Vasyl Lomachenko vs Luke Campbell: Shane McGuigan, tragedy and the unmistakable trainer-fighter bond

After tragically losing his sister to cancer, Saturday’s world title fight has provided focus in the most difficult circumstances

An unmistakable bond develops between a fighter and trainer that is scarcely comparable in any other sport. The teacher is trusted with the life of his pupil in this dark sport. Uncountable hours spent honing a craft not in hope, but expectation of carving out a piece of history together.

Luke Campbell and Shane McGuigan are now hurtling towards their date with destiny, a little more than a year since joining forces: now closer than ever due to circumstances neither could have foreseen.

While preparing to face three-weight world champion and perhaps the greatest fighter on the planet Vasyl Lomachenko, McGuigan and his family were struck by tragedy last month when his sister Danika died of cancer. The 31-year-old trainer has been managing the anguish alongside Campbell, who endured his own adversity in 2017 when his father passed away just weeks before his first world lightweight title challenge against Jorge Linares.

“Yes, it has helped,” a solemn McGuigan reflects, agreeing that this fight has acted as a distraction from his pain. “Also, working with Luke who suffered a similar loss has been good.”

Campbell has at times been wandering as a professional in search of the inspiration required to mimic his supremacy as an amateur. And having belatedly found it in a small corner of Wandsworth with McGuigan, he is convinced the family assembled has helped lift their leader during his lowest point.

“It’s definitely good to keep his mind active and focusing on something else,” Campbell admitted, having himself persevered in the final days before his split decision defeat to Linares.

“Like I say, the gym is a team and we’re all there to support each other and be there for each other when needed.”

McGuigan defies his age with his expertise of the sweet science, having compiled every possible advantage to hand his stable of fighters “an extra couple of per cent” entering the ring. Aware, too, of the magnitude of the occasion, McGuigan is relishing the test of overcoming the mythical ‘Loma’ in an upset which he maintains would top Lloyd Honeyghan’s effort against Donald Curry in 1986.

“We want it to come as a shock, we’re preparing for it and that’s what we’ve got in our mindset,” McGuigan outlines, before raving about Campbell’s sparring. Stablemate and light welterweight world champion Josh Taylor has played a crucial role alongside his own camp as he bids to unify at 140 pounds against American Regis Prograis. McGuigan even sees parallels between the Scot and the magnificent Ukrainian they are preparing to face on Saturday for the WBC, WBA and WBO titles.

“He brings that come forward aggression which is controlled and that’s something Lomachenko does,” McGuigan explains. “He is able to unsettle people and he is so within himself.

McGuigan has battled with tragedy over the last month (Getty)

“When you step him (Campbell) up, he always looks comfortable. He never looks unsettled, he always looks in control and even with Josh, he looks comfortable there.

“He gets loads of success, it’s a very well matched spar. If you’re able to do that with someone from the weight above you, you’re preparing for someone who is naturally a featherweight. I know on fight night, people are going to be shocked because he’s hitting harder than he ever has before.”

McGuigan is clearly an admirer of Lomachenko, who he labels a “freak talent”, having navigated his way to world honours in three weight classes in just 14 professional fights. Yet he is encouraged by the legendary amateur’s risky pursuit of discovering his match against larger opponents and the inevitable attrition from 396 amateur bouts.

Campbell is lifted up by McGuigan after victory vs Mendy last year (AFP/Getty)

“He’s so quick-footed because he has to get in on guys. He has to make that transition into range because that’s where he’s so effective. We have to be very, very sharp with our feet early on,” McGuigan emphasises. “We need to be ready and responsive and not let ourselves get settled because as soon as you start doing that that’s when you play into his hands.

“When Luke hits him and hurts him it won’t be a big shock for us. If he drops him like Linares did (in 2018), he won’t be touching gloves before he goes in to attack him, he’s got to be ruthless.”

McGuigan allows his imagination to run wild for a moment as he approaches the end of what has been at times a sombre camp. But thanks to the extraordinary Lomachenko generating excitement like never before, he has overcome grief, arriving even closer with Campbell to the brink of history.