Beyond The Ropes: Callum Simpson

Beyond The Ropes: Callum Simpson

It was always apparent Boxxer has something very rare in Callum Simpson. He can sell tickets by the bucketload. A rarity in an era of half-empty arenas. Simpson might even in the not-too-distant future be selling out a football stadium. But even beyond that, Callum Simpson can fight. While another promotion might have a heavyweight ticket seller to match Simpson, it is the Barnsley fanatic who is seemingly destined for the very pinnacle of his craft. Hype is one thing. Genuine world-title potential is another.

Simpson is now seventeen fights in. An unblemished resume. A fanatical fanbase. A skillset that could see him very quickly being moved into the world title conversation.

Ben Shalom and Boxxer, for all their critics, are moving Simpson along quite nicely. An inspired signing by Shalom and the working relationship has already blossomed into a fruitful business arrangement. They have something the other needs.

I was ringside last summer when Simpson beat Zak Chelli at his beloved Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley. A night and a victory that earned Simpson the British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles. Even with only one stand open, the Simpson faithful brought their voice. The sound was deafening. 7,000 tickets that sold out in minutes. In truth, they could have doubled that number. Maybe even more. Next time Simpson fights there, there will be significantly more in attendance. And there will be a next time.

It was a special night last August. A night that brought back memories for this old scribe of the day, Herol Graham fought the American Lindell Holmes in front of one stand show at his beloved Bramall Lane. Even this die-hard Blade can appreciate what Simpson has. Something very few fighters around today have.

Simpson has made a rapid start to 2025. A real statement of intent. At 29, Simpson seems intent on making up for lost time. A risky-looking assignment in early January against the dangerous Steed Woodall at the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield ended somewhat prematurely. A clumsy stoppage by the referee in the 2nd round denied Simpson a cleaner victory. But the Barnsley fighter would have won regardless. Irrespective of the controversial call to end the fight with Woodall, Simpson had made a difficult fight on paper look far easier than many thought. The early stoppage headlines overshadowed just how good Simpson had looked.

On Saturday night at the Wembley Arena, Simpson answered the call to fill a vacant slot on the show headlined by Adam Azim. A quick turnaround against the Ghanaian Elvis Ahorga. An opponent who came to entertain. And to win. Ahorgah, as they say, had a go. His left hook was swung with some force, and there must have been a few nerves from Ben Shalom at ringside. But Simpson kept his cool and eventually found what he needed in the 5th round. A fun fight that more than served its purpose.

The Barnsley faithful came to London in their numbers. Shalom will be thinking of just how far the Callum Simpson story can go. Shalom likes a stadium fight. We all know what will come in the summer. The only unanswered question is who will be in the opposite corner at the old atmospheric football stadium. Oakwell will surely be next. One stand will morph into more. Much more. Herol Graham never did win a world title. Callum Simpson just might. What started with one open stand. Could end with four.

Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer