Nick Campbell: From professional rugby to Scottish heavyweight champion? | Boxing News

Can Nick Campbell successfully trade the sport of rugby to boxing? His former teammate Gerwyn Price has done it before, becoming World Darts Champion! Campbell aims for the British heavyweight belt as he nears his professional debut …

Nick Campbell and Anthony Joshua via @ nickacampbell1 Instagram

Nick Campbell left his professional rugby career to become a boxer – and aims to become the first British heavyweight champion in Scotland …

You had an unconventional arrival in boxing …

I played eight years of professional rugby with the Glasgow Warriors and the Jersey Reds. I started rugby when I was nine. I boxed when I was younger but rugby took off.

I came to the end of a contract, had a few offers on the table, but decided to give up rugby and get into boxing. It has always been a passion.

Nick Campbell in action for Glasgow

Did you hit the punching bag while you were a rugby player?

I used to be fined by physiotherapists for going to a local boxing gym and hitting the pads that didn’t follow our recovery protocols!

Have you had any snatches on the rugby pitch?

There are guys who are executors – you could say it was me! Sneaky stuff, a little rough and tumble …

I love the physicality of the game and loved to be involved in disagreements.

You had a short but good career as an amateur boxer…

My goal was just to win the Scottish Championship. I entered the Scottish elite squad. I have been exposed to some of the best training at the amateur level. I went to Sheffield and fought the boys from the GB team.

I’ve always been in the deep, learning the hard way. My years in rugby taught me to deal with this.

Has anyone criticized your decision to change sports?

I’ve had a lot of comments saying, “You’re crazy – what gives you the right?”

I don’t want to be a gadget. I have always applied myself and trained hard.

I am not here to be a show. I am here to prove a point.

I will introduce people to boxing who weren’t interested in the sport.

I want to fight for things, I want to fight at the highest level.

Gerwyn Price went from rugby to darts

Can your experience as an elite athlete help your boxing?

Gerwyn Price was on loan to Glasgow when I was there, and he is now world darts champion!

There are so many things that apply between sports – discipline, getting up early in the morning, recovering, doing rehab, doing things that aren’t fun, things that people don’t see.

There is so much I can take from rugby and apply it to boxing.

Scotland’s Gary Cornish lasted just 96 seconds against Anthony Joshua

What can we expect from you inside the ring?

I’m 6’7 ” and 18 stones – if I didn’t use these physical attributes I’d be crazy.

I want to get behind my jab, take the center of the ring, I am very well conditioned and I am proud of my form.

No disrespect for some heavyweights, but some of them can’t condition themselves.

I like to think that if I get the chance I can get people out of there. I want knockouts, to get people excited.

Former footballer Curtis Woodhouse became British champion

What are the goals of your boxing career?

There has never been a British heavyweight champion in Scotland. If you are going professional, this is what you should aspire to.

People laughed at [former Premier League footballer] Curtis Woodhouse but he became a British champion. Why should it be any different for me?

To contest a British title would be an incredible achievement. The last Scotsman to do so was Gary Cornish who was beaten by Sam Sexton.

I understand the level of these fighters – Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce competed for the last one. I have no illusions. I am ready to sacrifice myself, to dig, to work a lot to get there.