coverage begins on Sky Sports Boxing’s Facebook page at 6pm today and continues on Sky Sports Action at 7pm.
