Callum Simpson delivered the performance of his life as he came from behind to stop Ivan Zucco and claim the EBU European Super Middleweight title — all while drawing strength from the memory of his late sister, Lily Rae.
Simpson, 27, was floored twice in the early rounds of the headline bout at Barnsley’s Oakwell Stadium but refused to stay down. Instead, the local hero dug deep, rallying with relentless pressure before scoring three dramatic knockdowns in the tenth round to seal a stunning stoppage win.
“This time last year, Lily was sat up here cheering me on,” Simpson said. “She was there with me tonight when it got tough, when it got hard. I had to push for her and for everybody.”
Lily Rae, only 19, tragically passed away in a quad bike accident during a holiday in Greece last year. Simpson has since dedicated his boxing journey to her memory, and Saturday night’s victory was a testament to his resilience and love for his sister.
The fight began disastrously for Simpson, who hit the canvas from just the second punch Zucco threw. Undeterred, he battled through a chaotic opening few rounds — even getting dropped again in the third — but gradually shifted the momentum with sheer grit and pressure.
By round ten, Simpson cornered Zucco and unleashed a brutal series of uppercuts that sent the Italian down. Two more knockdowns followed, with the referee finally waving it off after a final flurry from the Barnsley man.
Now crowned European champion, Simpson’s emotional victory wasn’t just for the belt — it was for Lily Rae.
