Campbell recovers, tops Funeka in split decision

[Tim Mousel]

Campbell recovers, tops Funeka in split decision

02-15-2009 01:59 AM



A day after losing his three title belts for failing to make weight, Nate Campbell won a split decision against Ali Funeka in a lightweight fight Saturday night. -





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[Hardball]

A clear case of impressing the judges with power shots. Campbell was losing badly but pulled off two impressive knockdowns. One in the 2nd and one in the 11th. Funeka dominated the fight with his long reach and awesome triple jabs.

[Uke]

That was a bad call. When you down by that much, one knockdown ain't winning you the fight. Especially when Campbell couldn't close the show.

[Hardball]

That was a bad call. When you down by that much, one knockdown ain't winning you the fight. Especially when Campbell couldn't close the show.

There were two knockdowns. Yep, I agree Campbell was losing. Man, Funeka was in disbelief almost to the point of tears. It might have been a case of Xenophobic prejudice.

[Uke]

There were two knockdowns. Yep, I agree Campbell was losing. Man, Funeka was in disbelief almost to the point of tears. It might have been a case of Xenophobic prejudice.

I know there were 2 knockdowns. What I was saying is that the second knockdown came after we all were sure that Campbell was well behind on the cards. The early knockdown came during the only three rounds that Campbell won in the first 10 rounds.

It wasn't prejudice. Campbell is much more connected, and is more of a money maker than Funeka. They did the same thing to Ike Quartey when he fought Oscar DelaHoya. Quartey beat DLH in 8 out of 12 rounds, but because DLH scored a knockdown in the 12th, they gave the fight to DLH.

Quartey also is from Africa. Ghana to be exact, and he lacks the connections just like Funeka did. Still, a robbery is a robbery. Campbell is trying to cash in on his 15 minutes of fame now because he had been ignored for so many years. Since he beat the "Baby Bull" Juan Diaz, he's trying to ride the wave as long as he can.

Campbell got outboxed and out-hustled in this fight though, and Campbell's next opponent would do well to study what Funeka did right in this fight.