Campbell, who fights out of the St. Paul\'s Amateur Boxing Club in Hull, won the English senior ABA Bantamweight title in 2007 and retained the honour in 2008 after beating Gareth Smith 23–1 in the final.

Campbell turned professional in 2000 in Tallahassee and quickly stormed through his opponents. He won his first 23 bouts, setting up a bout with cagey veteran Joel Casamayor in 2003.