Callum Simpson targets world title after Ivan Zucco clash

Barnsley's Callum Simpson is targeting a world title shot following his clash with Italian Ivan Zucco for the European super-middleweight strap.

28-year-old Simpson will fight at the home of his local football club Barnsley when he takes on a fellow unbeaten fighter in the form of Italy's Zucco at Oakwell Stadium on Saturday 7th June.

Simpson believes his fight against Zucco will prepare him for world level, telling Sky Sports:

We're stepping up for a reason. I want to fight for world honours. I want to fight the best possible version of him and beat him.

Simpson became British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion when beating domestic rival Zak Chelli at Oakwell in August 2024, and has since retained these titles on two occasions against Steed Woodall and Elvis Ahorgah.

The Yorkshireman is now set for a sterner challenge against 29-year-old Zucco for the European title, with the Italian boasting a professional record of 21-0.

Simpson believes a home crowd behind him in his second fight at Oakwell Stadium can inspire him to the European belt.

"To be able to do it again for European honours, making history, I'm going to be the first Barnsley born and bred fighter to win a European title so it's going to be etched in history forever.

"All the hard work, it all goes toward that one moment: 'And the new...' It would mean everything to me."

Simpson is under no illusions as to the task ahead of him, however, with Zucco having won 18 of his 21 professional contests via knockout.

The Barnsley boxer said: "We're both undefeated, we've both had long notice for this fight, we've both got high knockout ratios, I'm expecting a good fight.

"It's going to see me against my first southpaw, my first first undefeated fighter. Callum Simpson's just levelling up all the time."

Represented by BOXXER, Simpson is an ambitious fighter who has previously outlined his aspiration to set up a meeting with the division's current unified world champion Canelo Alvarez in the future.

James Wilson

• BOXXER
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