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Luke Campbell came up short in another big fight Saturday, knocked out in the seventh round by Ryan Garcia in an interim fight for the WBC lightweight title.
The 33-year-old Campbell (20-4, 16 KO) has already said that Garcia’s last shot to the body was the hardest he has ever received, and it was very positive towards the 22-year-old American fighter at his post. – Fight dates.
Campbell continued that on social media, speaking highly of Garcia’s future (21-0, 18 KO).
“I’m honestly heartbroken,” Campbell wrote on Instagram. “I really wanted to give victory back to everyone. I’m sorry about that. Hope everyone enjoyed the fight. I have to take my hat off to (Ryan Garcia), well done and a great future ahead for him. I wish you all the best “.
Campbell’s immediate future is a bit murky, other than the obvious route forward for him is to take some kind of rebounding showdown. It won’t get anyone excited, but that’s the most likely path. He would still be a good opponent, at least, for many contenders at 135, and he remains one himself. It could also, potentially, move up to 140 pounds.
As for Campbell’s praise for Garcia, take it seriously. There was the usual confident early fight of both, and Campbell really went into this fight thinking he would win. He dropped Garcia pretty hard in the second, but said Garcia’s heavy hands were very real and you could see a difference in speed between the two.
Campbell has been in the ring with guys like Vasiliy Lomachenko and Jorge Linares, and he’s a former Olympic gold medalist. He is a good and experienced fighter at the top level.
Garcia, it seems, is definitely real; That doesn’t mean he’s flawless or that he’ll never lose a fight, but the “Instagram fighter” tag is dead.
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