Beyond The Ropes: Callum Simpson

Beyond The Ropes: Callum Simpson

Callum Simpson has something very few fighters have. Yes, he can fight. Simpson could be a world champion within the next twelve months. But he brings a little more to the party. His incredibly loyal and passionate fan base. They are beyond vocal, and they come in great numbers. Simpson has everything a promoter needs. And craves.

His beloved Oakwell Stadium will play host to another emotional occasion on Saturday night. A European title challenge against the largely unknown, at least to the masses, Italian hopeful Ivan Zucco. The next step on a road that the local hero hopes will end with a world title around his waist. There are also dreams of fighting Canelo Alvarez. It might be unlikely. A matter of timing. But that vocal faithful gives Simpson a little more hope than most. But whatever lies ahead, Simpson has to focus on the here and now.

Zucco, has an impressive looking unbeaten twenty-one-fight resume, a record that might somewhat flatter him, and with Simpson being a strong 1/12 betting favourite, the odds are that a Simpson victory is a mere formality. But boxing history tells us, even in recent times, that we shouldn’t presume anything. Only last weekend, a possible future opponent in Caleb Plant lost a supposed tune-up fight. Nights and fights like this can make or break a career. Simpson will hope it’s not the latter.

But there is something refreshing about Callum Simpson. Despite touching on mainstream recognition, Simpson has retained memories of where he has come from. His obvious self-confidence hasn’t led to the realms of arrogance. You suspect there will be no overlooking the unfancied Italian who will be in the opposite corner on Saturday night.

Simpson is an old-fashioned fighter who has done it the old-fashioned way. From an Area title, he moved impressively on to the British and Commonwealth super-middleweight baubles. The European title is the next piece of that boxing puzzle. You know, the way it used to be done, before avoidance and money, convinced many a fighter to skip a level or two before they brutally got found out at the upper echelons of their sport. Simpson is learning his craft the right way. At 28, he knows he has time. He is using it extremely well.

Callum Simpson is one of the big Boxxer success stories. Plucked from relative obscurity, Ben Shalom has found a rare gem of a boxer. The fighter himself might have thought stadium fights were in his future. But even Simpson will have been surprised at how quickly he has arrived at this point. 7,000 fans turned up last summer to watch Simpson win those British and Commonwealth titles. Only the enforced restrictions that were in place last August stopped that crowd from being much larger. The second time around, those restrictions have been lifted.

Simpson has followed the personal touch formula that Josh Warrington employed to build up that impressive fanbase. Add in that Sky Sports promotional machine, and all parties have unearthed an unlikely star. Everything appears to be in place for Simpson to emulate Warrington on the world stage.

But there is still that feeling that we don’t yet know just how good Simpson is. Although after just seventeen fights and most of them at a lower level, we shouldn’t do. But what we have seen, especially in recent times, is beyond encouraging. Ivan Zucco will tell us a little more about what potentially lies ahead for Callum Simpson. A statement-making performance against Zucco and those world title dreams might be fast-tracked.

Photo Credit: Boxxer