Olympic gold medallist Luke Campbell has said his time away from the sport has made him realise how much boxing means to him.
Campbell makes his professional debut against Andy Harris in Hull on Saturday and it will be the first time he appears in the ring in public since his gold medal performance last August.
The 25-year-old has taken some time away from the sport but the bantamweight admits he can’t wait to get back into action in front of a home crowd at Hull’s KR’s MS3 Craven Park.
In preparing for the fight, Campbell has spent time at New York’s famous Gleason’s gym and also sparred with Kevin Mitchell at Tony Sims’ gym in Essex.
Campbell will be under the spotlight in front of his home fans but admits he is just raring to go.
He said: “I have missed it and I realised that in my time off. I realised what I want to do in life, where I want to go and what my true passion is. It is boxing. That was one big lesson I learnt after the Olympics.
“I’m feeling good, I’ve been training hard for it and I’ll be ready for action come Saturday. It’s been a long time coming, I’ve been off for a year but am back in the sport I love. I’m quite good at this so it’s nice to be back.
“This is where the journey starts now for me. You are always more nervous for your first fight but I’m ready for it and have prepared well.”
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