Barnsley’s Callum Simpson Achieves Historic European Championship Victory
Super-middleweight boxer Callum Simpson secured a remarkable stoppage victory over Ivan Zucco in his hometown of Barnsley, England.
Simpson, 28, achieved a historic win, improving his unbeaten record to 18-0 and becoming Barnsley’s first-ever European champion. The thrilling match, held at Barnsley FC’s Oakwell Stadium, culminated in a 10th-round stoppage of Italy’s Zucco.
Simpson dedicated the victory to his late sister, Lily-Rae Simpson, who passed away last year at the age of 19 in a tragic car accident in Greece.
“I didn’t give up once,” Simpson shared. “In those final rounds, I was thinking about my little sister Lily. I knew I had to push for her and for everyone. This time last year, Lily was here cheering me on, and she was with me tonight when things got tough.”
“From round eight onwards, I knew I had to dig deep, to keep pushing, to do it for her. She was with me tonight.”
This victory propels Simpson into contention for a potential world-level match before the year’s end.
The electrifying match saw Simpson overcome two early knockdowns in rounds one and three, prompting concern from the enthusiastic 23,000-strong Oakwell crowd. Despite the setbacks, Simpson’s resilience shone through as he relentlessly advanced, taking calculated risks.
A decisive left uppercut in the 10th round sent Zucco to his knees. Although Zucco bravely rose, a subsequent knockdown led to his corner stopping the fight, securing Simpson’s hard-fought victory.
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Simpson’s record now stands at 13 knockouts in 18 wins, while Zucco, previously undefeated in 21 fights, faced his first defeat. Simpson was supported by his family ringside, marking his second fight at the Oakwell stadium.
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