SCOTLAND Heavyweight Boxing Champion Nick Campbell is looking to ‘take care of business’ when he returns to the ring on Thursday – before potentially targeting a rematch with the man who defeated him last year.
The former Jersey Reds rugby star is set to take on Czechia’s Jiri Surmaj in St Andrew’s Sporting Club’s season opener in Glasgow.
Campbell suffered the first loss of his professional boxing career in a shock defeat to Steve ‘Drago’ Robinson last December. Following that loss, the 33-year-old changed his team and began working with new coach Billy Nelson before bouncing back with a points-win against Jake Darnell in April – the first time he had gone the distance in his seven-fight career.
And the Glaswegian is looking to get past Surmaj, who has a record of four wins and three losses, before setting up another fight before the end of the year.
Campbell said: ‘He’s a guy that is there to be beaten, but I know it will be a tough fight.
‘If I get out there and do what I know I can do then that will be enough. I’m focusing on what I can do and making sure I implement everything I have been working on.
‘I feel I am doing everything I need to in the gym and Billy is happy with what I am doing. I am ready to perform.’
Campbell, who won the vacant Scottish Heavyweight Championship with a dominant performance against Jay McFarlane on the undercard to the Josh Taylor v Jack Catterall world title fight, said he had taken a lot from his defeat to Robinson and that he wanted an opportunity to set the record straight.
‘The boxing world puts a lot of emphasis on people never losing fights but sometimes you take more from a defeat than a win,’ he said. ‘In a lot of ways, it has put me in good stead to progress and learn and I’m better than I was then.
‘I’m definitely looking to get another fight in before the end of the year, but the most important thing is taking care of business on Thursday first.
‘I am looking at opportunities and challenges – I’d love to get a rematch with Steve Robinson, and Jay McFarlane has been calling me out for a rematch for the Scottish title, so maybe there could be something there.’
Campbell splits his training time between Glasgow and Jersey and said he is looking forward to fighting in his hometown.
‘Whenever I get to perform back home it’s always special.
‘I’ve got people flying over from Jersey to support and I am really thankful for the fanbase I have in Jersey. I am very lucky that I have Jersey and Glasgow behind me – I have both the Scotland and Jersey flags on my shorts and when I fight, I like to represent both my homeland and my adopted home.’
