Big-punching super middleweight Callum Simpson is looking to add to his belt collection when he returns to Oakwell in his hometown of Barnsley to face the similarly undefeated Ivan Zucco for the vacant European title.
Simpson, (17-0, 12 KOs) defeated Zak Chelli at the home of Barnsley FC to win the British and Commonwealth crowns at 168 pounds last August.
He made short work of Steed Woodall with a second-round stoppage in his first defence this January. Simpson then put the Commonwealth strap back on the line three weeks later when he halted Ghana’s Elvis Ahorgah in five at Wembley Arena.
Italian southpaw Zucco (21-0, 18 KOs) has an imposing record at first glance, but it has been compiled against relatively modest opposition. He has only boxed to the end of a 10-round contest once, when he comfortably defeated Simpson’s compatriot Germaine Brown in Milan in 2023. This will be his maiden outing over the 12-round championship distance.
Simpson is not the only local favourite in action in South Yorkshire, while a man who impressed in Riyadh last year wants to get onto the title path.
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Callum Simpson vs. Ivan Zucco undercard
Here’s a breakdown of all the action on the Simpson vs. Zucco card.
Mark Jeffers vs. Sean Hemphill
- Division/Weight: Super middleweight
- Jeffers record: 20-0
- Hemphill record: 18-2
- Belts at stake: N/A
Jeffers returns to action a month after getting married, with his Instagram grid an entertaining combination of wedding photos and training camp action. A lucrative Lancashire vs. Yorkshire showdown with Simpson could be in the works if both undefeated fighters get their jobs done.
American Hemphill has won back-to-back fights after dropping an eight-round decision to recent Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez foe William Scull.
Rhys Edwards vs. Thomas Essomba
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Edwards record: 16-1
- Essomba record: 14-9-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Edwards lost his undefeated record but collected plenty of credit when he came in as a late replacement to face Peter McGrail on the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 undercard last December.
Now the 25-year-old Welshman will try to launch a title run in his own right as he faces adopted South Yorkshireman Essomba. Despite an iffy-looking record, most of the experienced Cameroonian’s defeats have come in good company, such as when he lost his European bantamweight title to Charlie Edwards last year.
Frankie Stringer vs. Kane Baker
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Stringer record: 9-0
- Baker record: 19-12-2
- Belts at stake: N/A
Skilful Liverpudlian prospect Stringer looks to move to 10-0 against Baker, one of the great survivors of the British scene.
The 34-year-old was stopped in his previous outing against Giorgio Visioli and will be keen to avoid a similar fate against another rising star.
Ellis Price vs. Jake Price
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- E. Price record: 2-0
- J. Price record: 1-3-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Leeds lightweight Ellis Price steps out for the third time as a pro. The brother of sidelined super-bantamweight prospect Hopey Price claimed an emphatic first-round stoppage against Liam Fitzmaurice last time out.
Namesake Jake Price has never been stopped but might struggle to put up much more resistance to the David Coldwell-trained youngster.
Red Johnson vs. Harley Collison
- Division/Weight: Light-heavyweight
- Johnson record: 8-0
- Collison record: 3-2-2
- Belts at stake: N/A
Sheffield’s Johnson will hope to tap into some of the Simpson fanbase when he bids to move to 9-0.
Only one of Red’s wins have come inside the distance and a statement performance would be timely against Collison, who shared the ring with the undefeated Caoimhin Agyarko in his previous outing.
