Super-Midilweight Callum Simpson raised himself twice before winning an amazing stagnation over Ivan Zuco in his hometown Barnsley.
The 28-year-old Simpson made history as he maintained his unbeaten record (18–0) to become the first European champion of the city, when he stopped Italy’s Zukoko in the 10th round at the Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley FC.
The British dedicated a victory to his sister, Lily-Ray Simpson, who died in a car accident in Greece last year at the age of 19.
Simpson said, “Once I did not give up, I will be honest in those few rounds.
“I will be honest, I felt that I had to push for her and everyone. This time last year, Lily was sitting here and cheering me and she was with me tonight when it became difficult, when it became difficult.
“From round eight, I thought, ‘I got to dig deep, I got to push, I got to do it for her. She was with me tonight.”
With victory, Simpson put himself into a major dispute for one Steps up to world class by the end of the year.
But the crowd of Karkash Oakwell feared worse with only eight seconds on the clock when Zuko dropped Simpson down with a difficult left hand.
Simpson shook the initial knockdown and echoed Zukoko with some of his own fine punching, but the favorite of the house was very square in the third round, dropped with the left hand for the second time.