Callum Simpson opens up about sadness, fear and ‘exciting feelings’ heading into Saturday’s tough fight | Boxing news

“People die when you forget about them. Or stop talking about them. I will never stop talking about her.”

Callum Simpson’s voice shakes with emotion as he remembers his sister.

Lily-Rae Simpson died in an accident while on holiday. She was just 19 years old.

The grief of that recent loss is raw, through the British champion’s eyes as he remembers her.

“Knowing that she’s not going to be a bridesmaid in my wedding and knowing that she’s not going to be an aunt to my kids and that they’re never going to meet,” he said tearfully.

“I always say her name. Even if I’m emotional now, if I’m crying now, when anyone says her name or talks about her, I smile and laugh, I’m proud that she’s my sister,” he said. Sky Sports.

On Saturday, the British and Commonwealth champion fought for the first time after the death of Steed Woodall in Sheffield.

It is another occasion on which she will be remembered. “I’ve got a great tribute to Katie for my next fight, it’s a tribute to her. Barnsley Football Club gave her a minute’s ovation at the game after her death,” said Simpson.

But he has to control his emotions when he is able to defend the title. Birmingham’s Woodall is a dangerous challenger after defeating Leron Richards in his last fight. Richards, who stopped Wood in six rounds in June, is a highly skilled, crafty southpaw, hard to tag.

“Steed is a very tough fight for me in Britain and that’s what I wanted,” said Simpson. Sky Sports.

“It should be a tough fight. That’s what I wanted and I got it. I’ve trained hard, I’ve prepared really well and I’m looking forward to it.

“I want to be the next super-middleweight star. I want to be the next big name.”

Simpson is building a wellspring of support behind him. In his last fight, he beat Zac Chellini in his hometown of Barnsley at Oakwell Stadium in front of 7,000 fans, including his sister.

He wants to continue to develop his career by building on his passionate fans and establishing himself in the British boxing scene.

Simpson can’t lose a game on Saturday. But in order to win, he needs to clear his mind, at least during the competition, between the painful and happy memories.

“If I’m being honest, I try not to bring emotions with me. I had emotions before the fight and I’m sure there will be more after. But I’m not going to let it go from now until fight night. Emotions will be in the way, get involved,” Simpson said.

“I try to keep a cool and calm head. So after it is emotional, after I win it will be emotional, but during the fight and now there will be no emotions.”

Simpson strongly believes he can do it. “I think I’ve shown that I can hold back emotion and be able to relax and perform under stress and what a lot of people perceive as a lot of emotion,” he said.

“I think I’m good at doing that, I think I proved that at Oakwell when I went out to 7,000 people screaming my name. They were literally a foot away when I did that ring.

“It really feels like a gift. I don’t worry about the fight. I don’t feel any fear. All that fear is just enjoyment. I say. It’s so much fun.

“I don’t want to lie and I’m nervous. Because I’m looking forward to fighting. I’m excited. I’m very grateful. This is what I’ve been training for since I was nine years old.

“I believe in my abilities. I believe in my preparation. So why should I worry?”

The fight will be a relief, even though the boxing competition is intense and chaotic, in the storm of grief he’s been through since his sister’s death. Simpson will be at peace during the fury of the tournament as long as he can box Woodall.

“I think boxing has helped a lot. It’s given me a good focus and a good outlet, and also for sadness and emotion,” he said.

“If it wasn’t for all the interviews, I wouldn’t have opened up as much… it helped.

“Now let’s live in the moment,” he added. “Get a good win on Saturday and hopefully sell Oakwell in the summer.

“Years ago this would have been my dream, in the subject Sky Sports So I don’t want to look too far into the future this weekend.

“But I’ve got bigger ambitions, bigger goals and Oakwell is one of them. But first enjoy Saturday night. I’ll get that feeling of excitement and live in the moment.”

Watch Callum Simpson defend his British and Commonwealth super-middleweight title against Steed Woodall on Saturday, live on Sky Sports from 7.30pm.