Sunday 2 August 2015 16:52, UK
Tommy Coyle hailed Luke Campbell as 'a special talent' after suffering a 10th round stoppage defeat to the Olympic champion in their hometown of Hull.
The city's boxing fans filled the KC Lightstream to see their heroes set their childhood friendship aside and face each other in the ring - Campbell preserving his unbeaten record in emphatic style, stopping the brave Coyle in the 10th following a total of four knockdowns.
An emotional Coyle (21-3-KO10), who shed tears after seeing his dream ruined, told Sky Sports afterwards: "It was a massive opportunity for me to but this man here, the world is really going to appreciate him because he's a special talent. I was confident I could upset the odds and even knock him out but he's too smart.
"I'm a domestic fighter at best and that's it. It's hard when you grow up with someone and he upset me but what's happened has happened. He's a great fighter."
Tommy is a great fighter so I didn't rush. I needed to be patient. He's a tough man, fit and strong and knows what he's doing inside the ring.
Campbell, who moved to 12-0-KO10 with an impressive night's work, was equally magnanimous in the aftermath, saying: "It was a fantastic fight. What a tough man this is. I hit him with some cracking shots and he waved me on again. Credit to Tommy. I hope we gave the fans a great fight. I feel privileged they all came to support me and Tommy.
"Tommy is a great fighter so I didn't rush. I needed to be patient. He's a tough man, fit and strong and knows what he's doing inside the ring. It was tough and I just wanted to show everyone what I can do."
There was no shortage of praise from outside the ring, either.
Promoter Eddie Hearn said of Campbell: "He's Britain's greatest ever amateur. In two years I want him fighting for a world title here. In the meantime, it's a red-hot division domestically. Kevin Mitchell is here, Anthony Crolla is here and there's Terry Flanagan, Derry Mathews and Ricky Burns.
"He's going to be a world champion. It's a wonderful time for British boxing and in the lightweight division and this kid is going to be right in the mix."
World champion Kell Brook, working as a pundit for Sky Sports at ringside, added: "It was his first test and he past it with flying colours. We saw him get pressured. He's going to leave it to his team now and they'll get his next opponent in line.
"He's been tipped to go all the way and tonight, you can see why they're saying it. Why not go the British title route? He's not had many fights. There's no massive rush."
