By Rick Reeno
The last few days have not been easy for Nate Campbell. Last Friday he lost his lightweight titles after two failed attempts to make 135-pounds. The following night in Sunrise, Florida, he was thoroughly tested for twelve rounds by a very game Ali Funeka.
After a successful run at 135, Campbell begins to evaluate his options at junior welterweight. During his tenure at 135, he tried, with little success, to land the big fights. Now he makes the jump in weight when almost every big name, at 135, is trying to get him in the ring. Golden Boy Promotions is holding a lightweight tournament pay-per-view on April 4. A fight with Campbell was one of the main prizes that Golden Boy wanted for the tournament winner. Don King was hoping to put him in the ring with the winner of Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Amir Khan. All things considered, Campbell has no regrets about the move in weight.
"Where were these guys when I wanted to fight them? I waited around for a long time and now my body says no more [referring to his inability to make the lightweight limit]. Funeka was a very tough fight. He can crack, but the fight went just the way I wanted. Now I'm looking for what's out there at 140-pounds," Campbell tells BoxingScene.com.
For the first time in a long time, Campbell is a promotional free agent. Before the news broke that his body was no longer capable of getting down to 135, Golden Boy was very interested in signing Campbell and matching him against the winner of their tournament and/or the upcoming fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz.
Promoter/advisor Terry Trekas plans to review any and all promotional offers, which includes a potential new deal with Campbell's former promoter Don King.
"We are going to hear Don out. We'll see what Don has to say. We are not leaving anybody out. There are a lot of opportunities for Nate at 140-pounds. The winner of Hatton-Pacquiao, or the loser. People have mentioned Zab Judah, Juan Urango, the winner of Timothy Bradley and Kendall Holt. Right now it's too early to say for sure [what's next]," Trekas said.
