Callum Simpson delighted his home fans at Oakwell, Barnsley, as he took the British and Commonwealth super middleweight titles with a points win over Zak Chelli.
Simpson (15-0, 10 KOs) was last out in March, knocking Dulla Mbabe out in four rounds, while Chelli (15-3-1, 7 KOs) had previously served as English champion, but lost that belt last July in an upset points loss against Mark Jeffers, before rebounding in January this year taking the British and Commonwealth belts in a points win against Jack Cullen.
The home favourite rocked Chelli in the opening round, and worked well on the inside in the first three rounds, building a decent lead.
The visitor began to grow into the argument, closing the gap in the next two frames, but Simpson reasserted control to go into a clear lead after halfway.
Chelli’s corner told their charge that he needed a knockout in the championship rounds, but that never looked likely to happen, and the 27-year-old ran out a winner by scores of 118-110, 118-111 and 117-111 to become the new champion.
Dubois closes in on world title
Caroline Dubois spearheaded the undercard, and she claimed the WBC Interim lightweight title and defended her IBO belt, as she took a wide points win against Maira Moneo (14-2, 3 KOs).
Dubois (10-0, 5 KOs) came through by scores of 100-90, 100-89 and 99-90 to move closer to a clash with the very best in the 135 pound division.
McKenna stops Laws
Stephen McKenna took the vacant WBC International Silver super welterweight title, as he outlasted Joe Laws in a three round slugfest.
Laws (14-3, 5 KOs) was down from a right hook in the opening round, but returned the favour in the same round with a shot on the counter.
STEVIE MCKENNA STOPS JOE LAWS! 🌟
What a fight! A three-round SLUGFEST! 🔥#ChelliSimpson | Live Now pic.twitter.com/gFnkIvx79u
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) August 3, 2024
The end came in round three, when McKenna (15-0, 14 KOs) cornered the Newcastle man and he went to the canvas.
On the resumption, ’The Hitman’ kept the pressure on, and the towel came in with Laws under heavy fire.
Remaining Undercard
Connor Coyle is high in the rankings with the WBA, and the middleweight hope took a win on the cards over eight rounds against Kyle Lomotey (12-2, 2 KOs).
Coyle (21-0, 9 KOs) was a winner by a score of 77-75 for the referee.
Also at middleweight, Mauro Silva (6-0, 3 KOs) impressed, as he stopped the durable Dale Arrowsmith (6-111-5, 1 KOs) in two rounds.
Light heavyweight prospect, Billy Deniz (12-0, 5 KOs) scored a second round knockdown, and then took a 59-54 win on the cards against Khalid Graidia (11-15-5, 2 KOs).
Joel Kodua (7-0) won all six rounds in his super welterweight meeting with John Henry Mosquera (5-16, 1 KO), and Sylwia Doligala (4-1-2) took a technical decision win over four rounds against Sara Orszagi (1-2).
