By Jake Donovan
Having already secured mandatory contender status in his last outing, Luke Campbell opted to take a stay busy fight in lieu of waiting out Mikey Garcia’s superfight with Errol Spence.
It proved to be a wise decision for Great Britain’s 2012 Olympic Gold medalist, who overwhelmed Mexico’s Adrian Yung inside of five rounds Friday evening at Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Having accepted the fight on very short notice, Campbell turned in some of his finest work as a pro. The British southpaw worked Yung’s body from round one, keeping his distance when necessary but otherwise forcing a pace far outside of his opponent’s comfort zone.
A knockdown sequence in round three was instead waved off as Yung (26-6-2, 20KOs) technically never touched the canvas but did bend at the knees in pain over a series of body shots. The Los Mochis, Mex. native had never been dropped or stopped prior to Friday; Campbell would make it official in round four, once again working the body and connecting upstairs with a counter right hook, prompting Yung to touch his glove to the canvas.
It seemed to be a matter of time before the stoppage would come, with Campbell closing the show one round later. Body shots once again ignited the rally, a straight left hand upstairs rocking Yung and an ensuing flurry rendering him defenseless, forcing the referee to intervene and end the contest.
The official time was 1:37 of round five.
Campbell (20-2, 15KOs) became the mandatory challenger to Garcia’s remaining lightweight title following a 10-round win over Yvan Mendy last September. The feat heled the British southpaw avenge his first career loss, when he dropped a disputed decision to the Frenchman in Dec. ’15.
Five wins followed before dropping a close-but-clear decision to then-lightweight titlist Jorge Linares in Sept. ’17. Campbell has now managed three straight victories, and will be now take a wait-and-see approach to see the direction Garcia heads following his challenge of welterweight titlist Errol Spence.
Regardless of Saturday’s outcome in Dallas, Campbell remains next in line for the WBC lightweight title. His team is adamant about that fight taking place next in his career, whether versus Garcia or the next highest-rated available contender in a vacant title bout.
“At the end of the day, we’re all fighters… we’ll fight whoever is in front of us.," Campbell told DAZN's Chris Mannix afterward on whom he ultimately faces for the title. "I feel I have the ability, the technique and the skill to beat anyone in the division.”
ON THE UNDERCARD
Former amateur standout Raymond Ford enjoyed a successful pro debut, turning away Weusi Johnson of Wilmington, Del. in their four-round featherweight battle.
Scores were 39-36 across the board in favor of Camden (NJ) southpaw Ford, who scored an opening round knockdown but was otherwise given an honest test in his first pro outing A left hand shot had Johnson (3-11, 0KOs) down midway through round one.
To his credit, Johnson quickly recovered managed a few clean shots upstairs, including enough to sweep the second round on the official scorecards.
Ford has frequently sparred with Farmer and 2016 Olympic Silver medalist Shakur Stevenson. He is trained by Farmer’s assistant coach, Rasheim Jefferson.
Daniyar Yeleussinov continues to progress in the pro ranks, turning back the challenge of tough journeyman Silverio Ortiz in taking an eight round unanimous decision.
Scores were 79-71 (twice) and 79-70 in their welterweight bout, which was the first of the DAZN livestream.
Yelessuniov (7-0, 3KOs) jumped out to a big lead early on but made things harder on himself than needed to be the case. The two-time Olympian and 2016 Gold medalist from Kazakhstan was banking rounds but also failed to discourage Ortiz from believing he was ever out of the fight.
Ortiz (37-24, 18KOs) had his moments in rounds five and six, enough get a rise out of Yeleussinov’s head trainer, former two-time champ Cory Spinks. The marching orders given prior to entering the seventh round for the first time in his career was to close the show.
Yeleussinov did his best to oblige, but nearly threw away the fight as a result. He managed to floor Ortiz in round seven, a flurry of punches capped by a right hand to send the Mexican to a knee. A follow-up left hook, however, caught Ortiz on the base of his skill while down, the threat of a disqualification downgraded to a point deduction for the Kazakh boxer.
It barely made a dent on the scorecards but did deny Yeleussinov the shutout win. It was still enough to remain unbeaten as he closes in on one full year in the pro ranks.
Daniyar Yeleussinov continues to progress in the pro ranks, turning back the challenge of tough journeyman Silverio Ortiz in taking an eight round unanimous decision.
Scores were 79-71 (twice) and 79-70 in their welterweight bout, which was the first of the DAZN livestream.
Yelessuniov (7-0, 3KOs) jumped out to a big lead early on but made things harder on himself than needed to be the case. The two-time Olympian and 2016 Gold medalist from Kazakhstan was banking rounds but also failed to discourage Ortiz from believing he was ever out of the fight.
Ortiz (37-24, 18KOs) had his moments in rounds five and six, enough get a rise out of Yeleussinov’s head trainer, former two-time champ Cory Spinks. The marching orders given prior to entering the seventh round for the first time in his career was to close the show.
Yeleussinov did his best to oblige, but nearly threw away the fight as a result. He managed to floor Ortiz in round seven, a flurry of punches capped by a right hand to send the Mexican to a knee. A follow-up left hook, however, caught Ortiz on the base of his skill while down, the threat of a disqualification downgraded to a point deduction for the Kazakh boxer.
It barely made a dent on the scorecards but did deny Yeleussinov the shutout win. It was still enough to remain unbeaten as he closes in on one full year in the pro ranks.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @Jake Donovan