Nate Campbell expecting Diaz to drop IBF strap

By G. Leon

15/10/2007

Nate Campbell expecting Diaz to drop IBF strap

GL: Can you give us some thoughts on Juan Diaz's victory? "I thought it was a good fight for what it was worth. I was right there ringside and I kept telling myself that Julio is refusing to fight the right fight. He kept standing in the middle and pitty-pattying. Neither one of them are big punchers, but Juan was just busier."

GL: Were you surprised it was so one sided?

Nate Campbell: "It really did. I was a bit shocked more than surprised. I was shocked because in the grand scheme of things the fight look so much closer than what it was."

GL: Do you feel that Julio Diaz quit?

NC: "Yes sir I do. I feel like he gave up, he quit and stopped fighting when he didn't have to. I felt like he was the superior boxer and I wanted him to win because I really feel like he would have fought me a lot faster than Juan will."

GL: Are you going to have your people force Diaz to make his mandatory at the risk of losing his IBF title?

NC: "Here's the thing about that. I was talking to my people about the whole situation and I really just want to fight for the world title, but it makes so much more sense to not let them off the hook like that because I want to make as much money as I can. But at the same time I want to fight for the world title. There's so many fights that can be made at this point and so many ways they can be made, so I'm just trying to let my people do their job."

"We got some things in the mix and I don't want to put it out there yet, but getting him stripped if he doesn't fight me is definitely something that has been on my mind."

GL: So you don't expect him to fight you next?

NC: "I don't. I expect him to wiggle his way around and try to fight David Diaz or somebody else. I just don't expect him to fight me. I told Don I wanted to fight for the title, this is my title shot at this point and Don told me he'll either have to fight you or get stripped."

GL: Is there anything you'd like to say in closing?

NC: "I don't want to keep waiting to fight for the title. After watching that fight I truly feel that I'm the best lightweight in the world. A lot of people might think that's arrogant, but seeing how these guys fight I feel like I'm the best fighter in the world at this weight and I'm looking forward to proving it."

M

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