NATE CAMPBELL W12 (SPLIT) JUAN DIAZ

Nate Campbell did what few could have expected, beating Juan Diaz at his own game of high-volume punching to end the Baby Bull’s unbeaten record in their lightweight title bout on HBO from Cancun on Saturday night.

I gave Campbell a very good chance of winning the fight, knowing he had been able to enjoy his first real training camp with the backing of his co-promoter Don King. The veteran from Jacksonville, FL, was in the best condition of his life. In the closing rounds it was Jackson who was coming on strongly while Diaz was fading after a strong start — which was the reverse of what had generally been expected.

Even having a point deducted for what the referee ruled was dangerous use of the head could not stop Campbell’s march to victory — astonishingly only on a split decision — over the crowd favourite from Houston, TX, but of Mexican parentage.

Ironically it was the Florida judge, Rick Bays, who had Diaz winning, 114-113, while the Arizona judge of Mexican ancestry, Joe Garcia, saw it Campbell’s way, 115-112

Judge Bill Clancy of North Carolina had the biggest margin, 116-111 in favour of the new champion.

While Diaz scored well early it was Campbell who was dictating the fight in the later rounds and landing much the harder shots.

What I noticed was that even when Diaz was letting his hands go to the body, Campbell kept cool and composed, letting his younger opponent burn up energy and digging in enough of his own hooks and right hands underneath to keep right in the fight while having a strength-sapping effect on his opponent.

Getting cut over the left eye from what was ruled a clash of heads was obviously a handicap for Diaz, although by pulling his head back in an exaggerated way I think he influenced the referee in the matter of the point deduction. Campbell just got on with the fight. He seemed confident it would be his night, and having a point taken away was just a minor bump in the road to victory.

Diaz’s corner cannily tried to get the fight stopped in the middle rounds so that it could go to the scorecards, knowing there was a very good chance Diaz would be declared winner on a technical decision, but the referee wouldn’t go for it despite the “He can’t see” protestations. (Or maybe the language barrier meant the corner’s pleas were heard but simply not understood.)

Towards the end the fight became a rout, with Diaz’s left eye now swollen almost shut from above and Campbell pounding him with right hands. Diaz, though, showed a great chin and plenty of heart, and I thought he fought well enough to make the last round competitive. He can come again.

Should the corner have pulled out Diaz due to the state of his left eye? I do not think so. Even though the eye was cut and closing he was still able to make a fight of it, and with his early success there was always the chance that if he could endure three more rounds he might get a break on the scorecards. As I have noted before, more than once, when a fight goes to the cards you can never be sure what the result will be.

Campbell seemed near tears when the championships belts were strapped around him. It has been a long road with its share of adversity. After the ninth round he told his trainer, John David Jackson: “I feel like a champion.” He fought like one, too.