CALLUM Simpson’s dreams could come true just half a mile from where they first started.

An eight-year-old Simpson’s journey began at Barnsley Star Amateur Boxing Club on Doncaster Road almost two decades ago.

The stable is tucked away behind the Select Bathrooms shop and is an easy stroll downhill to Oakwell where Simpson hopes to dethrone British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion Zak Chelli tomorrow night.

Under the guidance of veterans John Sagar and Trevor Schofield, who still run the club, Simpson had more than 50 bouts in a Barnsley Star vest and won the Yorkshire championship at two different weights.

Though he’s trained out of a gym in Batley since becoming professional in 2019, Simpson still keeps in touch with the duo.

Trevor, 76, said: “He always seemed to be a quiet kid. Just polite.

“Early doors he always did as you asked him. He trained like we wanted him to.

“There is a lot of pride for us and he always comes back to visit us.

“It is a big stepping stone for him and I can’t wait for it.”

A career as a professional boxer was not always on the cards for a teenage Simpson with the idea that he could join the navy floating around too.

Trevor smiles when he remembers.

“He would have never made it in the navy, although he was brilliant with his boxing his timekeeping would have let him down.

“Whenever we went to pick him up to box he was never ready.

“We were always sat outside his granddad’s house waiting for him.”

John, 75, boxed 18 times as a professional himself in the early 1970s and he admits he saw potential from the start.

He said: “It was more or less straight away.

“You can always tell if they have got what it takes.

“His fitness was unbelievable and his handspeed is great but he’s tough too. He just had it. He is an all-rounder.

“He could handle big Tony Cruise (former cruiserweight), who was knocking everybody out, when he was a lot younger.

“He was a pleasure to work with.

“You knew you could take your eye off him and he would still be training hard.

“Win this and he has a chance of the European and then who knows.

“It’s absolutely brilliant to see how far he has come. We are dead proud.”

Despite the two coaches’ advancing years the club remains active and has some younger coaches working with a number of potential mini Simpsons of the future.

The club is looking to develop the outside area of the gym and anybody interested in helping out financially can contact Trevor on: 07305163112.