CALLUM SIMPSON registered his second knockout victory in three weeks when he took out Elvis Ahorgah in five rounds at Wembley Arena.
The Barnsley man beat Steed Woodall in the second round of their contest on January 11 but was straight back to business for this defence of his Commonwealth super-middleweight title.
And he had to work for his victory against the 13-2 Ghanaian who was boxing for the first time outside Africa.
But, given how much entertainment Ahorgah provided in defeat, you can almost guarantee he will be back fighting on these shores before too long.
For Simpson, victory means he will now defend his British and Commonwealth belts on the pitch at Oakwell in the summer, after successful talks with Barnsley to open the stadium to full capacity in ‘late May, early June’.
Despite Ahorgah’s attempts to unsettle the champion with wild hooks and overhand rights, which appeared to start somewhere around his ankles, Simpson stayed discipline and worked his way to a fine stoppage in the fifth.
Ahorgah had illuminated the pre-fight press conference with a rousing speech before threatening to break Simpson’s neck during their head-to-head.
The ‘Soldier’ from Ghana, clad in camouflage and wearing a red beret, saluted all four sides of the crowd before Simpson made his way to the ring backed by a noisy contingent from Barnsley.
It was pretty obvious early on that Ahorgah was not in Simpson’s class and spent most of the round getting peppered by the champion, while attempting to land with wild hooks. None of them troubled Simpson.
But, while his work was often ungainly, the challenger was game as they come and never stopped stomping forward during a high-paced second round. A couple of left hooks landed on Simpson, who smiled in response.
Ahorgah even started dancing during the third round, much to the delight of the crowd. But the best moment came towards the end of the third when Ahorgah had Simpson pinned against the ropes and noticed a famous face at ringside before simply shouting: “Shawn Porter!” at the welterweight great who smiled and bowed his head.
More action was to follow in the fourth but Simpson’s shots were starting to have more of an effect on the clearly tiring visitor. But he was still throwing when Simpson dropped him for the first and only time midway through the fifth.
Although he appeared to make it onto his feet before the count of 10, referee Howard Foster decided to wave it off. The official time of the stoppage was 1:53 of the fifth.
