Facing The Impossible

Luke Campbell is Britain’s best hope to beat Vasyl Lomachenko, writes John Dennen

- John Dennen

THERE is an aura about Vasyl Lomachenko. He trains like nobody else, he fights like nobody else and nobody, you’d think, can beat him right now. But Hull’s Luke Campbell isn’t going to let himself get swept up in the mystery. “We’re here now and this is what’s happening,” the Yorkshireman says simply. “The story will be better at the end of it.”

“It just feels like I’m getting ready for another fight. That’s exactly what it is. It’s just another fight,” he continued. “I’ve always been one of those people regardless of who I fight, whether it’s a big fight, a small fight, I always feel the same. Even if I’m fighting a little fight or whatever I always feel the same feelings, emotions, nerves, whether it be that or a big fight. To be fair I’m more excited for the big fight. The experience from the Olympics taught me a lot. The big crowds there, I’ve always thrived off that. For me I’m more in comfort zone the bigger it is.

“That’s what everybody dreams of, being involved in huge fights like this and fighting the best.”

Even when it comes to praising Lomachenko, Campbell is about the only person who manages to make it sound matter of fact. “He’s number one for who he’s beat,” he states. “He’s not there for his style, he’s there for who he’s beat and he’s a three-weight world champion.”

But regardless of Lomachenko’s mystique, Campbell sounds a note of ferocity. He has a vicious edge when he insists he can get to and he can hurt the great man. He’s been alongside the Ukrainian at press conferences and face-offs ahead of this fight. “I just think in the back of my mind I’m going to hit you hard, I’m going to hit you hard. I’m going to hurt you,” he notes.