CALLUM SIMPSON won a fight of the year contender after coming back from being DROPPED TWICE by Ivan Zucco!
The proud Barnsley native put on a show in front of a packed Oakwell stadium, fighting back from a deep hole to secure a signature win.
Simpson was down with the second punch of the fight and then again in the third, but eventually overcome dogged Italian Zucco to secure a dramatic 10th round TKO win.
The win, which saw Simpson pile on the pressure late to secure a superb finish, saw him win the vacant European super-middleweight title.
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First step of domination plan
Callum Simpson knows exactly what he wants from his career over the next twelve months.
After securing the European belt, he wants to be challenging for the world title by the end of next year.
Simpson felt he needed a fight like that, against an undefeated boxer, taking him through ten gruelling rounds.
Credit: Getty He’s one of our own, he’s one of our own
The crowd in the Oakwell Stadium sung loud and proud to motivate their man in the ring.
He was facing a true warrior, who was never going to give up.
With the crowd behind him, finally, Simpson broke Zucco and sent him to the canvas three times in one round.
Levels.
Credit: PA Barnsley’s finest has his say
Speaking with Sky Sports after the fight, the new European super-middleweight champion spoke:
Honestly, I haven’t got words, I’m speechless. I knew Zucco would be tough. I wanna be world champion by next year. I got caught with a great straight backhand but I got back up fine. I got dropped again but it is all about not letting it phase me. There are no easy fights, not once did I give up, I just knew I had to push for everybody. I’ve got that Yorkshire grit, I was never gonna give up.
Callum Simpson
All well at Oakwell
This fight was all about doing it in front of his home fans for Callum Simpson.
To win in the fashion he did and to become the new super-middleweight champion, will be something he does not forget for a lifetime.
This is what Simpson no doubt had been dreaming of all week and now he is wearing the belt and living that dream.
Simpson does it at home
What a tenth round that was for Callum Simpson.
Despite dominating the fight, he struggled to get through the Italian and put him down.
That was until we were ten rounds in, where he dropped him on three occasions.
The first time was a brilliant uppercut which Zucco really felt.
He got back to his feet and made the count before being trapped in the corner again, allowing Simpson to repeat the feat.
Finally as Simpson was landing combination after combination, he dropped the Italian again and this time his corner said that was it.
Credit: PA Callum Simpson wins by TKO
Callum Simpson vs Ivan Zucco (Round 9)
Both boxers are looking like they have cuts to the face.
Simpson is in control of this round, like much of the fight, but he is struggling to make a dent in Zucco.
The Italian really needs to do more if he is still thinking he can get a win here.
Credit: PA Callum Simpson vs Ivan Zucco (Round 8)
Zucco ends up on the canvas but it is not deemed a knockdown.
Great round for Simpson as he gets some telling punches to the head in on his opponent.
You wonder if Zucco is flagging a little now.
Callum Simpson vs Ivan Zucco (Round 7)
A good round for Zucco, who lands some good combinations.
That said, Simpson continues to try and boss the round aside from these few moments of pressure.
Zucco is looking the more battle-worn of the two fighters.
Callum Simpson vs Ivan Zucco (Round 6)
Zucco looks to come forward a lot more in this round.
He is firing off big overhand lefts, looking to hurt Simpson.
Simpson has done well to ride out the pressure and needs to see what his opponent has left in the tank now.
This has been a gruelling fight for the challenger and we are only at the halfway point.
Credit: Getty Callum Simpson vs Ivan Zucco (Round 5)
Simpson is doing well commanding the ring and boxing Zucco up against the ropes time after time.
However, even in that position, Zucco offloads body shots and uppercuts to try and catch him again.
If it weren’t for the two knockdowns, Simpson would be bossing the judges’ card.
Callum Simpson vs Ivan Zucco (Round 4)
Simpson has a big height and reach advantage and starts to use it more in the round.
He dominates the round and seems to have Zucco in trouble on a couple of occasions.
The one thing he has not been able to do is completely capitalise on those moments and put him down.
Callum Simpson vs Ivan Zucco (Round 3)
Neither fighter is holding back in this fight.
Simpson was dominating the round with jabs but always want to come inside to try and unload uppercuts.
As he looks to do just that, Zucco catches him with a punch and sends him to the canvas again.
Despite boxing so well, those two knockdowns mean that Zucco has probably won two of the first three rounds.
Credit: Getty Callum Simpson vs Ivan Zucco (Round 2)
Simpson lands a superb left-uppercut that rocks the head of Zucco backwards.
As his guard seems to be down more and more, Simpson is taking advantage, landing head shots.
Zucco seems to be taken by surprise by the punching power of his opponent.
Callum Simpson vs Ivan Zucco (Round 1)
What a start to this fight.
After only eight seconds, Zucco catches Simpson and sits him down on the canvas.
It doesn’t seem to have hurt him, despite the standing eight count.
Both fighters are letting their hands go and Simpson catches his opponent and has him rocked.
Callum Simpson vs Ivan Zucco
The crowd is going wild for Callum Simpson.
Ivan Zucco will be need to try and silence them early on.
After all, he has an unbeaten record to protect this evening.
Callum Simpson vs Ivan Zucco
Now it is time for the main event of the evening.
Zucco makes his way into the ring amidst the boos from the crowd.
This is the moment they have been waiting for, Simpson making his way into his spiritual home to put on a display for them.
Home-grown favourite for victory
In front of his adoring Barnsley fans, the bookies cannot see an outcome other than a Callum Simpson win tonight.
Callum Simpson – 1/7
Draw – 16/1
Ivan Zucco – 5/1
All odds brought to you by Betway.
New champ has his say
Speaking with Sky Sports, the American who upset the odds gives his opinions:
Yeh, this was an amazing experience. I’d like to thank the UK for making me feel at home. I’d like to box for you again. Mark Jeffers is a dog and I had to bring my game tonight. New Orleans stand up, I love you.
Sean Hemphill
Mark Jeffers vs Sean Hemphill
Jeffers just didn’t have another gear to find this evening.
It all became too predictable from him.
As a result, Hemphill was able to start to control the fight and get the win, and belt, he had been dreaming of.
Credit: PA Sean Hemphill wins by split decision
Mark Jeffers vs Sean Hemphill (Round 10)
Both boxers are starting to tire in this final round.
Hemphill really starts to let his hands go as the fight heads into the final sixty seconds.
The American has definitely landed the most punches in this final round.
Credit: PA Mark Jeffers vs Sean Hemphill (Round 9)
Jeffers talked a big game before the fight thhat he was in the mood for a knockout tonight.
It has failed to deliver, in a few rounds he looked like he was making some inroads but since then Hemphill has come back.
As we head into the final round, this one is still impossible to call.
Mark Jeffers vs Sean Hemphill (Round 8)
Both fighters continue to let their hands go.
The pundits have this one all level on the card currently.
Jeffers is allowing Hemphill to get into his groove and start to look more in control of the fight.
Mark Jeffers vs Sean Hemphill (Round 7)
Jeffers continues to try and turn the screw.
He looks to offload some uppercuts, one of which seems to cut the lip of Hemphill.
There is no doubting that Jeffers has far more power behind his punches, whereas Hemphill seems to just be putting them out there.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
