THE date of another Oakwell showdown for boxer Callum Simpson will depend on Barnsley FC’s form in the second half of the season.
The super-middleweight made a stunning defence of his British and Commonwealth belts last Saturday night to set up a return to Oakwell in May or June.
The exact date will depend on Barnsley FC’s involvement in the play-offs, should they get there, as they would like the football season to be complete before transforming it once again into a boxing arena.
Simpson fought in front of 7,000 fans last summer at Oakwell.
This time around, with ticket demand even higher, it’s anticipated that 15,000 people could attend.
Simpson’s manager Kevin Maree said: “Hopefully Barnsley set us off with a promotion and a buzz for the town. They might be in the play-offs so it might be the back end of May or beginning of June but we have to go back. Everyone has a duty to make it happen.”
But what could the fight be for and who against?
Sheffield’s Liam Cameron seems like the favourite at this stage.
He had been pencilled in as the first defence for Simpson before he was offered a money-spinning fight in Saudi Arabia against Olympic silver medalist Ben Whittaker.
Cameron seemed to be winning that fight, against the odds, when both men were thrown from the ring and Whittaker withdrew injured to force a technical draw. That fight has raised Cameron’s profile and has made the prospect of a South Yorkshire derby seem even tastier.
Simpson’s name will also be pushed for a shot at the European belt which has been in the hands of Frenchman Kevin Lele Sadjo for some time.
He hasn’t defended it in ten months and has since had two non-title fights with the expectation he is to be stripped of it.
It means the options are open.
Maree added: “Going to Barnsley, we want it to be 15,000 people as a minimum so it’s got to be an attractive fight. I’ll do everything I can to protect him and get him the rewards he deserves.
“I try to get my fighters out of the sport with as little damage as possible and as much money as possible. That is the whole idea.
“There are a few options. Callum is excited about a Yorkshire derby.
“We think a lot about Liam Cameron and that would be a tremendous fight and Sheffield against Barnsley. Callum likes that.
“We promised we would actually defend against Liam. So we would love to do that.
“There are lots of options for Callum and he’s now the man.
“He commands that when you can sell 15,000 tickets
“The European title has been held up a while and sometimes you just can’t wait for things.
“He can make his own passages now with what he brings to the table.
“Also we won’t wait around for other people. Steed had a top ten WBO ranking so it’s going to be interesting to see where Callum falls with all the governing bodies.
“He is going to be very highly ranked in all of them. That may change our thinking in terms of where we go next.
“There are so many options and it’s all in his hands.”
Simpson would have liked to have won the British belt outright (three defences) at Oakwell but that now seems unlikely as he would have to squeeze another defence in.
He said: “The last time I checked I was ranked second with the EBU so I believe after that I will probably be mandatory for it. I would love to win the British outright at Oakwell but I don’t think Boxxer would risk me having a fight before that, not because I might lose, but in case there was an injury and how long it might take to get back in camp.”
