Troy Williamson vs. Callum Simpson II | DAZN - 8 August 2026

[a force]

Got my tickets today for this.

I’m torn on how it will go. I think the move to McCracken is a good one & is what he needed but I don’t think any coach is going to make the weight cut any easier the older he gets.

He’s bigger than Benivedez, it’s ridiculous he’s still at 168 but I respect that he’s chased the rematch to avenge the loss. I just hope he can get the win & then moves up.

[MPW]

Got my tickets today for this.

I’m torn on how it will go. I think the move to McCracken is a good one & is what he needed but I don’t think any coach is going to make the weight cut any easier the older he gets.

He’s bigger than Benivedez, it’s ridiculous he’s still at 168 but I respect that he’s chased the rematch to avenge the loss. I just hope he can get the win & then moves up.

I am also torn about this one, although I am kind of leaning toward Williamson. Simpson is huge, and I'm not sure how he gets down to 168 without compromising something, while Williamson seems to have found his sweet spot at the weight.

[Coco]

I expect Williamson to win, but it will be a good fight, well worth the ticket

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!!

[Ruthless-RKO]

Feels like we waited ages for this to be made and now it’s already here.

[Ruthless-RKO]

James Dean Fury hails uncle Peter for opening his eyes ahead of pro debut

James Dean Fury has always loved boxing, basically since he was born, but it was only when he started training with his uncle, Peter Fury, that he really began to understand the sport.

Given his name, it is hardly surprising that the latest Fury to turn professional has been immersed in boxing for all of his 20 years.

In fact, the super-middleweight prospect tells Boxing News that he struggles to recall a time when he was involved in anything else.

“I’ve been around the sport all my life; was born and bred into it. So my first activity, as a kid, was obviously boxing.

“When I was born, my mum and dad bought me a pair of gloves and a rope – like a little boxing kit for babies – and, when I first walked into the gym, I just fell in love with it. I loved getting punched in the face and punching other people in the face.

“From around seven or eight years old, I knew this was what I wanted to do for a living. I believe God put me on this planet to fight because, when I’m not boxing, there’s nothing else for me to do.”

It is one thing developing a passion for something, like boxing, but learning how to succeed at something is another matter entirely.

Fortunately, James Dean Fury did not have to go searching far and wide for a knowledgeable teacher, yet still he needed to prove worthy of such valuable tutelage.

“When I started training with my uncle Peter at 13 years old, he really opened my eyes and gave me a clear understanding of where I want to go.

“If I sat here and told you everything I’ve learned off my uncle Peter, we’d be here till Christmas.

“But when I was about 14 years old, he tested me. He put me in a trailer [caravan], just to see if I was really dedicated. Then he took me on full-time.”

As a three-time national amateur champion and 2025 Box Cup winner, it is fair to say that James Dean Fury has proved a receptive student.

But now, the young Fury must go one step further and establish himself in the pro ranks, starting with his Boxxer debut on August 8.

Having inked a deal with Ben Shalom’s promotional outfit, he will feature on the undercard of Troy Williamson vs Callum Simpson 2, hoping to show fans that he possesses the indigents to win a world title.

“I’ve always been competitive – whether I’m running a race, at a school sports day or playing a board game … I want to win.

“And when it comes to fighting – something I’ve put my whole life into – please, believe me, I will win. I’ve sacrificed everything for this.”

With such competitive spirit, even the attention that comes with his family name does not seem to faze the cousin of a two-time heavyweight champion.

“Whoever you jump in the ring with, they’re going to try and take your head off. No one’s in there to have a dance with me, especially when they hear my name. We’re in the hurt game.”

It might be a cliché, but James Dean clearly does have boxing in his DNA, along with a fierce desire to reach the pinnacle of his sport.

[skanksta]

Gutted for Troy if this is the case. Loses out on a world title shot. Shalom should let him fight for the world title and if he wins Simpson had to be his 1st defense

I dunno...
He gets a big TV fight on better money for what should be an easy win (was last time).
That's gotta be better than getting (possibly) routed and outclassed by a no-name danger man that will be easy to make next anyway.

I reckon he's quite happy with the rematch.

[keithmoonhangover]

Gutted for Troy if this is the case. Loses out on a world title shot. Shalom should let him fight for the world title and if he wins Simpson had to be his 1st defense

I dunno...
He gets a big TV fight on better money for what should be an easy win (was last time).
That's gotta be better than getting (possibly) routed and outclassed by a no-name danger man that will be easy to make next anyway.

I reckon he's quite happy with the rematch.

Winner gets Eubank?

[Ruthless-RKO]

PERSPECTIVE PUSHES SIMPSON INTO CHANGES AS HE SEEKS REDEMPTION

Given he lost his undefeated record along with his British, Commonwealth and European titles on December 20, one might have expected a miserable Christmas for Callum Simpson five days later.

But any plans to mope around in the wake of his crushing 10th-round, technical-knockout defeat to underdog Troy Williamson were destroyed by the dose of perspective he was prescribed at Barnsley Hospital in Simpson’s hometown 36 hours after stepping out of the ring.

“It was on the Monday after the fight,” Simpson told The Ring. “I went to the children’s ward for a Christmas visit. You know the sort of thing, to see the kids, take them a few presents, play a bit of PlayStation with them. It is always to bring a bit of festive cheer to the kids who are unwell, but I think I was the one who benefited most this time. Being there with the kids that day put everything into perspective for me.

“Yes, I lost the fight and I’m absolutely devastated by that, but some of these kids were about to spend Christmas Day in hospital. It just makes you see there are far more important things in life. I’ve had bigger losses in my life already. Nobody wants to lose a fight, but I got out of there safely and I was able to be at home with my family, so yeah, I had a great Christmas.”

There was also the gift of a rematch clause within his contract, which meant Simpson could secure an immediate chance to win back his super middleweight titles if he wanted one. For him, the decision to trigger it was made before he had even taken his boots off.

“I decided to do the rematch as I was walking back to the dressing room,” Simpson said. “I knew I wanted that fight again and I needed to fight him again, so I said it straight away. The next morning, I told my team again. I spoke to Boxxer and told them I want the rematch.”

Simpson (18-1, 13 KOs) returns to First Direct Arena in Leeds, England, on Saturday night, the site of their first fight, for his shot at redemption against Darlington’s Williamson (22-4-1, 16 KOs). DAZN will stream their bout globally as the 12-round main event of a telecast slated to begin at 7 p.m. BST in the UK and 2 p.m. ET in the United States.

Much has changed for Simpson since Williamson stopped him seven months ago, including a completely new training team.

“I went to Dubai with my fiancée over New Year’s,” Simpsons said. “It felt like I was out of that bubble a little bit, so I had some proper time for some real reflection. It was then that I decided to make a few changes and that was one of them.”

After spending the first 19 fights of his professional career with Mark Hurley, the 29-year-old contender decided to move across south Yorkshire and link up with Rob McCracken at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport. McCracken, perhaps best known for leading Anthony Joshua to Olympic gold and then the world heavyweight title as a professional, is one of the most experienced trainers in Britain.

It could be suggested that making such a drastic move ahead of such a pivotal fight is risky. But, as he enters fight week off the back of a defeat for the first time in his life, Simpson is confident that only minor tweaks, not a major overhaul, are required to get his belts back.

“I wouldn’t say you’re going to see a new me," Simpson said. “I would say it’s the same Callum Simpson, but with the required improvements. I met Rob in January and we had a good chat. I think the one improvement I need to make is using my range because I’m so big at the weight, I’m long. I can always fight on the inside, but as you step up in level you can’t be a one-trick pony and you need to be able to box well. I think that’s what Rob can bring out of me.

“I felt like I was winning the first fight, and I’d say out of the nine rounds, I’ve probably won seven or eight. But it was probably still the worst performance I’ve ever had. We know it only takes one punch to change it, and that’s what happened. But I’ve had plenty of time for reflection, made these changes and I know I’m going to come back better, stronger and get my redemption on August 8.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Coco]

While I think Williamson will win again, and win easier, it's a fight I'm looking forward to

[Ruthless-RKO]

Troy Williamson on ‘the worst decision’ made by Callum Simpson

As Troy Williamson awaited his rematch with Callum Simpson, he saw big chances come and go.

He kept training. There was talk of a bout with the superb Cuban Osleys Iglesias.

Then there were indications that Williamson might appear on the Tyson Fury-Arslanbek Makhmudov bill in London.

The first fight, a 10th-round stoppage win over Simpson, took place at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, on December 20, and neither fighter has boxed since.

That is where they will box on Saturday

“[I’ve] not stopped training. I don’t stop training, to be fair,” said the 34-year-old from Darlington.

“I’m in great shape physically and mentally and can’t wait for a fight night. Obviously, we’ve had big opportunities. We’ve had dates thrown at me left, right, and center. So, yeah, a few months ago, I was frustrated, but now I’m in a great place. We’re locked in and it’s not too far away.”

The grudge between the two fighters has simmered since the initial bout. Williamson, now 22-4-1 (16 KOs), has been a rejuvenated force since stepping up in weight and making his home at 168lbs.

Barnsley star Simpson lost for the first time in 19 starts.

“I’ve definitely got unfinished business now because they activated the rematch, so I just need to beat him again,” said Williamson.

“I can’t wait to put it all to bed, beat him again, and move on to bigger and better things.”

Williamson wants a world title.

The Matchroom fighter is ranked in the top 15 by the IBF, WBC and WBO and he said he has not let boxing politics bother him as he’s waited for the return fight.

“I haven't let it get to me,” he insisted.

“It might look like that way on social media, but I’m cool, calm, and collected. It takes a lot to get to me. I’m very chilled out, probably too chilled for my own good. I always train hard. I’ve kept in the gym. I’ve got good people around me, and that’s just what’s kept me going.”

Williamson is a father to two sons, a two-year-old and a newborn. He has travelled for sparring to Essex and Dublin through camp, and is well aware of why he makes the sacrifices he does.

“I’m not really home as much as I’d like, but this is what I do for my family,” he explained. “So, let’s have a look at it now. I’ve got two little boys at home who rely on me. I need to make it happen. There’s no beating me now. Nobody can beat me now when they rely on me bringing it back home for them.”

And there is a big part of Williamson embracing the fact he has a rematch with Simpson, so he can put a full-stop on their rivalry.

“Do you know what it is? The worst decision he’d done was pull out of the May date [when they originally were going to fight again] because I’ve had like eight months now to really grow into super middleweight,” he added. “When I first boxed him, I was half the man I am now. I’m punching a lot, lot harder. I’m a lot stronger. I’ve actually grown into the 168-pound division. I’m twice as dangerous as what I was the first fight.”

Williamson turned over in 2016, and while he came in at 164lbs for some early fights, he made his way down to junior middleweight, where he defeated Harry Scarff, Ted Cheeseman and Mason Cartwright but lost to Josh Kelly, the current IBF champion at the weight.

That triggered a move to 160, but it is 168 that is the most natural fit for Williamson, and where he defeated Mark Dickinson and then Simpson.

“All these guys that have beat me, that's their claim to fame, to shout my name saying I’ve beat Troy Williamson,” he said of his losses to the likes of Jahi Tucker, Ishmael Davis and Caoimhin Agyarko. “Like, I was a shadow of myself in them lower weights, but there’s no regrets there because I chose to fight at them lower weights, but I’m a different fighter. I’m a completely different fighter. And I think that’s why they're all so quick to shout my name for them beating me. Like, I’m everybody's biggest win of their career.”
He also feels that, at 168lbs and on his current run, there is far less enthusiasm from people wanting to fight him.

“I think that's exactly what it was because I took three losses on the bounce,” he explained.

“Everybody had the right to say that I was finished, I was done, I was old. I took three losses on the bounce, so I understand why they were saying it, but I know why I took them losses. Everybody else knew why I took them losses. And I think that’s why Simpson took the [first] fight. I think that’s why Simpson genuinely took the fight. Obviously, I know I beat Mark Dickinson, but he might’ve been looking at it as if Mark Dickinson was out of shape. ‘He came in way overweight,’ that’s why I beat him. ‘Let’s get Troy Williamson, he’s a half-decent name in British boxing, we’ll beat him.’ But that wasn’t the case.

“I ripped up the script and he’s a fighter at heart. His ego was hurt, so he obviously wanted to try and get that revenge, but he made a bad decision, actually, in the rematch, because when I knock him out again, he’s gonna be coming off two back-to-back knockout losses. It's gonna be hard to rebuild.”

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[keithmoonhangover]

While I think Williamson will win again, and win easier. it's a fight I'm looking forward to

Me too, should be a decent fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Williamson: Not even Rob McCracken can save Simpson in rematch

Troy Williamson has questioned Callum Simpson’s management team after the Barnsley man opted to dive straight into an immediate rematch.

Williamson, 34, capped a remarkable comeback story in December when he stopped Simpson in the 10th round of their clash at Leeds’ First Direct Arena to claim the British, Commonwealth and European super-middleweight titles.

Not only had Williamson been trailing on all three cards at the time of the stoppage but the fight itself came only a few months after the Darlington man considered retirement following four defeats in five outings between December 2022 and April last year.

On Saturday night, Williamson will return as champion after Simpson decided to activate his contracted rematch clause and the pair will meet in the main event of a Boxxer show, live on DAZN.

Now Williamson has questioned his opponent’s decision to head straight back into the fire instead of attempting to rebuild elsewhere first.

“You’ve got to respect his decision to jump straight back in with me considering how it ended,” Williamson told The Ring.

“It was a dream come true but it wasn't a shock, I knew I was going to do it, I knew I would get to him and stop him. I said I was going to do it and I did it.

“But really, I think he’s been badly managed this time. To go straight back in for an immediate rematch, I think it’s backwards.”

Simpson, the 6-foot-3 Yorkshireman, enjoyed significant height and reach advantages over Williamson but the new champion believes his opponent has simply pushed himself as far as he can as a 168-pound fighter.

Simpson, 29, weighed 181 pounds when he made his professional debut in 2019 and constantly battles the scales to make championship weight. Williamson, meanwhile, is a former British champion at 154 pounds and feels reinvigorated by his move up in weight.

“There's no secret to him struggling to make weight,” Williamson (22-4-1, 16 KOs) adds. “He's massive.

“He's absolutely huge for 168lbs, so he obviously struggles to make the weight. And that fight was back eight months ago in December, so he's only going to struggle even more now we’re in August.

“And all this time between the two fights has allowed me to fully mould into a super middleweight. I'm a lot stronger, I'm punching a lot harder.

“So if I hit him in December, obviously this time, the way I'm feeling now, I think if I hit him now, I’m going to knock him out cold. I genuinely believe that. I'm super, super strong and fit. I believe I'm a real force in the super middleweight division."

Simpson (18-1, 13 KOs) responded to his first career defeat with a complete overhaul of his training team, electing to split from Mark Hurley, with whom he had spent all 19 professional fights, and join Rob McCracken in Sheffield.

But Williamson, who spent time training under McCracken during his amateur days, says not even a trainer change will help Simpson reclaim his titles.

He said: “Simpson basically came out and said that he’s going to try and box me this time, that he's going to try and keep it long.

“So him and his team are obviously going to try and win this on points and try and jab and move. But Callum isn’t a natural boxer and you can't teach somebody how to box in the few short months he’s been with Rob McCracken.

“Rob McCracken and Richie Woodall are great trainers — I know them from Team GB — but I can't see them making massive changes to Callum. I think when that weight cut kicks in, like I've said previously, he'll revert back to type and he'll hold his feet.

“It’s game over for him then.”