Cool hand Luke back from the brink to claim gold

He was 13, and even six defeats in his first nine fights did not dampen the teenager’s enthusiasm. “Boxing was just a cool sport and I wanted to do it,” said Campbell, matter-of-factly, after a Saturday night that will change his life for ever. “I thought it would be nice to get a few trophies. “I didn’t start off very well in boxing. Of my first nine fights I only won three, but there was something in me, I just wanted to get better and better. “When I got that first win it drove me on. “I’ve always wanted to better myself, and what better sport than boxing to try and do that? “That was what drove me, the desire to get better.” That motivation has taken the 24-year-old all the way to the pinnacle of amateur boxing, the Olympic title. A general theme of these inspirational Games has been how many of its champions have reached the top having previously plumbed the lowest of lows; how so many have climbed to the top step of the podium having finally eschewed the nagging self doubts. Campbell’s career bottomed out in 2009, just a year after he celebrated his hitherto previous boxing high of a European bantamweight title. “It was a very low point for me, 2009,” recalled Campbell, who fell so far that he missed out on the selection process for the Commonwealth Games in October, 2010. “I had my best year ever in 2008, then the system changed, different coaches came in, the whole of 2009 was a miserable year. You could say at one point I was looking to get out, I didn’t want to do it any more. Because of the environment I was in, I just didn’t like it. “Then Rob McCracken (performance director) came in and the system changed. “It was enjoyable to train again, I felt very confident under the wing of Rob and the coaches there. “I’d been to the worst place possible in my career, so what else was I afraid of? “So I went out there and enjoyed what I did again and since Rob had taken over I had 23 unbeaten fights in a row and got myself here, and just got better and better.” The culmination of the hard work was his Olympic campaign. Beset by nerves, he edged past Jahyn Parrinello and then Detelin Dalakliev to reach the semi-final and pocket a bronze medal, but that was never going to satisfy a young man who was growing into the tournament. He comprehensively outpointed Satoshi Shimizu of Japan in the semi-final to set up a final with a respected foe in Ireland’s John Joe Nevin. The two had fought twice before, winning one apiece, and their Olympic final was a nine-minute bout befitting of the grandest stage. Southpaw Campbell edged ahead 5-3 in the first round with his jab proving effective and his right hook causing damage. His defence was also vastly superior, but Nevin found a way through and won the second round by a point. Campbell needed the three minutes of his life, and he delivered, knocking Nevin down with a right hook before showing the mental resolve not to go looking for the killer blow. “I wasn’t looking for the stoppage, he’s a class fighter, he’s very tough, he’s very strong,” said Campbell of his 14-11 win. “My plan was just to flow, let the punches go and just move from side to side, and if it comes it comes. “After the knockdown I had to just carry on doing what I had been doing and not do anything silly. “I knew it was going to be a very technical fight. I listened to my coaches and stuck to the game plan which was to draw him in, because if he’d have got on the back foot that’s when he’s most dangerous.” On his journey through the London 2012 tournament, Campbell reflected: “The first fight’s always the worst, you’re coming out to the crowd, no one wants to get beat, especially in the first fight. “There are a lot more nerves and pressure. “As the tournament has gone along I’ve just settled in. And it depends who is in front of you. Styles make fights and to be the best you’ve got to beat all the different styles.” Campbell certainly managed that at a packed Excel Arena over the last 12 days. His triumph was one of three by the 10 boxers of the host nation, who are based at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. The walls there are adorned with pictures of the great British Olympic medallists of yesteryear – Alan Minter, Richie Woodhall, Amir Khan. “All the hard work is done in the gym,” said Campbell, whose picture will join that wall of fame. “We live together, we travel the world together. “We’re all training with each other, we’re all there to push each other on. If we see somebody doing something wrong we’re there to help each other and push each other as far as we can. “It’s a very close team and we’re all there to support each other as much as we can. “The coaches have been superb and we’re the most successful boxing team ever, and it just shows what can be achieved through hard work.”