Nick aims to be a real knock-out in new job

■ By NEIL FISSLER

NICK CAMPBELL is under no illusions about the size of the task he has taken on after swapping his rugby boots for boxing gloves to become a professional prizefighter.

Campbell, 31, quit playing rugby in 2017 after an eight-year career that saw him win Scotland U20 caps and play for Glasgow Warriors and Jersey Reds.

He has now turned professional with Belfast promoter Mark Dunlop after winning ten of 15 amateur fights, including seven stoppages and becoming the Scottish Elite Champion. This new path is working well and if you’re looking for a change why not try your luck and start to bet with Virgin Bet.

Scotland has produced many fine boxers at lighter weights like Ken Buchanan, Jim Watt, Bunny Lynch, Pat Clinton and recently Ricky Burns, Alex Arthur and Josh Taylor.

But they have never produced a British heavyweight champion and that’s something that the 6ft 7ins former lock hopes he can put right.

He says: “I’m not a gimmick, or trying to be the rugby playing boxer, it’s about making a statement and making some Scottish history.

Role model: Nicky Campbell with Anthony Joshua

“There have not been many Scottish heavyweight champions so it would be lovely if I could put heavyweights on the map for Scotland and Jersey.

“I am under no illusions of how difficult it will be, but I love the challenge and to see how far I can get.

“Everyone who doubts me just adds fuel to my fire. So bring it on. I think I have proved I have some natural ability.”

Campbell, right, who counts former teammate Richie Gray as one of his best friends still keeps in touch with Finn Russell and Jonny Gray.

“I drove Finn every Tuesday and Thursday to Ayr when we were in the academy set up there. He is still a good mate of mine and he text me when he saw the news I’d turned professional.”

Campbell says he never took a backward step on the pitch.

“You cannot punch anyone in the head anymore, but I wouldn’t have shied away from a confrontation on the pitch – that was never something I was shy of. “Rugby has its moments when things can get a bit heated, so I always looked for that confrontation. I was involved in a couple of shuffles on the rugby pitch.

Shaping up: Nick Cambell works out in his gym

“Especially when I was at Glasgow I just tried to make sure I never got caught…a couple of sin bins but never a red card.”

Campbell’s grandfather Don was an amateur boxer and his father Angus has trained amateur fighters so boxing flows through his veins.

He adds: “I’ve always had a passion for boxing since I was a young lad. Rugby took the focus when I was young going through the Scotland age groups.

“But it has always been lingering at the back of my mind even when I was playing. I always wanted to have at least one fight to see where it could take me.”

Campbell faces heavyweight competition from Mitchell Barton, the former British youth champion who represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and has signed with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions.

Campbell, who is still based in Jersey and works as a personal trainer, could move quickly towards a potential Scottish title fight after a handful of successful bouts.

He says: “There are not that many of us. So you have got the edge over the lighter weights, and the good thing about the heavyweights is that they don’t peak until the mid-30s.

“I’d like to think that if I can keep myself fit and live a healthy, clean life and develop, there is no reason why I cannot carry on for the next five or six years.”