Hearn plans to work Campbell hard
Eddie Hearn wants Luke Campbell to fight every month after watching the Olympic hero make the ideal start to his professional career on his homecoming in Hull in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Craven Park, home of Super League side Hull KR, was a near sell-out to witness London 2012 bantamweight gold medallist Campbell top the bill in his very first outing in the paid ranks.
The 25-year-old, who was unsurprisingly given a raucous welcome to the ring, knocked down journeyman Andy Harris twice en route to an emphatic stoppage after just 88 seconds. While tougher tests await for the Yorkshireman, promoter Hearn is desperate to keep his charge active.
"I want him to box at least once a month, certainly for the next year, and sometimes twice a month," he said. "I want to box him in all the big shows we do all over the country, also take him to America. One fight at a time as far as Luke's concerned. The next one will be September 7 on the Ricky Burns undercard in Glasgow."
Hearn admitted he was unconvinced Saturday evening's show would be a success when it was first suggested to him, but added he was won over when he witnessed Campbell's popularity in Hull.
"I don't think it's ever happened before, someone turning pro in a stadium fight. I thought Luke was mad when he suggested it but after I came to Hull and saw the support for him, I wanted to give it a go," he said. "We wanted to make a statement because we're going to put a lot behind Luke Campbell."
Campbell rose to stardom after his Olympics success and has since gone on to become a household favourite after coming third in the ITV show Dancing on Ice.
He was competing at lightweight on his professional debut, which is four weight categories higher than when he fought in London last year, and revealed he has no intention of attempting to boil down to the lower divisions.
"I'd lose muscle if I got down to super-feather(weight)," he said. "The thing is when you're doing longer rounds, you've got to fuel your body efficiently so you can do the training.
"I was at bantamweight during the Olympics so I had a bit of time out, doing the Dancing on Ice and stuff, I put a bit of natural weight on and I feel great for it."
