Callum Simpson will headline the Boxxer card on December 20 at the First Direct Bank Arena in Leeds, defending his European, British, and Commonwealth super middleweight titles against Troy Williamson. The event will be broadcast live on the BBC Three & BBC iPlayer, marking Simpson’s fourth appearance of the year and first defense of his EBU crown.
The undefeated Barnsley native captured the vacant European title in June with a 10th-round stoppage of Ivan Zucco, following earlier wins over Elvis Ahorgah and Steed Woodall. Now 29, Simpson is eager to showcase his form in front of a hometown crowd.
Watch Simpson vs. Zucco official highlights.
“Leeds is going to be bouncing with the Barnsley Army on December 20,” he said. “Troy’s a tough fighter, but this is my time and I’m ready to prove again why I’m one of the most exciting boxers in Britain right now. To headline live on the BBC is massive, and we’re putting Yorkshire boxing back on the map at the same time.”
Williamson of Darlington looks to continue his resurgence after a difficult spell earlier in his career. The 34-year-old returned to form in September, stopping Mark Dickinson in nine rounds to win the English title after three consecutive defeats. Earlier in 2025, he dropped a unanimous decision to Jahi Tucker in his U.S. debut. Confident ahead of the Leeds showdown, Williamson warned, “Callum’s had a great run, but he’s never faced anyone like me. I’m gonna ruin his Christmas. I’ve been in big fights, I’ve been the champion, and I know what it takes.”
Promoter Ben Shalom called the matchup “a massive 50/50 domestic title clash” perfectly suited for a national audience. “Leeds will be electric on December 20,” Shalom said. “We’re excited to showcase these incredible athletes to a whole new generation of fans. There are more big announcements coming – watch this space.”
Fight card:
▪️Callum Simpson vs. Troy Williamson, 12 rounds, for the BBBofC British, Commonwealth Boxing Council, and EBU European super middleweight titles
