Andres Campos heads to London as a 10/1 underdog ahead of a maiden world title attempt when he faces Sunny Edwards on Saturday at Wembley Arena. Little known by many, the young Chilean boasts a well acclaimed backroom staff, one being his Australian manager Tony Tolj.
“Me and Andres started working together through Andrew Moloney.” Tolj said in an exclusive interview for ProBox TV. “They were talking on instagram when Andrew was going over to Chile to fight Miguel Gonzalez in a world title eliminator. They got talking on instagram because they were about the same weight and eventually set up some sparring.
“Andres and his promoter Nico [Martinez Erenchun] ended up being instrumental in our camp when Andrew went over there to knockout Gonzalez. They helped with every part of our camp, from sparring to gym’s to work out in, even a mouthguard, a sauna to go to, haircuts, everything you can think of. We like to help people who help us, so I became his manager after that.”
Tolj works the ranking system to find his fighters their route towards a world title shot, this Saturday will be a third world title fight for his stable within four weeks.
“We were arranging a major show in Chile with Nico at this big casino before this opportunity came up.” Tony explained. “It was going to be a big step up fight as well. But then an opportunity came out of the blue for a world title. Plans change and you have got to be able to work on the fly. We had about five weeks notice, but the time frame of when he was going to be fighting anyway matched the fight date with Edwards. He was already in camp regardless.
“He will deal with the occasion well. It is a big step up in class from what he has faced before, but he has been regularly sparring with some of the best around his weight class. He was great with both the Moloney brothers, he came to Vegas with us. He has been in the ring with quality opposition, but just not in a fight. We will have to wait and see how he deals with that pressure, but he has the tools to do it. Rick Flair once said ‘To be the man, you gotta beat the man.’ The guy who doesn’t take the fight is the guy who has lost the fight. You have to be in it to win it.”
The philosophy running through the Australian’s stable is quite clear, the fact Campos jumps into the lion’s den under the circumstance is a plain example. Tolj’s fighters appear to value the reward ahead of the risk.
“I believe Campos will have to stop Edwards to get the win.” Tolj added. “I don’t believe he will be beating Sunny on points in England. This is Andres’s Rock Balboa moment, nobody is expecting him to win. He has a chance to become Chile’s first world champion and he can also shock the world.”
