Ringside Report: Callum Simpson Gets Revenge Over Troy Williamson

Ringside Report: Callum Simpson Gets Revenge Over Troy Williamson

It was by no means pretty. The sweet science was somewhat lacking, but Callum Simpson did what he needed to do on Saturday night in Leeds.

Simpson retained his British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles and got his revenge over Troy Williamson. The Barnsley man won unanimously on the cards with scores of 116-112, 117-112, and a little too close 115-113. From ringside, I had it for Simpson 116-112.

It was a long gruelling fight. Much of it fought at close quarters. Simpson (19-1) boxed at range for the opening two minutes, and then he reverted to type by pushing Williamson (25-5-1) to the ropes and looking to overwhelm the fighter who had knocked him out last year at the very same venue. It did at first, seem like a mission to disaster. But the longer the fight went on, the more his tactics looked to be working.

Simpson hurt Williamson towards the end of the 3rd round, but he kind of smothered and rushed his work and couldn’t find the punches to put his man down on the canvas. But if the Simpson faithful thought the end was coming, they quickly had to accept a points victory was far more likely.

I even gave Williamson the 4th round. The first I could legitimately score for him. After a slow start, I did wonder if Simpson had given too much too soon. But Simpson kept the pace and kept the fight at a range where I felt he felt safer. Simpson was perhaps guilty of too much holding and leaning on his smaller opponent, but he was putting rounds in the bank. The Williamson right hand, which did so much damage in December, struggled to find the Simpson chin. It was only at distance, that Simpson looked vulnerable.

Williamson, sensing the fight and his titles were slipping away, rallied in the 8th, and he seemed to hurt Simpson in the following round. But Simpson, despite fighting fatigue, did enough to get back on track. There was plenty of effort from Williamson. But little reward.

Coming out for the 12th and final round, Williamson must have known only a stoppage would save his night. Williamson gave everything, but it was too little too late for the 34-year-old. A brave effort, but he was well beaten on the night.

Callum Simpson got sweet revenge over Williamson, and he did what he needed to do on a night where perhaps his entire career was on the line. The talk post-fight was about fighting for world titles. But whatever happens next, the 29-year-old can be satisfied with what he served up at the Leeds Direct Arena. Sometimes you just have to win. This was one of those nights, and he did.

Photo Credit: Chris Dean/Boxxer