No more late-notice showdowns for victorious Callum Simpson

Callum Simpson returned to the gym two days after his victory over Elvis Ahorgah but this time he is adamant he will not fight again until he returns to the Oakwell Football Ground in Barnsley, England.

Simpson’s promoters Boxxer plan to take him back to his hometown – and the scene of the victory over Zak Chelli that delivered to him the British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles in front of a crowd of 7,000 – in front of an increased crowd in the summer.

He made the first defense of his titles on January 11, when impressively stopping Steed Woodall in two rounds, contributing to Boxxer asking him to fight Ghana’s Ayorgah on the undercard of Adam Azim’s victory over Sergey Lipinets at London’s Wembley Arena after an injury suffered by Isaac Chamberlain meant that his contest with Viddal Riley was ruled out.

That the 28-year-old Simpson was back in the gym two days after defeating Woodall encouraged Boxxer to include him on Saturday’s promotion – when Ayorgah, 24, proved an aggressive, ambitious opponent until being stopped in the fifth round of their fight for the Commonwealth title.

After an occasionally difficult evening Simpson, regardless, is determined not to “risk” jeopardising the planned-for return to the stadium of the football team he has supported since he was a child – when he hopes Ayorgah will feature on his undercard.

“It’ll definitely be Oakwell in the summer,” he told BoxingScene. “Even if I got a fight presented to me next weekend we wouldn’t be taking it. Oakwell, we’ve put it out there that it’s confirmed, and it’d be too much of a risk in terms of injury and things like that. It wouldn’t be worth the risk of injury. 

“It could be for a bigger title. An international opponent; talks of an American opponent coming over. There’s a few names mentioned to me. That’s not confirmed yet. But it’ll be a big fight – it’s going to have to be a big fight worthy of a stadium.

“I was disappointed with myself with how I started the fight [against Ayorgah] – not listening to my corner – but I’ve watched the fight back a few times and it was a better performance watching it on TV than it felt in the ring. I was guilty of trying to get rid of him early and get the early knockout – eager; rushing my work – but watching it back, after the first two rounds, I showed some really good skill.

“[My instructions were] to relax, keep on the jab and keep it long. I didn’t ignore them fully, but I didn’t follow them as well as I could have. I got rid of Steed Woodall in two rounds and wanted to get rid of [Ayorgah] early as well.

“It was a great learning fight and a great lesson as well. I spoke to my coach [Mark Hurley] – I’d rather not follow instructions in that fight than when I fight someone at a higher level than Elvis.”

Ayorgah’s wild technique tested Simpson early, but the stoppage, which followed a fight-changing right hand in the fifth round, was clinical.

“What a great guy,” Simpson continued. “In the build-up, what a character. What he was saying about breaking my neck, I didn’t take seriously – I just laughed it off. I don’t let anything like that get to me – it were a bit of fun. 

“In the fight he was entertaining as well – he were tougher than I thought. He took some good shots; gave some good shots as well; landed some clean shots on me. After the fight he come into my changing room, I had a good chat with him, and spoke to Boxxer and said when I fight at Oakwell I want him on my undercard.”