Callum Simpson calls out British rival Hamzah Sheeraz
Callum Simpson calls out proven British and European level fighter
Callum Simpson (17-0, 12 KOs) has revealed in an interview with Betfred exactly who he wants to fight next after facing Ivan Zucco on the June 7 for the vacant European super middleweight title.
The British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion, ranked in the top 15 with all five governing bodies (WBC #9, WBA #7, IBF #10, WBO #12, IBO #7), is eyeing a fight with world title contender Hamzah Sheeraz, who has voiced plans to move up in weight.
The 28-year-old from Barnsley said, “For me, in every fight I want to step up levels and Hamzah Sheeraz is proven at British and European level. He tried to go to world level and it didn’t quite work out for him, but you can say that he’s a solid European level fighter, so once I beat [Ivan] Zucco, that’s definitely a fight that I want and I want to win.
“Hamzah Sheeraz is a British defence and a European defence and I believe that I’m the man in England and Great Britain at 168lbs and I’m still going to be the man in Europe. If he’s serious about going to 168lbs and wanting to prove that he can go to world level, then he can fight me to prove where he’s at.”
Sheeraz was last in action on the undercard of Joseph Parker vs Martin Bakole in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February. His WBC world middleweight title challenge against the defending champion Carlos Adames ended in a split decision draw, in a fight where he looked rather ragged towards the finish.
Although the general consensus from spectators was that Sheeraz lost the contest, the judging at ringside was rather varied with one judge scoring it a close 115–114 in his favour, another seeing it 118–110 widely for Adames, while the third had it a 114–114 draw.
Simpson is set for a homecoming at his beloved Barnsley FC's Oakwell Stadium on Saturday, June 7, presented by BOXXER, live on Sky Sports.
He faces faces undefeated Italian Ivan Zucco for the vacant European super-middleweight title read more...
