Nate Campbell wants shot at Diaz ASAP!

By G. Leon

07/03/2007

Nate Campbell wants shot at Diaz ASAP!

GL: Congrats on your victory over Ricky Quiles. Can you give us some thoughts on your performance? "Thank you. My thoughts on the fight are, I did what I had to do and I fought a very good fight. I don't think that a lot of people know how hard this fight was for me. It was one of the hardest fights of my whole career because I had to train to brutalize somebody that I love. I think Ricky Quiles is a great person and he has a good heart. If you don't like Ricky Quiles there's something wrong with you. A lot of people will never understand what I went through for this fight. I'm telling you it was the hardest fight of my life."

GL: Do you believe the fight should have been stopped?

Nate Campbell: "I really do. I heard through the grapevine that they suspended his cornerman. I don't know if it's true or not and I guess he did what his fighter asked him to do. Maybe he shouldn't have, but he did. I understand that Ricky wanted to go out the same way he came in, as a man and he wanted to go out on his shield. The referee could have also stopped the fight. I"m not saying anybody did anything wrong, but if it was me I would have stopped it."

GL: This win puts you in line for another title shot. Tell us why you feel the third time is going to be a charm.

Nate Campbell: "I've got to tell you I'm thrilled about it. I'm a much more complete fighter now and I'm as strong as I've ever felt in my life. This is my weight and this is my time. I don't understand why people have a hard time realizing that I am the perfect version of boxer puncher. Last Friday, I showed you jabs, I showed you hooks. I think I showed people everything and I hope they understand that I can do more than just punch."

GL: How does a fight between you and IBF lightweight champion Julio Diaz plays out?

NC: "I'm coming to see him whenever they're ready to do it. I'm going to see him and we're going to deal with each other. He's a good fighter, a solid fighter. He's the champion but what's going to happen is more of the same, he's going to last as long as he can take it. I said this a couple of weeks and this is my new motto, my fights are going to last as long as these guys can take it. In my last two fights against two solid southpaws you can see that I really don't care much about beating you within an inch of your life."

GL: Some say that you need to be more consistent, in one fight you're stellar and the next fight you're not. Can we expect to see the Nate Campbell we saw last Friday and against Kid Diamond from here on out?

NC: "I'm loving these critics who have never fought before. My record as a lightweight is 4-1 and that's a very disputed one. I fought a man that weighed in a 134.8 and then turned around and came in the next day at 155 pounds. I should have gotten more money for that fight, but that's besides the point. I am the best 135 pounder on the planet, not the baddest welterweight or junior middleweight. In my next fight I'm going to use Julio Diaz to show where I stand at 135. If those critics have so much to say please, pretty please give me nine minutes of your lives."

GL: I'm ready for nine minutes.

NC: "You could get the same nine minutes they do."

GL: When will your people get in touch with the Diaz camp to make the fight?

NC: "Immediately. You know Diaz was supposed to be the opponent for the Kid Diamond fight and I think I've improved so much since then. The big issue here is, I am a much better fight and I am overwhelmed with how things have been going for me as of late and I expect much more of the same."

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

NC: "I'd like to thank the fans in Tampa for coming out and showing their support. The place was sold out and I felt like a Tampa native. I felt that room rocking when I came through the door. I want to thank my Myspace friends for lifting me up in their prayers and as always, Boxingtalk.com"

M

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