BOXER Ivan Zucco is used to attending the world-famous San Siro in Milan to watch football but was delighted to be at Oakwell this week where he will take on hometown hero Callum Simpson in five weeks.
Simpson, 28, is due to fight Italian Zucco for the European super-middleweight title in his hometown stadium on June 7.
Zucco, 29, has won all of his 21 professional fights – 18 by knock-out – mainly in his home nation of Italy but also in Switzerland and Spain.
At a promotional event this week, Zucco told the Chronicle: “I support Internazionale and I go there to watch the games sometimes.
“San Siro is bigger but this stadium is also very very nice.
“It’s the first time I will fight in a stadium.
“I hope it will be very full because that will give me power and energy.
“I am very excited to be in this stadium, especially in England.
“It is one of the places where boxing is very important.
“To fight for a big title like this is very important for me.
“Callum is a very good boxer.
“He’s taller than me but he likes to fight which is good for me because I like to fight too. He fights at home and he has more pressure than me.
“It does not matter to me if the public is against me. I will come here to win. Many fans will come from Italy which is a pleasure for me.”
Simpson – who is unbeaten in 17 professional fights – is in the middle of an intense pre-fight training regime.
He told the Chronicle: “It’s been good to meet Ivan and size him up but I am focusing on me.
“I just focus on what I’m doing and take it week by week.
“I just train, sleep and recover then do a few media duties and, before you know it, fight night is here.
“My schedule at the minute is sessions twice a day Monday to Friday and a nice long run on a Saturday.
“I try to rest on a Sunday but get invited to a lot of events and I feel bad saying no.
“Even on Saturday, Barnsley have got our last game of the season and I’ve been asked to go but it’s three hours away and I’ve not got it in me.”
The hope is to sell 15,000 tickets, more than double the number who packed the East Stand to watch Simpson win the British and Commonwealth titles in August last year.
Simpson said: “I have envisioned it at every home game I have been to since my last fight.
“I’ve been sent the floorplan and it will be unreal.
“Tickets are going really well. We’ve already sold more than last time. Hopefully we’ll get a sell-out.”
