Campbell loses to Linares on split decision
Olympic gold medallist Luke Campbell failed to win a world title after losing to Jorge Linares on a split decision in Los Angeles last night (23/09/2017).
The Hull fighter was knocked down in the second, but, troubled the world lightweight champion throughout the fight.
Both traded body blows during the fourth with Campbell then putting together a devastating combination in the fifth.
Despite Linares landing powerful punches in the sixth, Campbell utilised his jab and won the seventh round.
The British fighter looked impressive going into the final stages of the fight, but, Linares raised the tempo, particularly in the eleventh and had done enough for the win by the final bell.
British judge Victor Loughlin scored the fight 115-113 in Campbell’s favour while the other two judges scored the fight 114-113 and 115-112 in favour of the world lightweight champion.
Speaking after the fight, Campbell did not doubt the determination he showed during the fight.
No one can ever doubt my heart.
I got off to a rocky start, he hit me with a nice clean shot in the second round, caught me on the eye and cut it. I wasn’t dazed or anything like that, just a nice shot that put me on my back.
When it came to who won the fight, the former Team GB fighter believe he did enough to outclass Linares.
I thought I won the fight. He’s a great champion but I thought I outclassed him. I didn’t think he was landing any shots whatsoever and I was catching him with all the clean shots.