Campbell’s father passed away after a battle with cancer, just two week’s before Saturday’s WBA Lightweight title defeat to Linares.
But the southpaw kept his pain to himself until after the fight, which he thinks his dad would have been proud of.
“I didn’t want anyone to know,” he said.
“If someone had found out I would have denied it. I didn’t want Linares’ camp thinking it was a weakness. I didn’t want them thinking I was hurt.
“The only thing that kept me going is that I know what my dad would have wanted for me. To fight and to win.
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“I had a lot to deal with in the last two weeks. All the people writing me off, the negativity and in the background my dad died.
“I think I shut a lot of mouths and I thought I actually won the fight.”
Campbell lost the fight in California on points despite Scottish judge Victor Loughlin scoring it 115-113 in his favour.
The 2012 Olympic gold medalist recovered well after being knocked down in the second round and dedicated his performance to his late father.
He said: “At times I thought I outclassed him. I think I did my dad proud, I think we showed how tough we are.
“It was hard for me. I was close to my dad. All the family was together at home and I was on my own, no one around me.
“I’m glad people had comfort at home but I feel bad because I wanted to be with my dad.
“I’ve been telling myself he went because he wanted to be with me.”