Hull’s Luke Campbell ‘heartbroken’ after defeat to Ryan Garcia in Dallas

HULL’S Luke Campbell admitted he was heartbroken” after suffering the first stoppage defeat of his professional career.
By YP Staff Reporter
Published 3rd Jan 2021, 21:25 BST
DOWN AND OUT: Luke Campbell kneels on the canvas after taking a fierce body shot by Ryan Garcia in Dallas, the Hull fighter losing out in the fifth round Picture: Tim Warner/Getty Images.DOWN AND OUT: Luke Campbell kneels on the canvas after taking a fierce body shot by Ryan Garcia in Dallas, the Hull fighter losing out in the fifth round Picture: Tim Warner/Getty Images.
DOWN AND OUT: Luke Campbell kneels on the canvas after taking a fierce body shot by Ryan Garcia in Dallas, the Hull fighter losing out in the fifth round Picture: Tim Warner/Getty Images.

The Yorkshire-born southpaw lost out in five rounds to unbeaten Ryan Garcia at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.#

Campbell was an underdog with the bookmakers but decked his much-hyped opponent in the second round of their lightweight encounter with a savage left hook to the jaw at the.

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The Garcia rallied, though, and Campbell was saved by the bell following an onslaught at the end of the fifth before being counted out two rounds later after a vicious left hook to the body.

TOUGH NIGHT: Ryan Garcia (L) lands a left hook against Luke Campbell, the Hull fighter losing out in the fifth round Picture: Tim Warner/Getty Images.TOUGH NIGHT: Ryan Garcia (L) lands a left hook against Luke Campbell, the Hull fighter losing out in the fifth round Picture: Tim Warner/Getty Images.
TOUGH NIGHT: Ryan Garcia (L) lands a left hook against Luke Campbell, the Hull fighter losing out in the fifth round Picture: Tim Warner/Getty Images.

It was Campbell’s fourth defeat of a 24-fight professional career, while Garcia revelled in his biggest victory to date as he claimed the WBC interim title.

“Well I’m honestly heart broken, I really wanted to bring the win back for you all,” said Campbell on Twitter afterwards. “I’m sorry for that.

“I hope you all enjoyed the fight. Have to take my hat off to @KingRyanG, well done and a massive future ahead for him. I wish him all the best.”

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American-born Garcia (21-0, 18KOs), who was carried to the ring on a throne and wore a crown in his ringside interview said he hoped the victory proved to people “who I really am.”

TOE-TO-TOE: Luke Campbell, right, lands a right against Ryan Garcia at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Picture: Tim Warner/Getty ImagesTOE-TO-TOE: Luke Campbell, right, lands a right against Ryan Garcia at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Picture: Tim Warner/Getty Images
TOE-TO-TOE: Luke Campbell, right, lands a right against Ryan Garcia at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Picture: Tim Warner/Getty Images

“I chose to be a champion, I wasn’t going to let nothing stop me, even when he dropped me,” said Garcia. “He caught me, I was like ‘yo, I got dropped, this is crazy’. I’ve never been dropped in my life. I think I got a little too excited over the moment, I knew I was in control but I wanted just to dog him, I just felt I could crack him but he cracked me.

“I had to adjust and calm down because I knew I could beat him, I just had to get back up and show everybody what a warrior is like.”

In stopping a fighter who went the distance in world title defeats to Jorge Linares and Vasyl Lomachenko, Garcia, who has acquired 7.8 million followers on Instagram, insists he is ready to step up to the next level.

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The 22-year-old is in pole position to fight WBC champion Devin Haney but would prefer a bout with heavy-handed compatriot Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, who holds a secondary world title in the 135lb division.

Garcia added: “I just fought an Olympic gold medallist, Lomachenko couldn’t hurt him, Linares couldn’t finish him, I showed that I’m special.”

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