Callum Simpson wasn`t often on the canvas, but on an emotional night in his hometown, he had to recover from two knockdowns to overcome Ivan Zucco and win the European championship.
In front of his supporters at Oakwell Stadium, showing incredible resilience, Simpson simply couldn`t allow himself to lose.
“No chance,” he told Sky Sports. “I was born and raised in Barnsley, I have that Yorkshire grit, and I was never going to give up, especially with this kind of support behind me.”
He believes the vulnerability he displayed, being knocked down for the first time in his professional career, might encourage higher-profile opponents to take him on.
“Hopefully. I think they`ll probably watch that and say, `He got dropped in the first round.` That probably makes me a more appealing opponent. There`s probably more chance of me getting fights now,” Simpson commented.
Hamzah Sheeraz has moved up to super-middleweight, and Simpson now hopes to face him next: “Hopefully, if he gets past [Edgar] Berlanga.”
“Honestly, even if he loses to Berlanga, I think it`s still a massive fight, so why not? I`d love that fight.”
He believes these knockdowns and the experience of such an intense battle, which Simpson won after dropping Zucco three times in the 10th round, will help him develop as a fighter.
“It wasn`t unexpected; I just got caught with a very good shot,” Simpson stated. “This is boxing; when you`re fighting for a European title, you`re going to absorb some significant punches.”
“My legs were fine, I needed to fight. I thought I was trading too much; I think he was fighting based on fear for most of the bout.”
“This is what you need; it wasn`t going to be an easy contest.”
Simpson is determined to work towards a world title challenge in 2026. “I`ve taken the traditional route, it`s about moving up the levels, and I want to keep pushing forward,” he remarked.
“I`m not claiming I`m world-level yet; it`s important to be realistic. But within my next six fights, I anticipate competing for a world title.”
Murray Blackwood