Olympic Hero Luke Campbell Refocused After Brief Hiatus

Luke Campbell, MBE, returns to action in Liverpool on July 12 live on sky Sports, and the Olympic hero says he cannot wait to lace the gloves up again.

Campbell took time off for family reasons after racing to 5-0 in the paid ranks with four stoppage wins since turning pro in July 2013, with his last action a final round stoppage of Scott Moises in February in his first eight-round test.

The 26 year old faces Craig Woodruff over six rounds in the Echo Arena on Merseyside and the Hull star says he has a lot of frustration to unleash on the Welshman.

“It has been five months or more and I am looking forward to getting back in the ring,” said Campbell. “The break has given me a good opportunity to spend time with my family and I have always been in the gym ticking over and working on certain things. Now everything is steady and good – everybody in the family wants to see me back in the ring and doing what I do best.

“I have always been in the gym and I am in the gym every day, but the time out has given me the opportunity to be in the gym and spend some time with my family and not having to worry or think about anything else, and that is what I have been doing.

“I have the full support of my family behind me and they want to see me in the ring, they want to see me doing what I do best and everything is good.

“I am looking for a good performance from myself, and one which the fans will enjoy as well. My opponent is in the hands of my team and, although I found out late, I did some late prep.

Having boxed in his hometown, Manchester and London so far, Campbell takes his considerable talents to Liverpool to close his first season as a pro and is looking forward to doing so alongside two of his Team GB teammates.

“It’s great to be on the same bill as Anthony Joshua MBE and Anthony Ogogo,” said Campbell. “It is going to feel like a tournament like the ones we used to box at together, being there and supporting each other. I still see them quite regularly, Joshua probably the most, but we still all see each other and keep in contact because we are all good friends.

“It is interesting as we are all taking this next journey together, so we are all egging each other on and being there for each other when we can be.

“I have boxed at the Echo Arena a couple of times. I won European Championship Gold there and I won the Great Britain Championships there as well. I have good memories of Liverpool and I have always put in good performances there, so I want to keep that going next weekend.”

Campbell’s return to action is on a stacked bill in Liverpool as bitter rivals Tony Bellew and Nathan Cleverly continue to move towards a rematch as they face their second fights at Cruiserweight against Julio Cesar Dos Santos and Alejandro Valori, respectively.

Rocky Fielding faces Noe Gonzalez Alcoba for the WBA Inter-Continental Super Middleweight title, Callum Smith defends his WBC International Super Middleweight title against Vladine Biosse and his older brotherStephen keeps busy in an eight-round clash as he prepares to fight for a World title in the new season.

Unbeaten Liverpool Featherweight John Quigley is in his 13th fight on the bill which is completed by former Team GB starlet Gamal Yafai and unbeaten Cambridge Lightweight Tommy Martin.

Tickets are on sale priced £30, £40, £60 and ringside seats at £100 available from the Echo Arena on 0844 8000 400 and at www.echoarena.com

VIP tickets priced at £150 are exclusively available from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900 and at www.matchroomboxing.com