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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Kevin Bizier: "I Would Be
Stupid
To Take Campbell Lightly"
By Daniel Cloutier
MONTRÉAL -Ranked 5th contender by the WBA in the
welterweight division, Kevin Bizier will face a boxer a lot
older than him Friday evening at Bell Centre, but don't tell
him that it will be a picnic for him.
Bizier (19-0-0), a boxer of 28 years from Québec City, will
face Nate “The Galaxy Warrior” Campbell (36-9-1), a fighter
of 40 years old from Jacksonville, Florida.
This NABA North American championship and IBF
Intercontinental championship, scheduled for 12 rounds, will
be televised by ESPN. Campbell is a former WBA, IBF and WBO
lightweight champion of the world. Campbell will meet the
Montréal media Wednesday in the final press conference of
the event.
“I would be stupid to take Campbell lightly,” said Bizier
after a public training session Tuesday morning at the GYM
Group Gym. “Campbell is 40 years, but believe me, he is
still a real warrior. I saw him in action three or four
times. He has a very solid right hand, he loves action, and
his moves are always
unpredictable in the ring. Against this veteran, I will need
to have a perfect concentration, work wisely defensively,
and throw my power punches at the right times. I got to be
ready for a rough 12 rounds bout. Campbell has close to 300
rounds of experience in pro boxing (294), against 72 for me.
No doubt in my mind he his my best opponent in pro boxing so
far.”
Last week, Bizier was on a way to finalize his preparation
to face John O'Donnell (27-2-0), a southpaw from Great
Britain, a former Commonwealth champion. O'Donnell has been
obliged to stop his training in London, because of a serious
hand fracture.
“I have been obliged to change my sparring when I was
informed that Campbell was replacing O'Donnell, but for me,
it was not a tragedy, because I am a natural right-hander.
It would be more complicated for me if this last minute
substitution would force me to face a southpaw instead a
right-hander.”
Marc Ramsay, Bizier's trainer, is expecting a spectacular
bout. “Campbell is not young, but trust me, he still a very
dangerous opponent,” said Ramsay. “I saw him in action at
his last bout. Kevin will have to be very productive
offensively and defensively to beat that veteran. But I am
very confident. Kevin is a real pro who takes all his
opponents seriously. I never needed to push him in training.
He is so determined to perform and win.”
The promoter of this “Rapides et Dangereux” (Fast and
Dangerous) boxing show, Yvon Michel, confirmed another
substituation for Friday evening.The other fight televised
by ESPN will opposed Tyler Asselstine (12-0-0), a super
featherweight from Ottawa, Canada, to the Montrealer Baha
Laham (10-0-1).Laham, a very aggressive fighter, will
replaced the Californian Joel Diaz (11-0-0), one of the best
prospect of the North American pro boxing, who has been
obliged to stop his training because an injury.
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