Callum Simpson vs. Troy Williamson | BBC - 20 December 2025

[Boxerbeetle]

I didn’t even know BBC Three was still going.

It went off for a few years.. it made a come back a year or two ago.

Literally the only things I remember it showing were Family Guy and American Dad. Boxing will be a nice change.

[Coco]

I think this will be an entertaining fight, a good one to have on terrestrial

[veriton]

I agree, this is a good fight for the BBC as both have entertaining styles. I've got a soft spot for Troy, he's not had it easy, probably linked to where he's from but he's always in perfect shape and gives it everything.

[mickey1975]

I agree, this is a good fight for the BBC as both have entertaining styles. I've got a soft spot for Troy, he's not had it easy, probably linked to where he's from but he's always in perfect shape and gives it everything.

He's not a bad ticket seller. They tried sticking the Newcastle top on him when he boxed Josh Kelly despite him being from Darlington. They did that with Hartlepools Savannah Marshall as well. They seem to think putting that on them selling outs the arena.

[Bigdogsnose]

Geordies think that anyone born south of the tyne is a mackem. I live 12 miles west of town and they think its another country. They definitely wont jump on a Darlo lad just cos they stick a black and shite top on him. Its a weird and unique form of snobbery.

When it suits though they soon change their tune. Bobby Robson is widely accepted as a geordie. He isn't by their exacting standards, he was born in the same county durham pit village as myself.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Callum Simpson explains why he never turned his back on Ben Shalom, Boxxer

Callum Simpson had lost count of the number of people who advised him to turn his back on Boxxer but he never had any intention of leaving.

The British, Commonwealth and European champion is one of Boxxer’s leading lights as a result of their faultless run together, which started back in March 2023.

Since then, Simpson (18-0, 13 KOs) has boxed eight times on Boxxer shows, headlining three times, two of which took place at Barnsley FC’s Oakwell Stadium.

His clash with Ivan Zucco, which took place there on June 7, headlined the final show of Boxxer’s four-year deal with Sky Sports and Ben Shalom’s company had to wait for more than five months for their new agreement with the BBC to launch.

It has been a testing time for Shalom and Boxxer, with some of their fighters seeking pastures new, while Eddie Hearn claims that he is still receiving calls from some of them asking for a deal with Matchroom.

But Simpson has never been one of them. The 29-year-old returns to the ring on December 20 in what will be his debut on the BBC as he defends his trio of belts against Troy Williamson at First Direct Arena, Leeds.

“There are a lot of fighters who try to slag off Boxxer, they say this or that, but they have always delivered for me,” he tells The Ring.

“I’ve had so many people reach out to me and say ‘you need to leave Boxxer, you need to do this, you need to do that’. But at the end of the day, they’ve more than delivered since I’ve been with them.

“I’ve had eight fights, three headline shows, two at Oakwell, British, Commonwealth and European champion. I’m in the top 10 with all the sanctioning bodies so the least I can do is give them the opportunity to continue delivering for me like they always have.”

Shalom had called for patience in the gap between his broadcast deals but some of the stable’s biggest names, like Ben Whittaker, decided to try their hand elsewhere. Eventually, Boxxer secured their potentially seismic deal with the BBC, which has brought professional boxing back to free-to-air primetime television for the first time in two decades.

When asked whether the opportunity to box on the BBC was central to his ongoing loyalty to Boxxer, Simpson said: “Not necessarily, no.

“Really it was a case of giving Boxer the opportunity to continue delivering for me and to give them the opportunity to show the level that they can keep working on.

“I think that what Boxer has done for me in my career so far has been amazing. I had a conversation with Boxxer and I’m excited about what the future holds. I feel like it's for my own integrity to show them that loyalty and decency to give them the opportunity to continue delivering. Now they’ve delivered a European title defence headline and again this time on the BBC which is absolutely huge.”

Despite the six-month gap in the middle of 2025, Simpson's clash with Williamson will still represent his fourth 12-round fight of the year, although none of the previous three have gone the distance yet.

“This is fight No. 4 of the year and I’m planning on getting my fourth knockout win,” he added.

“I've been very active defending my British and Commonwealth titles and now this will be the first defence of my European. This will be my third headliner of the year, with two on Sky and now one on the BBC. Nobody else can say that and the momentum is only building and I’m learning every fight.

“Now this new deal with the BBC opens the door to a brand new audience, too. It’s the largest public broadcaster in the UK so it's not just the BBC channels but the online platform, the iPlayer, the media, the outreach; it's absolutely huge.

“This is another opportunity to showcase my skills to a new audience. Headlining on Sky Sports was a dream come true for me so now headlining on the BBC is another massive milestone in my career.”

Callum Simpson vs. Troy Williamson is available to watch live on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer

[Bigdogsnose]

I think this is a proper mis-match. Its not even that Callums that good, i think he's around euro level but always improving and learning, but never world level.

Troys a proper admirable fighter. Keeps himself in great shape, takes any fight but he's got no chance here.

Since he got clowned by Kelly he lost 3 in a row to fighters below callums level at a lower weight. The Dickinson fight flattered him as he was clearly out of shape.

Fair play to him but he gets splattered here. Giving up size to a better fighter. Not end well.

[MPW]

I think this is a proper mis-match. Its not even that Callums that good, i think he's around euro level but always improving and learning, but never world level.

Troys a proper admirable fighter. Keeps himself in great shape, takes any fight but he's got no chance here.

Since he got clowned by Kelly he lost 3 in a row to fighters below callums level at a lower weight. The Dickinson fight flattered him as he was clearly out of shape.

Fair play to him but he gets splattered here. Giving up size to a better fighter. Not end well.

Perhaps the measuring stick will be if Simpson does what he should do.

[Bigdogsnose]

I think this is a proper mis-match. Its not even that Callums that good, i think he's around euro level but always improving and learning, but never world level.

Troys a proper admirable fighter. Keeps himself in great shape, takes any fight but he's got no chance here.

Since he got clowned by Kelly he lost 3 in a row to fighters below callums level at a lower weight. The Dickinson fight flattered him as he was clearly out of shape.

Fair play to him but he gets splattered here. Giving up size to a better fighter. Not end well.

Perhaps the measuring stick will be if Simpson does what he should do.

Aye, and in all fairness Troy has never been stopped. Very tough man, so that would be some sort of statement, but obscured by the insanse size difference. They got interviewed side by side, height difference is huge.

[keithmoonhangover]

The undercard for this is absolutely shameful. It's almost like Shalom's stable are leaving him.

[WestEndRiot]

The undercard for this is absolutely shameful. It's almost like Shalom's stable are leaving him.

Just looked, pretty bad. But... How on earth does Blair Cobbs go from beating Adrian Broner to this?! That's some bad management!

[Taansend]

Blair Cobbs life story is really fornicating interesting.

It's a shame his career fizzled out as he's an interesting chap.

[keithmoonhangover]

The undercard for this is absolutely shameful. It's almost like Shalom's stable are leaving him.

Just looked, pretty bad. But... How on earth does Blair Cobbs go from beating Adrian Broner to this?! That's some bad management!

I think he's avoiding Don King.

[maninthemiddle]

Blair Cobbs life story is really fornicating interesting.

It's a shame his career fizzled out as he's an interesting chap.

What is the story..and how has he ended up on a UK show?

[JamesPhilips]

Blair Cobbs life story is really fornicating interesting.

It's a shame his career fizzled out as he's an interesting chap.

What is the story..and how has he ended up on a UK show?

Just from wiki

Blair Romero Cobbs was born on December 30, 1989, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He moved with his mother from city to city until his mother died when he was eleven years old, at which time he moved in with his grandmother. Following his grandmother's death he lived with his father, Eugene Cobbs, eventually relocating to Guadalajara, Mexico, after his father became a fugitive from the FBI. It was in Guadalajara where Cobbs found boxing

[SeanBrennan]

Just seen the undercard. I want Ben to do well but that’s a grim undercard.

[rd350lc]

Blair Cobbs life story is really fornicating interesting.

It's a shame his career fizzled out as he's an interesting chap.

What is the story..and how has he ended up on a UK show?

Just from wiki

Blair Romero Cobbs was born on December 30, 1989, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He moved with his mother from city to city until his mother died when he was eleven years old, at which time he moved in with his grandmother. Following his grandmother's death he lived with his father, Eugene Cobbs, eventually relocating to Guadalajara, Mexico, after his father became a fugitive from the FBI. It was in Guadalajara where Cobbs found boxing

Bloody hell, had it rough as a kid.

[mickey1975]

What is the story..and how has he ended up on a UK show?

Just from wiki

Blair Romero Cobbs was born on December 30, 1989, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He moved with his mother from city to city until his mother died when he was eleven years old, at which time he moved in with his grandmother. Following his grandmother's death he lived with his father, Eugene Cobbs, eventually relocating to Guadalajara, Mexico, after his father became a fugitive from the FBI. It was in Guadalajara where Cobbs found boxing

Bloody hell, had it rough as a kid.

Try watching the Bilal Fawaz podcast with Johnny Nelson. Cobbs was spoilt.

[JamesPhilips]

Just from wiki

Blair Romero Cobbs was born on December 30, 1989, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He moved with his mother from city to city until his mother died when he was eleven years old, at which time he moved in with his grandmother. Following his grandmother's death he lived with his father, Eugene Cobbs, eventually relocating to Guadalajara, Mexico, after his father became a fugitive from the FBI. It was in Guadalajara where Cobbs found boxing

Bloody hell, had it rough as a kid.

Try watching the Bilal Fawaz podcast with Johnny Nelson. Cobbs was spoilt.

Fawaz’s story is something else…. He seems so strong mentally. I was so pleased he won his last fight and you could see how much it meant to him. He’s been under so much stress his whole life, shocking really.

[Spud MK2]

I think this will be an entertaining fight, a good one to have on terrestrial

hope so

[SeanBrennan]

Bloody hell, had it rough as a kid.

Try watching the Bilal Fawaz podcast with Johnny Nelson. Cobbs was spoilt.

Fawaz’s story is something else…. He seems so strong mentally. I was so pleased he won his last fight and you could see how much it meant to him. He’s been under so much stress his whole life, shocking really.

Insane isn’t it, gives you perspective, what a life! Hope he earns loads of money

[JamesPhilips]

Try watching the Bilal Fawaz podcast with Johnny Nelson. Cobbs was spoilt.

Fawaz’s story is something else…. He seems so strong mentally. I was so pleased he won his last fight and you could see how much it meant to him. He’s been under so much stress his whole life, shocking really.

Insane isn’t it, gives you perspective, what a life! Hope he earns loads of money

Yeah and what surprises me is how grounded he is. I hope he gets paid very healthily

[rd350lc]

Fawaz’s story is something else…. He seems so strong mentally. I was so pleased he won his last fight and you could see how much it meant to him. He’s been under so much stress his whole life, shocking really.

Insane isn’t it, gives you perspective, what a life! Hope he earns loads of money

Yeah and what surprises me is how grounded he is. I hope he gets paid very healthily

Absolutely, seems a really respectful and well mannered fella.
He's done brilliantly considering and hope he goes far.
Seen him at a few shows recently, so his last win has put him in the right circles.
Big, but hard test coming next year for him.

[SeanBrennan]

I’ve watched this twice now. Really does make me feel very grateful for everything I took for granted. Will be cheering him on.

[Spud MK2]

Anyone for the shock?