Campbell wins on pro debut as Brook beats Jones

ESPN staff

Luke Campbell's professional boxing debut lasted just one minute and 28 seconds after the Olympic gold medallist knocked down Andy Harris in the first round.

Luke Campbell was too strong for Andy Harris  ©  Getty Images

Campbell, in front of his home crowd at Craven Park in Hull, landed a series of blistering attacks right from the off with his opponent not getting a sniff.

"I couldn't have asked for anything better," Campbell, who barely broke into a sweat, said. "I tried to stay calm and relaxed tonight. I managed to catch Andy early on and he went down. I don't think he really recovered from that.

"It's a dream come true to win my first professional fight, and in front of my home fans, who I'd like to thank. Without them this just wouldn't be possible."

Speaking about a possible next opponent, Campbell added: "Waiting and training hard is part and parcel of boxing and I'm in this for the long haul. We'll see."

Promoter Eddie Hearn added: "This is the start of a very special journey, he's not just a great fighter but a perfect ambassador for the sport.

Before Campbell's win, Kell Brook recorded a comfortable victory over American Carson Jones.

The Sheffield welterweight won on points in a rematch with the man who was so close to inflicting Brook's first defeat 13 months ago.

Jones battled hard against the Brook onslaught, but his second knockdown saw the referee stop the fight in the eighth.

Brook looked sharp from the off and landed several jabs with Jones giving little in return. And Brook's attack paid dividends when he knocked his opponent off balance and he opted to take a kne in the second when under fire.

But Jones came out with more ambition in the fourth, including a combination that drew blood from Brook's nose.

However, Brook recovered well and came out all guns blazing in the eighth and landed some huge right hands before Brook was given a standing count.

 And undefeated Brook admits he is already looking to the future, with the 27-year-old saying he will back in the ring in September against a "big name" as he looks to get back into world title contention.

"I wasn't too excited by that performance," he told Sky Sports. "I came here to have fun tonight. Jones is a tough customer, I hurt my hand on his head. I got the rounds in though, it was win-win for me.

"It's been a difficult nine months, the hardest ever. I'll be back in the gym on Monday and I'll have a big name in Sheffield in September. You'll see a different animal then, back at my natural weight."

Brook twice had world title fights with Devon Alexander called off this year.

Earlier in the evening, Derry Mathews won the vacant Commonwealth lightweight title with a stunning tenth round knockout victory over Tommy Coyle.

Hull-born Coyle bossed the fight from the start with a series of body blows before Matthews, who started the fight as favourite, landed a flush left hook to snatch victory.

"I was terrible tonight, this man was outstanding," Mathews told Sky Sports. "He bullied me today, I've got a lot of respect for him - this man will come again.

"But like I've said before I'm one of the biggest hitters around."

Lee Selby took Viorel Simion's unbeaten record and WBC International title with a unanimous points victory.

In a disappointing bout, Simion finished strongly but it was Selby who lifted the title with scores of 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113.

Before that, Olympic bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo stopped Gary Boulden in the fifth of a six-round contest.

Ogogo knocked Boulden down in the fourth and stepped it up in the fifth with a series of accurate jabs which saw referee Howard Foster step in and stop the fight.


Source:  www.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/story/221169.html#