Trainer’s Corner: Jackson on Campbell, Chagaev and more

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Brent Matteo Alderson - Note: In this new series, The Trainer’s Corner, BoxingScene.com will periodically speak with the sport’s top trainers as they share their insights on the game and its fighters. In this installment, John David Jackson, a former world champion and one of the game’s top strategists, talks about his career as a fighter and a trainer, Carl Davis Drumond’s fight with Ruslan Chagaev this coming Saturday, and Nate Campbell’s possible matches against Marco Antonio Barrera and Amir Khan. [details]

[Silencers]

I don't think Warren is confident enough to throw Khan in against Campbell if he beats Barrera.

[Dave Rado]

I don't think Warren is confident enough to throw Khan in against Campbell if he beats Barrera.

I wish you were right, because I think that would be too great a jump in class. He needs to fight a couple of contenders first, and then to beat Prescott in a rematch. But unfortunately it seems that you're wrong - see here:

Promoter Frank Warren has dangled the possibility of a shot at a world title in front of Amir Khan - if the Briton can beat Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera in their clash at the MEN Arena in March.

Warren said: "Amir is taking a big step up to fight a legend. And if Amir wins, he gets himself into a situation where hopefully he fights for a world title in his next fight.

[Silencers]

I wish you were right, because I think that would be too great a jump in class. He needs to fight a couple of contenders first, and then to beat Prescott in a rematch. But unfortunately it seems that you're wrong - see here:

Promoter Frank Warren has dangled the possibility of a shot at a world title in front of Amir Khan - if the Briton can beat Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera in their clash at the MEN Arena in March.

Warren said: "Amir is taking a big step up to fight a legend. And if Amir wins, he gets himself into a situation where hopefully he fights for a world title in his next fight.

Thanks for that.

Well, Khan would get knocked out by Campbell if they ever fight and that could do more damage to him than the Prescott loss psychologically. Hopefully Warren takes it a little slower with him because Khan does have talent, he needs to time to make the most of it though.

[Dave Rado]

Thanks for that.

Well, Khan would get knocked out by Campbell if they ever fight and that could do more damage to him than the Prescott loss psychologically. Hopefully Warren takes it a little slower with him because Khan does have talent, he needs to time to make the most of it though.

Yes I've lost some respect for Warren - he either over-protects fighters, or he goes to the opposite extreme and moves them up too quickly. But hopefully Roach will put his foot down - I don't think Warren would over-rule Roach.

[Silencers]

Yes I've lost some respect for Warren - he either over-protects fighters, or he goes to the opposite extreme and moves them up too quickly. But hopefully Roach will put his foot down - I don't think Warren would over-rule Roach.

Indeed, but I wonder if Roach would overrule him.

[venomk1]

i disagree.. nate cambells chin isnt exactly brilliant.. i.e having his lights put out by not more then a feather fisted journey man in robie peden.. i think khan will have a harder time against barrera then cambell.. cambell is old and people put too much insight in to the fact he beat diaz.. alot will be revealed when he fights funeka. but khan has a serious offensive and he ****s alot harder, faster then robie peden so anything is possible.

[Silencers]

Peden wasn't anything special but he wasn't a journeyman, he was a contender and he wasn't exactly feather fisted, not the biggest puncher but not feather fisted.

While Khan beating Barrera isn't a foregone conclusion, I give him a much better chance at beating Barrera than him beating Campbell, Barrera has not looked good at all in his last 2 comeback fights.

And Khan has not proven that he hits harder than Campbell, Campbell is perhaps the biggest puncher at lightweight, Campbell's chin may not be the best but one thing he has is good defense which protects his chin.

Too much insight into the Diaz win? He beat an in his prime fighter who was considered pretty much unbeatable at lightweight at the time he beat him, in boxing terms Campbell isn't that old either, he started boxing pretty late in life and didn't turn pro until his mid 20s.

[venomk1]

he also beat a diaz who was cut for the first time in a fight.. such experiences can mess with a young guys mind/change the out come of a fight especially when hes never been in a situation like that, i genuinly believe that diaz simply had a bad day at the office that day and was doing really well up until the cut. i agree that barrera hasnt looked impressive in last 2 fights but think about it form a fighters point.. motivation to fight is key in boxing and sometimes the better your oppenent the better you fight, i believe barrera was looking at those fights as simply warm ups/sparring sessions to clear up rust and i think youl see a warrior in him when he fights khan. cambell is good but i dont think hes the hardest ****er i think young breidis presscott takes that position. late starter or not we have to also think that cambell is 36+ which science says will now be taking its toll on his fitness levels and he hasnt fought in ages which is not good at his age as he should be keeping active to slow it down, hes at a point where he could/can age dramatically in between a short space so he could be a totally different guy since the last fight (jackle and hyde style), ali funeka fight will be interesting and will show lots about cambell as well as whether the juan diz win was a fluke.

[Dave Rado]

Peden wasn't anything special but he wasn't a journeyman, he was a contender and he wasn't exactly feather fisted, not the biggest puncher but not feather fisted.

While Khan beating Barrera isn't a foregone conclusion, I give him a much better chance at beating Barrera than him beating Campbell, Barrera has not looked good at all in his last 2 comeback fights.

And Khan has not proven that he hits harder than Campbell, Campbell is perhaps the biggest puncher at lightweight, Campbell's chin may not be the best but one thing he has is good defense which protects his chin.

Too much insight into the Diaz win? He beat an in his prime fighter who was considered pretty much unbeatable at lightweight at the time he beat him, in boxing terms Campbell isn't that old either, he started boxing pretty late in life and didn't turn pro until his mid 20s.

In addition, there's not much point in challenging for a world title if you're not developed enough to be able to defend it. Even if Campbell did get old overnight and/or even if he had a style that was made for Khan (which I don't believe), Khan still wouldn't be ready to beat the other top lightweights such as Marquez, Juan Diaz, etc. From being exposed by Prescott to fighting at that level with no learning fights other than Barrera in between (he learnt nothing substantial from ***an) is too fast. He needs to fight some people with varying styles who can test him without beating him first.

Taylor is a good example of what happens when a talented fighter wins a world title before he's really ready.