CALLUM Simpson is hoping for a Wembley win this weekend – ideally not the only one for the town of Barnsley this year – before returning to a sold-out Oakwell in the summer.
The 28-year-old super-middleweight, who has won all 16 of his professional fights, is due to defend his Commonwealth title against Elvis Ahorgah from Ghana on Saturday.
It is a second fight in three weeks after he beat Steed Woodall in Sheffield on January 11.
It is the chief support on a Sky-televised bill at Wembley Arena, a 12,000 indoor arena next to Wembley Stadium where Simpson has been before to watch Barnsley FC.
Simpson told the Chronicle: “People from Barnsley love a trip down to Oakwell south don’t we?
“Hopefully it will be a win this time and then maybe I will be back there watching the Reds in May in the play-off final again.
“I would love to fight at Wembley Stadium one day.
“I have had a good taste of a stadium fight at Oakwell then I will get a bigger feel of it later in the year.
“There are more than 300 from Barnsley coming down already to support me which is unbelievable – three weeks since my last fight, on a week’s notice.
“There are coaches full and people making their own way down.
“It just shows the support is getting bigger and stronger. It will be another great night.”
Simpson was expecting his next fight to be in the summer at Oakwell but this opportunity came up early last week.
“I arranged to meet my manager Kevin Maree to discuss what’s next in terms of Oakwell and opponents.
“He sprung it on me that he’d just had a call that the co main event Viddal Riley versus Isaac Chamberlain was being pulled from the show in London due to injury and they needed someone to step in and save the show.
“He didn’t have to ask me twice.”
Simpson’s January fight was a second round knock-out so tiredness is not a factor. He said: “I wasn’t fatigued at all.
“The fight lasted four and half minutes so it wasn’t even like a training session. I was back in the gym two days later and trained twice most days that week. I am still fresh and fit and my weight is good.
“I want to fight as often as possible.
“I am mentally strong and very focused. I find it very easy to turn that switch on. It’s only a week and a half long camp. But I have done good sparring with people like Lyndon Arthur (former world title challenger).”
Ahorgah, 24, has won 13 and lost two of his 15 fights which have all been in Africa.
Simpson said: “He looks pretty strong. I have seen a couple of his fights.
“He seems tough and durable and obviously he can punch. He has had a couple of fights cancelled so he could take this one on short notice because he’s been ready for a while.”
After this fight, Simpson’s plan is to fight at Oakwell for a second time in either late May or June.
All 7,000 tickets sold out last August when just the East Stand was open as he won the British and Commonwealth titles.
This time he hopes for a full sell-out.
Simpson said: “After this fight, it’s Oakwell, Oakwell, Oakwell.
“That was the plan after January 11 but, because this one is so soon, it’s not too close to the summer to risk anything.
“I want to get back to Oakwell and get the full stadium sold out in a big fight.
“It could be a British title, a European title or a world title eliminator.
“There are a lot of options on the table and, after this fight in London, I will sit down with my manager and discuss the options.
“There are a few dates being mentioned. The club, Sky and BOXXER want to do it, and the council, but there are a few things to get done for it to happen. Everything is moving forward and progressing well. They all want to make it happen.
“I will let everyone else sort the details out, I just train hard and knock ‘em out.
“It will be another massive occasion for Barnsley.”