Statement from Nate Campbell

Full Article: Statement from Nate Campbell | Fightnews - Boxing News Updated 24/7

Snippet:
Former unified lightweight champion and current jr. welterweight contender Nate Campbell released the following statement exclusively to Fightnews.com regarding the result of Saturday night’s WBO championship bout against Timothy Bradley:
“First of all, I want to let everyone know that I am OK. There is no permanent damage to my retina. I was taken from ringside to the hospital, and was treated for what they called a vitreous hemorrhage behind my left eye. The ophthalmologist that treated me at the hospital advised me that the impairment to the vision in my left eye should clear up completely within a few days to a week at most. Never in my career have I had an injury like this where I simply couldnt see out of an eye. I’ve had cuts 100 times worse than this that I fought through, and would have done the same in this instance, however this was something different. This was not something my cutman could have dealt with.



Seems like the cut wasn't the biggest issue for Campbell, whats your opinions? I remember Tyson saying he had similar eye problems when he was dealing with Holyfields headbutts and that it made him feel light headed, seems like Nate was dealing with some eye issues from the headbutt as well, further detail into the interview makes it seem like the ref really was in the pocket for Bradley but thats of course Nate's perspective and I'll let you be the judge of that after reading it all.

never had a good enough chance to see how bad the cut was though on original inspection it did seem as if it was gushing out of several different areas.

If he had given his corner a good minute to work on it and then made the decision he couldnt fight on then fine. But that alone and the fact he was taking a pummeling leads me to believe that perhaps he did just take the cowards route out

to me nate campbell seems like one of the nicer and more genuine people in boxing. if he says he couldnt see out his eye then i believe he couldnt see out his eye

I'd lean toward believeing Campbell to be honest, he does seem a genuine guy. Who knows though. Maybe a rematch will happen to try straighten things out. Maybe Campbell thought it would have been called a no contest for sure.....

I believe him and think he got a rough deal. Maybe Bradley would have won anyway, but that is besides the point in a case like this. There should be a rematch, not fair on Campbell to have it decided like that.

if there was any chance of campbell proving the injury is legit could the decision be overtured and the fight ruled a no contest

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Originally Posted by miles

I believe him and think he got a rough deal. Maybe Bradley would have won anyway, but that is besides the point in a case like this. There should be a rematch, not fair on Campbell to have it decided like that.

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barrera suffered a worser cut against khan and decided even despite taking a pummeling to carry on because of the class act he is.

Im not questioning campbells heart at all as he is a ring warrior that has been punched more times than ive had hot meals. But perhaps he realised 3 rounds in he was on the verge of defeat and opted to take the easy route out without realising the ref had infact deemed the butt accidental!

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Originally Posted by hattonthehammer

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Originally Posted by miles

I believe him and think he got a rough deal. Maybe Bradley would have won anyway, but that is besides the point in a case like this. There should be a rematch, not fair on Campbell to have it decided like that.

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barrera suffered a worser cut against khan and decided even despite taking a pummeling to carry on because of the class act he is.

Im not questioning campbells heart at all as he is a ring warrior that has been punched more times than ive had hot meals. But perhaps he realised 3 rounds in he was on the verge of defeat and opted to take the easy route out without realising the ref had infact deemed the butt accidental!

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Barrera didn't have a vitreous hemmorage. If Nate would have continued he could have been permanently blinded.

I, too, tend to believe Nate. He had this shocked look on his face. I don't think Bradley was exactly dominating him until the butt. He was clearly bothered and trying to get the refs attention. I think most of Bradley's punches were glancing when Nate was on the ropes... he smelled blood. I give a lot of credit to Bradley for trying to finish him off. We all know if Bradley TKOed him at that point Campbell would have never had the chance to contest the butt and go for the NC.

It's not like he quit like Zab Judah VS Clottey... Nate was not talking about getting a NC. Personally I'm pissed Barrera lost because he fought on. We may not see him in the ring again!

I think both of these guys are really intelligent. Bradley... not a word from him about anything fair/unfair... he just gives the usual "I'm just doing my job, kicking ass taking names." Campbell, if he is lying about not being able to see, he played the perfect victim. But, again, not likely. This guy is world class as far as sportsmen go.

I have to agree with Nate and say he is telling the truth....If everyone remembers the replay he was motioning to the ref about the butt before Bradley even got the get in another punch....The combo Bradley threw at nate on the ropes was not as bad as seemed when looking at the replay he missed a lot of the shots or just grazed Nate so there was no trouble from that....

The second he got to his corner before even sitting he said he could not see.....this was something that happened instantly and I think it spooked Nate because like he said it was something he never experienced...was not like it was blood in the eye

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

I have to agree with Nate and say he is telling the truth....If everyone remembers the replay he was motioning to the ref about the butt before Bradley even got the get in another punch....The combo Bradley threw at nate on the ropes was not as bad as seemed when looking at the replay he missed a lot of the shots or just grazed Nate so there was no trouble from that....

The second he got to his corner before even sitting he said he could not see.....this was something that happened instantly and I think it spooked Nate because like he said it was something he never experienced...was not like it was blood in the eye

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yea i was thinking the same thing, plus the way that he basically glued his glove to his cut eye, gave me the feeling that it wasn't an ordinary cut

I've sat thinking about this at work all afternoon and i'm seriosuly hopin that nate gets a rematch. Bradley was winning but no way was he giving Nate a beating atall. He was beating more glove than anything, doin an Amir Khan job on him.... Ha

Glad to hear there's no permanent damage. If he can prove what he is saying (which I'm sure he can), the decision might well be overturned.

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Originally Posted by hattonthehammer

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Originally Posted by miles

I believe him and think he got a rough deal. Maybe Bradley would have won anyway, but that is besides the point in a case like this. There should be a rematch, not fair on Campbell to have it decided like that.

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barrera suffered a worser cut against khan and decided even despite taking a pummeling to carry on because of the class act he is.

Im not questioning campbells heart at all as he is a ring warrior that has been punched more times than ive had hot meals. But perhaps he realised 3 rounds in he was on the verge of defeat and opted to take the easy route out without realising the ref had infact deemed the butt accidental!

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I don't see it that way. I had Nate winning one of the first three rounds although I could see it going to Bradley. Also, against Diaz, through round 5 or so, Diaz was easily getting the better of Nate, but Nate came on strong in the end. I don't see how anyone watching the fight could say it was Bradley's fight. It wasn't even halfway done and really without the flurry at the end of round three, the fight looked close even with Bradley in the lead. Nate is a consummate warrior if he said he couldn't fight on, he couldn't fight on. He didn't make weight against Funeka, but fought anyway - unlike Guzman when Guzman was lined up to fight Nate.

The fight should be declared a no contest or a draw and there should be a rematch.

I had Nate losing the first 3. He just was getting out worked. I believe the guy. Why risk blindness to prove your heart? From what I have read/heard from the guy, he's one of the good guys- full of intergrity. I know due to how the fight started it looks like an easy out for Nate, but I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt.