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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 3:50 p.m., Friday, February 13, 2009

Boxing: Campbell can't make weight, loses 3 title belts

Associated Press

SUNRISE, Fla. — Nate Campbell lost his three lightweight titles on the scales today when he failed to make weight for his fight with Ali Funeka.

Campbell, who won the IBF, WBA and WBO titles by beating Juan Diaz last year, weighed 138 pounds — three over the lightweight limit — on his first attempt to make weight at BankAtlantic Center. With two hours to lose the remaining weight, he only managed to drop to 137½ pounds when he returned to the scale.

But the fight will go on as scheduled between Campbell and Funeka, who weighed in at 133½. Funeka would win the IBF and WBO titles with a victory, but Campbell can't reclaim the belts with a win.

The 36-year-old Campbell has been waiting for several months for a chance to defend his titles, which he won with a stunning upset of the previously unbeaten Diaz last spring in Cancun, Mexico.

A title defense against Joan Guzman was scrapped in September when Guzman failed to make weight, costing Campbell his $300,000 purse and later forcing the fighter to declare bankruptcy.