WINNING in Leeds on Saturday will tee up a bumper 2026 for Callum Simpson in which he is hoping to fight at Oakwell for a third time and challenge for a world title.

The Barnsley man is focusing on defeating Troy Williamson but, if he does so, he will target another fight in the spring then a return to Oakwell where he won the British and Commonwealth titles in 2024 and then the European title last year in front of crowds of 7,000 then 15,000.

The super-middleweight is already the first Barnsley born and bred boxer to win the European belt and wants to become the first to win a world title.

Simpson told the Chronicle: “Winning this one kicks me off to a massive year next year and it keeps momentum building. It would be my fourth fight of the year, third time headlining and hopefully a fourth knockout as well.

“It will just give me a massive buzz for next year. I want to fight early in the year then come back to Oakwell in June. That will happen as long as I keep winning. We don’t know the landscape but it could be a world title eliminator, maybe a European defence.

“Terence Crawford vacated the WBC and those titles are being fought for early in the year. So my aspiration is to fight for a world title at the end of next year, if not then the year after.”

Simpson has been to watch fights in Saudi Arabia and is hoping to contest a bout overseas in the future.

He said: “Everyone keeps asking for an away day, whether it’s Riyadh or Vegas, or New York. I say just be patient and it will happen. I have met Turki Al Sheikh (Saudi government minister) and have good relationships with all the promoters and managers.

“I believe a fight abroad could happen next year, there are massive fights to be made. I was almost on the Benn Eubank undercard against Troy Williamson but it didn’t quite happen. My name is up there, I just have to keep winning and the opportunities will follow.”