By Michael Norby: Nate Campbell took a giant leap towards a world title showdown with IBF champion Julio Diaz as he easily beat veteran Ricky Quiles over 12 rounds on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights at the A La A Carte Events Pavilion in Tampa, Florida. In what was realistically the last chance for both men to stake their claim for a world title shot, it was Campbell who emerged as the sharper fighter and he should reap the rewards later this year as he prepares one final charge to lightweight championship glory.
Campbell 30-5-1 (24) charged out from the opening bell going directly to the body of his opponent. Quiles, the veteran lefty who many thought would use his legs to stay away from the hard punching Campbell, elected instead to take the fight inside - a curious decision given Campbell’s power and Quiles’ lack thereof.
Although physically the bigger man, Quiles 39-8-3 (8) never looked comfortable in the trenches and was buzzed by a Campbell right hand early in the second round. Quiles briefly attempted to get on his toes and box the oncoming Campbell, but reverted back to his unwise trading strategy after Campbell tagged him to the head with a piercing combination that again staggered the southpaw.
Campbell came out aggressively in the third and again attacked the body with thumping combinations. The smaller man was having his way with Quiles – hurting him in the closing stages with blistering head shots as the Puerto Rican began to show signs of discouragement. Although he bravely attempted to throw back, Quiles was never able to hurt Campbell at any stage of the round.
The shutout continued in the fourth as Campbell calmly allowed his adversary to come inside and then set about throwing his fiery head and body combinations. Quiles did manage to land flush with a right hand midway through but the southpaw was met immediately by a three shot combination to the head, the last punch of which almost knocked him off his feet.
One would think that Quiles would revert back to the style that had brought him to 39 career victories before the fight reached the latter rounds. That was not to be as he continuously played into the hands of Campbell by attempting to be the aggressor. Quiles, perhaps fooled by the notion that his superior size would help him outmuscle Campbell, gamely threw a plethora of punches at the smaller man throughout the fifth round although the cleaner, more hurtful shots came from the Floridian.
With blood streaming from his nose and a small accompanying cut above his left eye, Quiles was a beaten man in the sixth round and he served as target practice for ’The Galaxxy Warrior’ – eating a majority of the punches that Campbell threw his way. In the closing seconds of the round it looked like a stiff wind could knock Quiles over but Campbell patiently and deliberately adopted a gradual approach to dismantling his opponent – clearly aware that he was well ahead on points.
What was a clinical performance by Campbell turned into a hard to watch, one sided beating in the late rounds as Quiles – with little left in the tank, was subject to a constant barrage of punches from a swarming Campbell. Body and head shots rained down on him in equal portions as he bravely, but unsuccessfully, endeavored to fight his way back down the stretch.
It was difficult to make a case for the referee, or the wounded fighters’ corner, to allow the beating to continue past the 10th round as Quiles continued to soak up punishment. Given the fact that the veteran southpaw has eight career knockouts, was throwing little to nothing in the late rounds and was badly hurt throughout this fight, there was never any clear indication that he could produce any miracles to stop Campbell.
Quiles took a knee to avoid any further damage in the 12th round, but referee Jorge Alonso inexplicably allowed the fight to continue until the bell as Campbell eased his way to a lopsided and well deserved victory.
Scores: 120-107, 119-106 and 119-109
Undercard Report
Woods beats Miller in eight round thriller
If it’s possible for an eight round fight between a journeyman and an emerging prospect to be considered as a fight of the year candidate then maybe the middleweight slugfest between Darrell Woods vs Samuel Miller is a strong possibility. Woods, probably thought of as a cautious but less than dangerous step-up fight for Miller, refused to roll over as he narrowly outworked the younger man over eight rounds – handing Miller his first pro defeat in 17 pro fights.
After braving a 95 punch onslaught in the first round, Woods (26-10 18KO) stormed back from a brutal beating, to send Miller (16-1 13KO) to the canvas with a sweeping right hand in the second round.
Woods had Miller on the deck again early in the third from a beautiful right hand and, after rising in shaky fashion, it looked as if the prospect was on borrowed time as the veteran went to work. A stinging head shot stopped Woods’ onslaught abruptly however midway through the round and, legs buckled, the veteran was pummeled viciously for the final two minutes as Miller found his second wind.
Woods pressed the action in the middle rounds, forcing a stunned Miller to hold on for prolonged periods – especially in the sixth round when a point was deducted from the Colombian’s tally.
From then forward however, it was a case of slinging any semblance of defense out the window as both men went headhunting - taking turns at staggering each other down the stretch. Woods was hurt badly in the seventh but showed an incredible chin as he ate punch after punch for the final 30 seconds of the round.
Miller again came out strong in the final three minutes searching for a knockout and had his opponent in trouble early on. After a wobbly first half of the round, Woods bit down and threw back an array of hard punches as the two exhausted men traded to the bell.
Woods’ two knockdowns and his aggressive pursuit of Miller in the middle rounds was enough to hand him a majority decision victory, winning by scores of 76-73, 76-72 and 75-75.
|
Subscribe to feed
