BARNSLEY boxer Callum Simpson is confident he won’t suffer the same fate as Richard Riakporhe who lost in front of 15,000 of his own fans at Selhurst Park last weekend.
The 27-year-old Barnsley supporter will face Zak Chelli for the British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles at Oakwell on August 3 in front of 7,000 loud fans at Oakwell.
Simpson – who is a regular at Oakwell as a fan and has been brought out onto the pitch after winning previous belts – has won all 14 of his professional fights, ten by knockout.
He’s described the venue as the ‘dream’ location – but after watching Riakporhe lose to Chris Billam-Smith on Saturday in front of thousands of his own fans, he knows he can’t rest on his laurels.
He told the Chronicle: “I’ve been at a few stadium fights down at Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth and the most recent one at Selhurst Park.
“I was able to get adjusted to the atmosphere and what the weather’s going to be like.
“It was raining one minute, then it was windy – it’s just the same as here to be fair.
“It was good to see the atmosphere and the environment.
“But I think here it’ll be a lot better than that because the ring will be pulled out to the stand.
“I know how loud the Barnsley fans are – they’ll all be there cheering for me.”
Simpson’s opponent Chelli, 26, has had 18 professional bouts – winning 15, losing twice and drawing once.
And despite the London boxer calling him a coward and his fans ‘riff-raff’, Simpson says he has no reason to dislike him.
“I think he’s quite a confident lad but a little delusional maybe,” he said.
“He’s actually an all right kid.
“He’s a little bit odd sometimes but he’s a sound lad other than the fact he’s called us Barnsley lot ‘riff-raffs’.
“He’s similar to me as a professional and there’s no reason for any kind of drama.”
