LUKE CAMPBELL can retire a proud man with a fearless record if he retires after Saturday night’s heartbreaking loss to Ryan Garcia.
The 2012 Olympic champ, 33, needed to beat the 22-year-old prospect to secure a third lightweight world title shot – after coming up short against future hall-of-famers Vasiliy Lomachenko and Jorge Linares.
Luke Campbell was beaten by Ryan Garcia on Saturday night in what could be his final fightCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Ricky Hatton has claimed Luke Campbell can retire proud if he decides to hang up his glovesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But, after dropping boxing’s new golden boy with a lovely second-round left hook, he was obliterated with a similar shot to his ribs in the seventh and counted out.
The celebrated amateur welcomed third son Levi to the family in September but cancelled his own Christmas to prepare for this fight and is set to open his own gym in Hull after lockdown.
And British boxing legend Ricky Hatton says the baby-faced hero can retire with his head held high, if he feels he is at the end of the road.
Hatton said: “What a career Luke has had… and the Olympic gold was not his only amateur achievement by far.
“He has done us so proud, he is one of the most decorated English amateurs of all time.
“He has taken both Vasiliy Lomachenko and Jorge Linares the distance and they are multi-weight world champions.
“And he has just been in with the latest young whipper-snapper superstar.
“Only Luke will know how happy he is with what he has achieved in his boxing career. You only retire when you have no more goals to fulfil.
Ryan Garcia threw on a crown as he beat Luke CampbellCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“It would be lovely to see that world title belt around Luke’s waist.
“But, if he doesn’t do it, then it will only be because of the absolute quality he has been in with.
“Luke has faced genuine pound-for-pound monsters one fight after the other. I take my hat off to him.”
Southpaw Campbell was Garcia’s first real test after 20 one-sided wins and the Brit looked like being a bridge too far in the second round.
A peach of a left hook dropped Garcia and panicked his 8m Instagram followers.
But the California kid, with the rapid hands, slashed and bludgeoned his way back into the bout before landing a spectacular rib breaker.
The slow-motion replay showed all of Campbell’s right flank rippling with the brutal impact and he dropped to one and then two knees before being counted out.
Campbell sent Garcia crashing to the canvas in the second round but would go on to loseCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Campbell said: “Well I’m honestly heart broken… I really wanted to bring the win back for you all. I’m sorry for that.
“I hope you all enjoyed the fight. Have to take my hat off to Ryan Garcia, well done and a massive future ahead for him. I wish him all the best.”
The sublime shot that ended the Dallas dust-up was right out of the Hatton body-punching textbook.
The Manchester icon said it’s the exact punch he tries to teach his students and proves Garcia is capable of going on to challenge fellow 9st 9lbs monsters Teofimo Lopez, Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney.
Hatton said: “The shot was beautiful. That is exactly how I tell the lads in my gym to throw that shot.
“Luke’s reaction was delayed, he got his first breath but it’s the second one that does you.
“Garcia is capable of beating all of the best guys now.
“I know he is a social media star already but he can just wait and build those other fights.
“He can polish up on some of those errors that he made against Luke.”
Ryan Garcia vs Luke Campbell – Round by Round
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
