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15/11/2008
Campbell grabs gold at European Championships
Luke Campbell, the 21-year-old bantamweight from St Paul's Amateur Boxing Club in Hull, tonight became the first English European Elite Champion in 47 years.
The double ABA champion led the more experienced European medallist for the first two rounds with his trademark style of counter-attack, but Bulgarian Detelin Dalakliev shortened the distance in the third to 4-3. During a tense fourth and with scores standing at 5-4 to Campbell, Dalakliev grabbed a point a mere two seconds before the final bell. With the gap closed, spectators in the Liverpool Echo Arena were left on tenterhooks and the English boxer at the mercy of a countback decision. Luke's corner, GB head coach Terry Edwards and coach David Pocknell, could only hold their breath until the decision was announced - and the crowd at the arena was ecstatic.
The European gold is the ultimate feather in the cap of the team, which has performed tremendously well this year, and Terry Edwards has stated that European gold would complete a 'royal flush' after winning golds in last World and EU Championships, Commonwealth Games and Olympics.
The standard of boxing at this level is notoriously high - Campbell's bout was followed by a win by lightweight Olympic gold medallist - and the boxer widely acknowledged to be the best in the world - Vasyl Lomachenko, who won the Val Barker boxer of the tournament trophy at this summer's Games in Beijing. Cheered by jubliant team mates including recent Olympians as he took to the podium, there can certainly be no doubt of the Hull boy's potential for 2012.
