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Boxing: Nate Campbell Loses Belts On Scales, Funeka Fight Continues As Planned

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Lightweight Nate Campbell is eager to show his naysayers he has what it takes to be a champion. He’ll face South Africa’s Ali Funeka Saturday during the main event of HBO’s Boxing After Dark.

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By EDDIE DANIELS

edaniels@tampatrib.com

Published: February 14, 2009

TAMPA - Before Nate Campbell could enter the ring inside the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise tonight, his two remaining belts had been ripped away from his proverbial waist.

During Friday's weigh-in for his 135-pound bout against South Africa's Ali Funeka, Campbell, a longtime Tampa resident and Jacksonville native, came in at 138 pounds. He was given two hours to shed the remaining weight, but when he returned, he was down to just 137 1/2. By rule, Campbell was stripped of his IBF and WBO lightweight titles.

Those belts, including the WBA title Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KOs) vacated in January, were the spoils of his dominating victory against then-unbeaten Juan Diaz in Cancun, Mexico in March 2008.

"We couldn't shake the last three [pounds]," said Campbell's friend and co-promoter Terry Trekas. "We've been trying for the last two days and his body just hit a wall. We knew he was going to have to go to 140 eventually. We were just kind of hoping we could squeeze a [Juan Manuel] Marquez fight and maybe a [Marco Antonio] Barrera fight in and get a couple of paydays before we had to move up, but the weight just wouldn't come off. And it isn't like he didn't try or anything."

The fight will still go forward and if Funeka (30-1-2, 25 KOs), who weighed-in at 133 1/2, wins, he would claim the IBF and WBO belts, according to Don King Promotions' Alan Hopper. Tonight's fight is the main event on HBO's Boxing After Dark, which airs live at 10.

This recent tribulation just adds fuel to the fire of a man who has felt the burden of the underdog role. Though he entered as the champion, Campbell believes naysayers have thrust him into the role of challenger.

"I've always been the same guy, but now I'm beating guys who you guys don't think I can beat. Funeka doesn't think I can beat him. He thinks he's too tall," said the 5-foot7 Campbell of the 6-foot-1 Funeka. "He thinks he's this, he's that. All that stuff. But when the bell rings, he's got to show me something."

Shortly after the fight was made official, Funeka responded to his trainers search for sparring partners by saying: "To be honest with you, I do not see the need to hire sparring partners because Campbell is an open book to me. I know the guy's fighting style like the back of my hand and I can say right now that he does not pose any danger to me."

Needless to say, that quip has drawn a heavy ire from Campbell.

In preparation for the taller Funeka, Campbell, who trained in Fort Lauderdale, brought in Hicklet Lau, Ed Paredes and Angino Perez, all of whom are 6-foot and above.

"When the bell rings Saturday night, I'm going to show you what I think about him," Campbell said. "I'm going to hit him in the mouth, in the stomach, his back, his shoulders, wherever he turns and gives me to hit, I'm going to hit it.

"I don't care anything about that guy. He's been running his mouth."

Campbell, 36, said he was surprised Funeka decided to go the route of trash talking, adding no one in South Africa would back up their talk by putting their Krugerrands – South Africa's bullion coin – where their mouth is.

"Actually I was [surprised] that he would actually talk trash. He doesn't even speak English," Campbell said. "He doesn't know anything about me. What he sees on tape, let me tell you something, when you see me fight, I guarantee you a lot of guys who fought me in the past are like, 'I know I can beat him.' Then the bell rings and I get to doing to them what I did to someone else in a different way and they don't like it.

"One of my family members told me something one time, I thought it was the funniest thing in the world. He said, 'You can talk until your [behind] catches fire.'"

This will be the first fight for Campbell since he beat Diaz on March 8, 2008. Campbell was scheduled to face Joan Guzman that September 13, but ironically, Guzman failed to make weight and called off the fight.

Campbell's answer to those who doubt him? Listen to his entrance music.

He will walk in to the Tim McGraw song, How Bad Do You Want It?

"Funeka has been talking a lot of trash," Campbell explained. "Tim McGraw has one simple question that he asks on his last CD. The first track on the CD is called How Bad Do You Want It?"

Campbell then recites the lyrics: "I get to make my living/doing what I love/every night I give my heart and soul/sometimes that ain't enough."

"I'm the underdog no matter who I fight," he said. "I can fight a one-armed, guy with a club foot and they'll still say I'm the underdog. Nobody expects me to beat anybody. They said I just caught Juan Diaz one night…"

Trekas quickly jumped in, saying Campbell's win was labeled: "Dumb luck."

Considering everything leading into the fight, Saturday night inside the BankAtlantic Center, fight fans will find out how bad Campbell wants it.

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214.

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