BARNSLEY fan-favourite Callum Simpson, 16-0 (11 KOs), made a first successful defence of his British title earlier this month but the unbeaten super-middleweight contender is now poised for a second outing of the new year.
Simpson needed just two rounds to halt Steed Woodall when they collided at Sheffield Arena on January 11. However, the stoppage by referee Mark Bates is one that was understandably questioned at the time.
Nevertheless, Simpson has shown little intention of basking in the glory of what was an impressive start to 2025 and has agreed a deal for a quick turnaround, which will see him travel to London to fight on the undercard of Adam Azim’s (12-0, 9KOs) IBO world title showdown with former IBF champion, Sergey Lipinets, 18-3-1 (13 KOs).
The Yorkshireman will be tasked with Ghana’s Elvis Ahorgah, 13-2 (12 KOs), who, despite 13 victories to his name, has only defeated one opponent with a winning record – that being the only one of his wins to not come inside of the distance.
Of his two losses, Elvis has been stopped just once, that is when he was all shaken up by Hassan Mwakinyo, a former opponent of Liam Smith, last January.
Simpson will likely be hoping that he can add a further knockout defeat to the record of the ‘Soldier’ in relatively quick fashion and avoid going the full 12 rounds of what would be a second defence of his Commonwealth title before heading into a domestic dust-up with either Liam Cameron or Mark Jeffers at Oakwell Stadium in the summer.
Meanwhile, Scottish cruiserweight Scott Forrest, 7-0 (4 KOs) will match the feat of Simpson after he too was added to the Azim-Lipinets bill, following his two-round demolition of Deevorn Miller on Simpson’s undercard earlier this month.
In a battle between two undefeated cruisers, Forrest has been matched with Moldova-born but Wembley-based contender Aurel Ignat, 8-0 (7 KOs), who had boasted a 100% knockout ratio until going the distance with Yury Bykhautsou in late October.
Finally, heavyweight hopeful Jeamie TKV, 7-1 (4 KOs), clashes with Michael Webster, 10-2 (6 KOs), in the remaining highlight of the Wembley Arena card, whilst Viddal Riley has been touted to return on the Eubank-Benn bill after his long-awaited meeting with Isaac Chamberlain on this card was cancelled last week, although he could still opt to fight on both shows.
