Callum Simpson successfully defended his British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles in a heart-wrenching yet triumphant bout against Steed Woodall at the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield. This fight marked Simpson’s first appearance in the ring since the tragic passing of his younger sister, Lily-Rae, who lost her life in a quad bike accident in Greece at only 19 years old. Following the match, an emotional Simpson spoke with Sky Sports, expressing mixed feelings about the victory. “I’m feeling bittersweet,” he shared, acknowledging the absence of his sister while also reflecting on her presence in spirit. Simpson wore her name adorned on his shorts and robe, a poignant tribute to her memory.
Despite the backdrop of his personal loss, Simpson was the favorite among the packed crowd against Birmingham’s Woodall, who entered the fight with two losses from 22 fights. The initial exchanges saw Woodall deliver some threatening blows; however, Simpson showcased his experience and skill, responding with a solid right-left combination that began to establish his dominance.
The fight progressed quickly, with Simpson dropping Woodall early in the second round. Although Woodall rose to his feet, the referee called the bout to a close when Woodall was seen in distress and unable to defend himself adequately. Simpson’s victory solidified his undefeated record, advancing it to 16-0 with 11 of those wins coming via knockout. After the fight, Simpson expressed his intention to make a return to Barnsley’s Oakwell stadium for a summer bout, having previously fought there last summer against Zak Chelli. In a light-hearted remark, he mentioned having spoken to Jon Flatman, Barnsley’s CEO, about the prospects of returning, which Flatman agreed to.
Reflecting on the fight, Simpson stated he was prepared for a tougher encounter but maintained confidence in his training regimen. “I’ve trained hard, prepared really well, and came up with some clean shots,” he said, adding that the referee’s intervention was perhaps necessary to prevent further harm to Woodall.
In a contrasting turn of events earlier in the evening, Caroline Dubois defended her WBC lightweight title against Jessica Camara, although the match ended in frustration for Dubois. The fight was declared a technical draw due to an accidental clash of heads that resulted in Camara sustaining a severe cut above her left eye. The ringside doctor deemed Camara unfit to continue before the beginning of the third round, leading to a draw instead of the expected decision from the judges.
Despite being downgraded to a draw, Dubois had showcased her abilities by knocking down Camara in the first round. The bout was expected to serve as an impressive showcase for her first title defense and her 24th birthday. However, the nature of the stoppage overshadowed what could have been a standout performance for Dubois, who now boasts a record of 10 wins, 0 losses, and 1 draw, with five wins coming by knockout.
Post-fight, Dubois expressed disappointment regarding the outcome, focusing on the aggressive and dominating performance she felt she delivered. Discussing Camara, she remarked, “I don’t think she wanted it,” pointing out the swelling around her opponent’s eyes as evidence of her own effective striking. “I hit her with a straight right and knocked her down in the first round… it was getting stopped by the doctor or I was stopping it,” she concluded, showcasing her confidence in her abilities.
With her sights set on future matchups, Dubois made it clear that she is keen on unifying the division, looking specifically toward a bout with British counterpart Terri Harper, the reigning WBO champion. Her ambitions indicate a desire to elevate her status further within the sport while perhaps igniting a fierce rivalry in the British boxing scene.
