Boxer Callum Simpson has been building up to this weekend for 13 years.
The Barnsley light-heavyweight will make his professional bow tomorrow night at the Doncaster Racecourse. Simpson, 22, a product of Trevor Schofield’s Barnsley Star gym on Doncaster Road, is ‘itching’ to get his professional career underway after making the decision to turn over earlier this year.
His first test is Derby dangerman Elvis Dube, a veteran of 85 professional fights. Simpson is set for a strong following and wants to put on a good show.
He said: “I am itching to get into the ring. “I have been boxing for 13 years but I spoke to Josh Warrington (world featherweight champion) and he said this is when it starts again. It is a good bill to be on and a good venue and I am buzzing for it. “I really appreciate all the support I’ve received and I’ve sold about 200 tickets.
“I had a decent following in the amateurs but this is when it gets serious. “Elvis is strong and seasoned and comes to fight, which is what I want. People love seeing two big lads going at it.” Simpson works in Bradford at a clothes shop so is training at Dickie’s Gym in Batley with trainer Abdul Mghrbel. With an amateur slate of 53 bouts and several Yorkshire title contests, he has had a decent grounding.
“I have boxed decent lads and sparred with top pros from being 17 and with good lads including Tommy Fury, who’s on Love Island at the minute,” added Simpson.
“I liked taking fights at short notice and there were times when I had finished school, was about to eat fish and chips, and Trevor would call and ask if I wanted to box that night. I always said yes. I won the Yorkshire belt at middleweight and then at light heavyweight and defended it three times.”
Like fellow new Barnsley professional, Dempsey Wale, from Brampton, Simpson has lost a considerable amount of weight in the build-up to turning pro. He added: “I have gone down from 15 stone to under 13 stone. “There are not many professionals around in Barnsley now, which is a shame, but me and Dempsey are the next generation. I am really looking forward to it.”
