BOXING is back at the Metrodome on Friday evening with the next generation of fighters hoping to join Callum Simpson in making it to the top level – with both set to feature on his undercard in Leeds next month.
Barring a disastrous loss tonight both Cory Sagar and Jake Jon Cleary will be part of Simpson’s show at the First Direct Arena.
Sagar, a 21-year-old bricklayer from Worsbrough Common, is due to fight Spaniard Ivan Trofimovich at middleweight at the Metrodome tonight.
Get through it and he will be on the undercard of Callum Simpson’s contest in BBC-televised British, Commonwealth and European title defences against Troy Williamson on December 20.
Sagar’s grandfather John used to train Simpson as an amateur at the Barnsley Star club on Doncaster Road.
Cory said: “I am on the undercard. It’s official. My main focus is to win the fight at the Metrodome, hopefully with a good stoppage.
“But to fight on Callum’s show would be fantastic. It’s a big stage, with a big build-up and it’s televised.
“It’s what I have dreamed of and hopefully I will be headlining those shows in a couple of years. I have known Callum all my life and he’s always tried to help me.
“We have a lot of good prospects coming through in Barnsley and it’s an exciting time.”
Sagar first has to take on debutant Trofimovich in his first fight at the Metrodome, looking to make it four wins from four as a professional.
“I’m back in Barnsley finally and looking forward to it. I have sold more than 100 tickets.
“I’ve been fighting in Rotherham and this will be my first time fighting in Barnsley, so it will be special.
“I’ve been trying for a while to get back to Barnsley to fight and now it’s happened. I’ve never fought at the Metrodome but I’ve been there for fights and it’s a good atmosphere.
“My opponent is making his debut at 26 and I don’t know much more about him. But I am not bothered about opponents, I just train hard then fight how I trained.”
Jake Jon Cleary takes on Luke Thomas, from Manchester, who won on his debut but has lost the next five.
The 28-year-old welterweight from Wombwell has won all three of his professional fights – each of them at the Metrodome.
He will get a close look at his next opponent, Leeds’s Ellis Ward tonight, with the pair then destined to clash on Simpson’s bill.
Cleary, a Royal Mail worker, said: “The focus is on the Metrodome.
“I have watched a little bit of Thomas and there is a gameplan that I have come up with, with my trainer (Jamie Kennedy).
“It is priceless having someone like Callum and he is building the profiles of others.
“He wants to build others up with him from the grassroots.
“Callum rang me up and asked what I was doing on December 20...I said I’d be watching him but he asked me to go on the show!”
