Campbell ready for Nevin clash
Boxer Luke Campbell will square off against old foe and family friend John Joe Nevin as he aims to fulfil his lifelong ambition of winning an Olympic gold medal in the men's bantamweight final at ExCeL on Saturday.
The Hull 24-year-old eased past Japan's Satoshi Shimizu 20-11 in their semi-final to set up a third career meeting with Ireland's Nevin - a stunning 19-14 winner over Cuba's reigning world champion Lazaro Alvarez Estrada.
But the dream is over for Lowestoft middleweight Anthony Ogogo, who must settle for picking up a bronze medal after he was floored twice on his way to a 16-9 defeat to powerful Brazilian Esquiva Falcao.
Campbell's relationship with Nevin goes beyond their two previous bouts, in which Nevin triumphed comfortably in the 2009 EU Championships and the Hull man edged their last meeting on countback at last year's World Championships.
Campbell said: "I've got family in Ireland who know Nevin's family. We all know he's a great fighter, and he's always been one of my major threats. I expected this final before the tournament, and it's all about me getting it right in the ring."
He added: "It's always the case that I get better in each fight in a tournament, and it all depends what style you've got in front of you. It's important that you are able to adapt in order to beat them all.
"It's all about the gold medal for me now, but I'm proud of what I've done so far and I'm happy to make my family proud and my little lad and my home town of Hull. The support I have received from home and in the arena has been amazing."
Meanwhile, Ogogo, whose Olympic build-up was marred by a serious illness suffered by his mother, admitted he would find some pride in taking home a bronze medal after going down to Falcao, the man who also beat him in last year's World Championships.
Ogogo said: "I was bit tired because I've had such a tough journey to get here. It's disappointing because I've beaten better fighters than him, but he boxed well and nobody could fault me for my effort.
"Getting here was an ordeal for me, and then getting such a tough draw was also an ordeal. He's had easier fights and you could tell that. I'm gutted that I couldn't bring home a medal but maybe it will happen next time."
