By Lyle Fitzsimmons

If it’s Tuesday, it must be Nate Campbell.

And while I can’t speak for the journalistic masses, the notebooks of this Florida-based writer have seemed a mite empty in the four months since the 38-year-old fellow Floridian last stepped in a ring – and in the 19 months since he last won a fight.

But if a Sunday afternoon cyber interview is indicative, the drought is about to end.

Reached via text message the morning after a sleepy middleweight main event in Los Angeles, Campbell insisted his career remains alive and well in spite of the slump he’s endured since winning a close 12-round decision over South African lightweight stringbean Ali Funeka in February 2009.

That night in the Miami suburb of Sunrise, the Jacksonville native won two of three scorecards but nonetheless lost his coveted IBF, WBA and WBO title belts after failing to make the 135-pound weight limit on the pre-fight scales.

He flopped in a painful two-night experiment at 140, suffering a deep eye cut in a three-round no-contest against WBO champ Timothy Bradley last August and aggravating a chronic back problem while losing a wide 10-rounder to rising contender Victor Ortiz in March.

Campbell says the back problem is what hindered his efforts to stay at 135, but, now that it’s been handled, he plans on returning to the division whose control he assumed with an upset of previously-unbeaten champ Juan Diaz four fights ago in Cancun, Mexico.

Previously, Campbell had been stopped in eight rounds by Robbie Peden in a try for the IBF junior lightweight title in 2005 in Australia, and dropped a split 12-round decision to IBO lightweight claimant Isaac Hlatshwayo a year later in Tampa.

“Now that I am healthy I am looking to wind my career up on top and so I am training,” he said. “I am waiting on something to come. I am going back to 135 since my back is better.”

Among the prospective targets in his new old weight class include reigning champions Miguel Vazquez (IBF), Leonardo Zappavigna (IBO), Juan Manuel Marquez (WBA/WBO) and Humberto Soto (WBC), though Mexican veterans Soto and Marquez are widely regarded as the top of the ranks.

Soto defended last week with a decision over Fidel Monterrosa in Culiacan, while Marquez is scheduled to face rugged contender Michael Katsidis in November in Las Vegas.

He retained his belts against Diaz with a unanimous decision two months ago at Mandalay Bay.

“They can all get it,” Campbell said. “I am out to fight them all. I am gonna turn 135 out on my way out of the door. I am gonna make it happen.”

*  *  *  *  *

As for other ex-lightweight kings among my all-time favorite fighters, it’s not been a good week.

Former three-defense WBC title-holder Floyd Mayweather Jr., who tucked a 135-pound dethroning of Jose Luis Castillo between title runs at 130 and 140, seems headed for at least some “guest of the state” time, thanks to Clark County District Attorney David Roger.

According to multiple reports, Mayweather faces as many as 34 years if convicted on each of eight charges – including one for felony grand larceny, two for felony coercion and one for felony robbery, along with one for misdemeanor domestic battery and three for misdemeanor harassment.

Not exactly an easy weekend in the county lockup.

And make no mistake, if the sextuple champion once known as “Pretty Boy” ends his career without another appearance in the ring, I think the sport will be poorer because of it.

If I need a villain for a promotion, a perfectly-conditioned opponent for a superfight or a defensive master to foil an offensive powerhouse, he’s first on my list.

And after 41 mostly one-sided wins in 41 fights, he’s one of the best of this – or any – generation.

But regardless of an unapologetic affection for his occupational talents, I’ve never considered Mayweather all that highly for the position of role model.

He’s arrogant. He’s petty. And he’s oft-times juvenile. Not exactly the qualities I’m looking to add to my own repertoire or bestow upon my 2-year-old son, Ryan.

And if the tales told by former girlfriend Josie Harris and their 10- and 9-year-old sons are true, I hope he goes away for each and every second of the time prescribed.

If they’re not… I still think he whips Pacquiao over 12.

*  *  *  *  *

Bringing up the rear in the once-elite lightweight parade… “Sugar” Shane Mosley.

I’ve got to confess, when I first heard the former IBF champ was to face Sergio Mora in his post-Mayweather return, I thought it was a perfect mix of recognizable name and safe opponent.

And because I saw Mayweather’s superior skill – and not Mosley’s advanced age – as the deciding factor last May, I assumed the 39-year-old would pick up with Mora where he’d left off with Margarito.

But after Saturday night, perhaps I’ll reconsider.

In needing a late rally to break even with a one-hit professional wonder, maybe Mosley is really showing the age his sculpted abs, boundless energy and easy smile are quick to make folks forget.

Or maybe it was impossible for a fighter of any age to impress against a foe whose admitted mindset leaned more toward admiration than assassination.

Against a Pacquiao, a Cotto or a Berto, he’s going to be asked a few more questions.

And after two straight 12-round duds… it’s no longer a sure thing he’s got the answers.

Be careful with your next step, Shane.

Verrrrrrrrrry careful.

*  *  *  *  *

This week’s title-fight schedule:

SATURDAY
WBA flyweight title – Tokyo, Japan
Daiki Kameda (champion) vs. Takefumi Sakata (No. 5 contender)      
Kameda (17-2, 11 KO): First title defense; Lost previous title shots in 2007 and 2009      
Sakata (36-5-2, 17 KO): Ninth title fight (4-3-1, 1 KO); Held WBA title in 2007-08      
Fitzbitz says: “Powerful Kameda continues roll in battle of Japanese veterans.” Kameda by decision

WBC cruiserweight title – Warsaw, Poland
Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (champion) vs. Jason Robinson (No. 10 contender)      
Wlodarczyk (43-2-1, 32 KO): First title defense; Held IBF title in 2006-07      
Robinson (19-5, 11 KO): First title fight; Won three straight fights since three-fight loss streak
Fitzbitz says: “Walkover first defense for newly-crowned 200-pound claimant.” Wlodarczyk in 7

Last week’s picks: 3-2
Overall picks record: 138-49 (73.7 percent)

Lyle Fitzsimmons has covered professional boxing since 1995 and written a weekly column for Boxing Scene since 2008. He is a full voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Reach him at fitzbitz@msn.com or follow him at www.twitter.com/fitzbitz .