Former world champ bows out after almost eleven years
After coming into the professional game at the age of 28, Nathaniel “Nate” Campbell accomplished what most boxers who spend a lifetime in the sport, dream of doing, unifying the world title.
Despite his late blooming, Campbell quickly found his feet in the boxing ranks and racked up 23 straight victories, capturing NABA and NABF Super-Featherweight Titles along the way before suffering his first defeat at the hands of the talented Joel Casamayor.
His career seemed to stutter after his first defeat, as he lost twice to Robbie Peden in an eleven month period, the second being his first shot at a world title as he lost an IBF via eighth round TKO.
With periods on inactivity mixed with stand-out performances against Almazbek Raiymkulov and Wilson Alcorro over the next three years, he was handed what many people believed was an impossible task of dethroning Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz in his second world title attempt.
Campbell turned 36 the day before the bout in Cancun, Mexico and gave himself the best birthday gift of all, by gaining a split decision victory and claiming the WBO, IBF and WBA Lightweight Titles in a shock turn of events.
Capturing the world titles after coming into back at age 24 and beating the best out there is a testament to the man, who would never defend the titles after rows over sanctioning fees and postponements meant he went a year without fighting and moved up to light-welterweight soon after a win over Ali Funeka,
A failed attempt to overcome Timothy Bradley for his WBO Title would prove to be his last world title attempt after the bout was stopped on a cut after three rounds and was chalked on the record as a no-contest.
Campbell lost a one-sided bout with former world title challenger Victor Ortiz in May this year and after losing again last week against Walter Estrada at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, he decided to announce his retirement to the boxing world
“I made it,” Campbell told WBN. “And because I did people will always know that my father Nate Campbell was here, my life is his legacy.
People will know my pastor W.F Robinson was right when he said, “I was a special kind of stubborn,” he added.
There is now doubt that Campbell is a shining example to anyone who is wondering whether they could make it in life and should believe that its never too late to make something of yourself, you can dream and grab that dream, just like Nate Campbell did.