Newly crowned European super-middleweight champion Callum Simpson believes his hard-fought victory has positioned him as an attractive opponent for rising star Hamza Sheeraz. The Barnsley fighter secured the title in a dramatic hometown showdown at Oakwell Stadium, overcoming two early knockdowns to stop Italy's Ivan Zucco in the tenth round.
Resilience Rewarded
Simpson showcased remarkable fortitude during Saturday's bout, hitting the canvas twice in the opening rounds before mounting a spectacular comeback. In the decisive tenth round, he floored Zucco three times, forcing the referee's intervention. This marked the first time the previously undefeated Simpson had been knocked down in his professional career.
"I'm Barnsley born and bred, I've got Yorkshire grit. With this support behind me, giving up was never an option," Simpson told Sky Sports. "When you're fighting for a European title, you expect to take big shots. My legs held up, I adapted, and got to work."
Strategic Advantage
The 27-year-old champion believes the vulnerabilities he displayed could actually increase his marketability for high-profile matchups. With Sheeraz recently moving up to super-middleweight and preparing for a contest against Edgar Berlanga, Simpson views himself as a logical next opponent regardless of that bout's outcome.
"Seeing me get dropped might make me more enticing to top fighters," Simpson explained. "There's probably more chance of me getting big fights now. If Sheeraz gets through Berlanga, fantastic. Even if he loses, it's still a massive domestic showdown. I'd welcome that challenge."
Development Through Adversity
Simpson acknowledged the Zucco bout provided invaluable experience: "This is exactly the kind of test I needed. I won't claim I'm world level yet, but I'm on the traditional development path - stepping up through the ranks." He credits the intense battle with accelerating his growth as a complete fighter, forcing him to adjust tactics when "fighting fire with fire" proved ineffective early on.
World Title Ambitions
The new champion has set clear objectives for his reign, targeting elite competition within six fights: "I've taken the proven route, and now I want to keep pushing forward. Within my next half-dozen bouts, I'll be competing for a world championship. That's the 2026 target."
Simpson's dramatic victory marks a significant step in Britain's thriving super-middleweight division, potentially setting the stage for high-stakes domestic clashes as both he and Sheeraz continue their ascent in the 168-pound weight class.
