• Bantamweight

Campbell relishing return to the ring

Olympic champion Luke Campbell insists that he made the right decision in turning professional and hinted that he could make the step up to lightweight as he prepares for his first pro bout.

Campbell, who became the first British boxer to win a bantamweight gold medal in over a century at the London 2012 Games, will make his professional debut on the undercard of Kell Brook and Carson Jones in his hometown of Hull on July 13.

The 25-year-old took a hiatus from the canvas following his Olympic triumph, even appearing on a popular ice-skating show, but has revealed he is relishing the challenge of stepping back between the ropes again.

"Everything's the same in the gym, I'm back loving it," Campbell told Buncey's Boxing Pocast. "I had a bit of time off, I'm refreshed and my mind's refreshed and I'm loving what I'm doing .

"I can't wait to start competing again and obviously set some new goals now in the professional side of boxing so that's great. I feel like I'm a lot more mature and even more developed now as a person mentally and physically."

In 2008, Campbell became the first Englishman to win a European amateur title since 1961 when defeating Detelin Dalakliev in Liverpool.

The Brit joined Eddie Hearn's Matchroom stable in April and, despite stating he may look to fight at lightweight in the near future, is fully confident in his ability.

"I'll probably be at lightweight in the boxing," Campbell added. "Obviously in that time off I've just lived a normal life and my body's just adapted and put a bit of muscle on and I feel great for it.

"I look at one fight at a time. That's the way I look at things. I don't think 'oh, what can I do in four months time or two years' time?' I look at what I'm doing now and who's in front of me now.

"There's a lot of little obstacles to get over before I get there. But it'll be what it will be and I'll go in there fully prepared every time. I'm 100% confident in my ability."

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