CALLUM Simpson is not giving up on the dream of fighting for a third time at Oakwell next year despite a shock defeat this week.
The Barnsley super-middleweight lost for the first time in his professional career on Saturday in Leeds as he relinquished his European, Commonwealth and British titles to Troy Williamson.
Simpson told the Chronicle: “I have that Yorkshire grit and Barnsley pride and I will come back. Worse things in life happen than losing a fight.
“I would rather not lose but I have been through worse. I have still got amazing family and friends.
“I will get the rematch, win that and move on. The dream of fighting at Oakwell again is still there. Whether it’s a rematch there or a rematch next or a fight first then a rematch, I will get the European title back.”
Promoter Ben Shalom told the Chronicle: “He will have to take a bit of time. Whether the rematch happens at Oakwell or back in Leeds we will have to look at that. Oakwell is where we want to get back to but he will have to deal with Troy.”
After the loss, hundreds of fans stayed behind to sing Simpson’s name.
He said: “A lot of people say fans are fickle but mine stayed by me.
“They could have left straight away but I was grateful to hear them cheer my name.”
Simpson was the third Barnsley boxer to fight on the bill after wins for Jake Jon Cleary and Cory Sagar.
“They both had great wins. Jake Jon Cleary had a cracking fight with Ellis Ward. I wanted to make it a Barnsley triple but it wasn’t meant to be and that’s boxing and that’s life.”
