If the media members who participated in the SHOWTIME Media Prediction Poll have called it correctly then Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley will successfully defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) 140-pound title against former unified lightweight champ Nate “The Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell.
Bradley (24-0, 11 KOs) of North Palm Springs, Calif., will take on Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KOs), of Jacksonville, Fla., in a “homecoming” fight this Saturday, Aug. 1, live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET/PT) from The Show at Agua Caliente Casino • Resort • Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif., just minutes from where the champ grew up.
The matchup is a tough one to call. Campbell, who is fighting for the first time at 140 pounds, is the more experienced fighter having more knockouts than Bradley has victories, but, Bradley is the younger, perhaps quicker fighter who has the benefit of competing in his backyard. One thing is for certain: Saturday’s main event on SHOWTIME is going to be one heck of a fight.
Bradley, who voluntarily relinquished the World Boxing Council (WBC) 140-pound belt to face Campbell, was the popular winner in the poll garnering 22 of the 28 predictions. Most predicted a decision victory for Bradley in his desert homecoming, while only a few reasoned the fight would end inside the 12 championship rounds.
In the first half of a world championship doubleheader, undefeated, No. 2-rated Devon Alexander “The Great’’ (18-0, 11 KOs), of St. Louis, will face No. 3 Junior Witter (37-2-2, 22 KOs), of England, for the WBC strap that Bradley voluntarily relinquished. Bradley originally won the WBC belt by defeating Witter on May 10, 2008 on SHOWTIME.
Here’s how the media called the 12-round Bradley-Campbell match:
Carlos Arias, OC Register (Bradley) – “I'm taking Bradley by decision. Campbell is a crafty veteran with loads of experience, but Bradley has proven he is the real deal with victories over Junior Witter and Kendall Holt. Bradley is too young, too fast and too strong for Campbell."
Steve Kim, Maxboxing.com (Bradley) – “In what will be one of the year’s best fights, I like the youth and activity of Tim Bradley to carry him to a close, 12 round decision.”
Marc Abrams, 15rounds.com (Bradley) – “I like Bradley, who is a natural Jr. Welterweight, and I think he will bully Campbell around as Campbell will try stand in the pocket, but I like Bradley's grit by unanimous decision.”
Rick Reeno, Boxing Scene (Bradley) – “After some early struggles, I believe Bradley will pull ahead by using his movement and boxing ability to win a close unanimous decision.”
Michael Rosenthal, RingTV.com (Bradley) – “I think this is Timothy Bradley's time. He's been able to beat fighters like Junior Witter and Kendall Holt because he's a complete boxer with the toughness of a champion. I have a lot of respect for Campbell, who I believe will be stronger at 140 than he was while struggling to make 135. He's also is extremely clever in the ring. However, he's 37 and past his prime. I believe we saw glimpses of the aging process in his majority decision over Ali Funeka. Bradley by unanimous decision.”
Paul Upham, SecondsOut.com (Bradley) – “Another great fight on Showtime. Bradley's impressive work-rate will test 37-year-old Campbell at a new weight class. Campbell's combination punching will keep him in a close fight, but Bradley's youth and hometown crowd will push him to a points win. Bradley W.12"
Jake Donovan, Boxingscene.com (Campbell) – “Bradley showed a lot in twice climbing off of the canvas to outlast and outbox a very talented boxer-puncher in Kendall Holt. Still, I find Campbell to be the more complete fighter of the two, and one who brings a different brand of toughness than any of Bradley's previous performances. I see the fight going the distance, and who wins will depend on your preference of styles, which will result in a disputed decision either way, but with Nate's arm raised by night's end.”
Ivan Goldman, The Ring (Bradley) – “Well-schooled Bradley and father time will catch up to Campbell and win a comfortable decision. What's Campbell got going for him? First, he can bang of course, but second, road warrior Bradley may be a bit nervous fighting on home turf.”
Dan Hernandez, RingSideReporter.com (Campbell) – “I like Bradley; however, I feel Campbell is too savvy and powerful to be denied. That is of course if he is the same Campbell that destroyed Juan Diaz and not the sluggish less focused fighter he was in last outing. Campbell by decision or late round KO.”
Jerry Glick, Secondsout.com (Bradley) – “Bradley looked good against Holt, Cherry, and Witter, and Campbell impressed against Funeka and Juan Diaz. I see the stronger, younger Bradley controlling the tempo of the fight taking a close split decision.”
Butch Gottlieb, Boxing In Las Vegas – (Bradley) - Campbell has fought the better opposition by far in his nine plus year career and is a very cagey veteran. He has proven that he can also box and not just rely on power as he has only one stoppage in almost four years. Bradley, on the other hand is a pure boxer and, if he does not get caught up in the moment, he has an excellent chance to enjoy home cooking and come away with the victory.
Pedro Fernandez, RingTalk.com (Bradley) – “Tough call. Nate Campbell is like an elevator in that he's up and then he's down. Hard to gauge what NC has left. That being said, I will go with the youth and Tim Bradley (25) to Nate's experience at 37. Points win for champ.”
Bernard Aguinaldo, SportsTicker (Campbell) – “Nate Campbell unanimous decision over Timothy Bradley. Campbell, a cagey veteran who still has great hand speed and footwork will look to give Bradley his first loss of his pro career.”
Gunnar Meinhardt, Die Welt/Germany (Bradley) – “I can’t say whether it will be difficult or easy, but I can see Bradley out boxing Campbell and winning a decision.’’
Lee Bellfield, SaddoBoxing.com (Bradley) – “Good trade matchup this one. Bradley is a fighter only known to the real fight fan, but for me he's the best of the current champions at junior welterweight. He has good skills and a good chin and is also the natural 140-pounder in this one. Campbell is well respected in the fight game, but I can only see a lopsided points win for Desert Storm.”
David M. Lee, 411mania.com (Bradley) – “In fights as close as this I always go with the more reliable boxer. That's Bradley. He'll have done all his homework on Campbell and will have an answer for every question asked of him on Saturday. Bradley by close unanimous decision.”
Patrick Mullin, 411mania.com (Bradley) – “Nate Campbell was always a physically strong lightweight who was at his best when he imposed his will on his opponent and dictated the pace. That's a good thing for him because that's exactly what he has to do in order to beat the slick Timothy Bradley. However, Campbell has shown vulnerabilities to smart ring generals like Joel Casamayor and Isaac Hiatswayo. Bradley is in that class and probably outboxes Nate to win a clear decision.
Joe Roche, 411mania.com (Bradley) – “I love that Timothy Bradley is going to prove he deserves to be mentioned as one of, if not the, top guys at 140 by fighting other top guys. Make no mistake, Nate Campbell is a very good fighter and he will be a very good test for Bradley. However, in the end I think Bradley is too quick and too strong for Campbell and he will wear down the older fighter in the end. I don't think Bradley gets a KO, but I say he wins by unanimous decision after all 12 rounds.”
Martin Mayfield, Game Sports Magazine (Bradley) – “I have Timothy Bradley pulling out a close decision (possibly even split). Campbell does have the heavier hands, but Bradley is the MUCH more accurate puncher and he will be busier because he is not a knockout artist. The X-factor will be the early rounds, as Bradley did go down early in his last fight, also a victory!”
Bill Scherer: Suite101.com (Bradley) – “Bradley's greater punch output will be just enough to grind out a decision victory over Campbell's hard-punching, roughhouse brand of boxing. After the fight, Bradley will look like the loser. He's going to earn this one.”
Ed Ludwig, BraggingRightsCorner.com (Bradley) – This has been one fight I have been counting down the days for. Defending champion Timothy Bradley vs. Nate Campbell might be a contrast in styles, but it should make for a great fight. The road warrior Bradley defending his WBO title at home for the first time will give him more incentive to want to put on a performance of a lifetime but also more added pressure fighting in front of family and friends. Nate Campbell was in tough in his last fight with Ali Funeka not to mention the weight issue and he perhaps took Funeka a bit lightly, but you can bet Campbell will give everything he has to derail the defending champion. I do see Timothy Bradley retaining his title with a hard fought unanimous decision.”
David Duenez - ThereWillBeBloodFightShow.com (Bradley) – “I got Bradley by decision, even though the experience factor runs deep with Campbell, Bradley to me at this moment is the clear boxer of the two. This is in fact a teacher grading the student where the teacher will be taught a lesson.”
Dennis Bernstein, Pound4Pound.com (Bradley) – “The hometown titleholder is younger, bigger, quicker and better. Bradley proved he could go the distance with an experienced champion in Kendall Holt this past April and Campbell will prove to be an easier task with the challenger coming up to light welterweight for the first time. Campbell's inactivity (only 1 fight in 16 months) is compounded by the fact that he's giving up 12 years in age to an opponent who is gaining valuable experience and confidence with every fight. While the young champion is unlikely to stop the savvy veteran, his initial defense of the WBO 140 pound title should be a clear cut victory. Bradley by unanimous decision.
Joseph Bourelly, XLFights.com (Bradley) – “As much as I love Nate Campbell, he is simply up against the much younger, faster and harder hitting man. Although Campbell will have some opportunities to work on the inside and do some damage, he will have to eat up some shots to even get in position to let his hands go. While his heart will keep him in it, heart and desire alone will not be enough to defeat Timothy Bradley who is among the brightest young stars in the sport of boxing. I pick Bradley by unanimous decision.”
Albert Alvarez, Diamondboxing.com (Campbell) – “Nate Campbell is a gritty hard nosed vet who always looks to force his opponent to dig deep, and in this fight look for the young champ Timothy Bradley to be forced to dig deep, real deep. Bradley is a fighter than can adapt and always seems to know his range, but in this fight I feel that Campbell is going to make a real gritty fight out of this one. I am picking Campbell to get the nod in a thrilling fight. Nate Campbell by split decision.”
Tim Starks, The Queensberry Rules (Campbell) – “I keep picking against Timothy Bradley, and I'm stupidly going to do it again. He may have a speed, age and size advantage versus Nate Campbell, but versus Kendall Holt, an overall more talented boxer, the real difference was that Bradley was just so freakin' tough. I see Campbell as the overall better boxer, too, but unlike Holt, he's a consistently mean, hard-nosed man in the ring, so he's going to be hard to out-tough. I like Campbell by decision in a gritty, dirty but skillful and closely-contested affair.”
Benny Henderson Jr., Convicted Artist Magazine (Bradley) – “I know this phrase is overused, but I honestly feel this fight has the potential to be “fight of the year” candidate. You have the crafty, fast-fisted Timothy Bradley, who has never tasted defeat, taking on the more experienced, heavy-handed Nate Campbell, who doesn’t mind waging war. Can
Timothy handle Nate’s power; will Campbell even be able to get to the swift Bradley? Just a couple of questions that will be answered come fight night. If Timothy Bradley can weather the early storm, I believe he can do enough to garner a close win over a very powerful Nate Campbell. Either way, I am anxiously looking forward to this fight.”
Jake Emen, Pro Fighting Fans (Campbell) – “I'll pick Campbell by decision. He seems to have finally found his groove at this late point in his career. If he can establish his jab and maintain the work rate he showed against Juan Diaz, he'll beat Bradley to the punch and dictate the pace and distance of the fight. He should also be stronger than his last showing, without having to cut weight to 135.”
