Callum Simpson successfully reclaimed his British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles by securing a unanimous decision victory over Troy Williamson in their highly anticipated rematch. While the pair competed for these domestic honors, the European belt remained vacant after Williamson was stripped of the title upon the triggering of the immediate rematch clause.
The contest in Leeds served as a pivotal moment for the 29-year-old Simpson, who avenged the only defeat of his professional career. In their previous encounter last December, Williamson had defied the odds to stop Simpson in the 10th round. This time, the judges scored the bout 116-112, 117-112, and 115-113 in favor of Simpson, who now boasts a professional record of 19 wins and one loss.
Fighting under the guidance of new trainer Rob McCracken, Simpson made an early impact by rocking his opponent with a powerful right hand in the third round. Williamson, 34, demonstrated his resilience by hanging in the contest and landing a stinging shot on the challenger in the eighth round. Recognizing the need for a knockout to turn the tide, Williamson pressed forward aggressively in the final round, though his late rally ultimately fell short.
Reflecting on his performance, Simpson expressed his relief and satisfaction. “It feels amazing,” he stated, acknowledging the toughness of his opponent. He revealed that he had suffered perforated eardrums in the first round of their previous fight, which had forced him into a defensive mode. “I didn’t make any excuses. I’ve come back better, learned from it and I knew I was going to get the win tonight,” he added.
Promoter Ben Shalom lauded the “unbelievable” nature of the fight and commended Williamson, whose record now stands at 22-5 with one draw, for his relentless persistence. Shalom emphasized that Simpson has firmly re-established himself as a contender for a world title, with the team aiming to secure such an opportunity within the next 12 months.
Addressing the skepticism surrounding the decision to face Williamson again, Shalom noted that many had advised against the rematch. “In boxing, people are so quick to write someone off,” he said. “The amount of people that told me ‘do not take that rematch.’ We took it, he did it and I’m so happy for him.”
But Williamson, 34, hung in and stung the challenger in the eighth round.
