Error code: %{errorCode}

Boxing

Luke Campbell prepares for Ryan Garcia fight: My strategy is to hit him as much as I can

Alexander Netherton
Luke Campbell prepares for Ryan Garcia fight: My strategy is to hit him as much as I canDAZN
Lightweight veteran Luke Campbell is preparing for his rescheduled fight with American Ryan Garcia after recovering from coronavirus.

Luke Campbell has recovered from his bout of COVID-19 and has no concerns over fighting Ryan Garcia in January.

Campbell had planned to fight Garcia on December 5 but a positive coronavirus test meant the fight was put back to January 2 to allow him to recover.

Speaking on "Boxing With Chris Mannix", the 33-year-old Briton brushed aside concerns over his health, downplaying his symptoms.

“I had a minor cold,” he said of his experience with the virus.

“The frustrating thing for me was that I had to isolate which meant I was missing out on sparring, so for us to be 100 per cent we just needed to push the date back a little back.

“For me as soon I’d done the isolation I’d have gone straight back into the gym, straight back into sparring. We’ve missed two weeks of sparring so that's the preparation we needed.”

Campbell claimed he did not watch the tapes of Garcia’s past performances, but still acknowledged his 22-year-old rival’s talents.

View post on Twitter

“I’ve not watched any of his fights. I don't do that as a fighter. I leave that up to my coach. They can do the studying. 

“My strategy is to hit him as much as I can as often as I can and hurt him.”

He did though concede: “He’s obviously a good fighter. He’s creative for what he’s got. He’s done really well. I’m preparing to get in there with a world class fighter,” he said.

Despite Garcia’s unbeaten record, Campbell is confident, despite his defeat to Vasiliy Lomachenko.

“I’ll go in there knowing where I stand at world level. I can go in there, and from those losses I’m a better fighter. The best fighter I’ve been yet.”

Looking to the future, beyond the Garcia fight, Campbell suggested that a rematch with Jorge Linares would be in his plans. Linares defeated the Hull fighter in 2017 in the first of Campbell’s two unsuccessful world title fights.

“I’ve got to do the business, but I’d love the rematch with Linares,” he admitted.

“I thought I won [the first match]. I won seven clean rounds but it was his show. He was the champion. I’d love to get the redemption from that fight.”