Callum Simpson vs. Ivan Zucco full card results, highlights as Barnsley hero recovers from two knockdowns to win European title

Dom Farrell

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Callum Simpson vs. Ivan Zucco full card results, highlights as Barnsley hero recovers from two knockdowns to win European title image

Hometown hero Callum Simpson overcame two knockdowns to batter Ivan Zucco into submission and lift the vacant European super middleweight title.

Simpson moves to 18-0 with the 13th stoppage of his flourishing career but suffered a nightmare start in front of his adoring public at Barnsley's Oakwell stadium, dropped after eight seconds by Zucco.

However, the Italian — who slips to 21-1 after a maiden career loss — had only boxed the 10-round distance once before, and the ferocious pace Simpson maintained despite another trip to the mat in the third proved decisive.

The end arrived in round 10 as Simpson unloaded a volley of brutal uppercuts in a relentless assault that dropped Zucco three times. Each time he gallantly rose, but on the third occasion his corner wisely called time with 32 seconds of the round remaining.

A celebratory atmosphere after the ringwalks turned to despair as Simpson was caught square by a southpaw left from Zucco and deposited onto the seat of his pants.

Simpson looked more embarrassed than hurt and opted to fight fire with fire inside the final minute of the opener. Zucco held his feet to try to press home his advantage but was wobbled by a pair of booming lefts.

Uppercuts from both wings followed hooks to the body in a round-two onslaught from Simpson that left Zucco gasping for air. At the start of the third, Simpson landed a lovely left over the southpaw jab and appeared to be controlling the pace and the tempo. However, in the closing seconds, he stayed in the pocket too long with his hands down and was drilled down the pipe by a straight Zucco left. Down he went and it was another 10-8 round.

Simpson got back to dominating through four and a quieter round five, although he remained perilously open to Zucco's backhand. The Italian boxed more assertively in the sixth, stinging Simpson with a long left, but he looked exhausted in the corner with a minute to go, inviting the Englishman to score well to the body and with the left hook upstairs.

The pattern of a gripping and strange fight continued in seven as Simpson tried to put the hammer down, only to be buzzed by a well-timed Zucco counter. He stayed upright this time.

The eighth was another action-packed session as Zucco went down under a Simpson flurry, only for his tumble to be ruled a slip. Still, as his footwork slowed and head movement dissipated, there was a sense of Simpson beating the fight out of Zucco.

Heading into the championship rounds, Simpson began to box with the circumspection he lacked earlier on, lengthening his punches and picking Zucco off before raiding to the body. Midway through round 10, his foe wilted as Simpson snapped his head back with a trio of uppercuts and he dropped to the floor.

There was no escape from the corner for Zucco as Simpson unloaded, dropping him again in a follow-up onslaught. Zucco's only refuge was the canvas and when he went down for a third time, his corner had seen enough.

MORE: Callum Simpson vs. Ivan Zucco undercard: Complete list of fights before main event

Callum Simpson vs. Ivan Zucco full card results

  • Callum Simpson def. Ivan Zucco (TKO 10/12) to win the vacant European super middleweight title
  • Sean Hemphill def. Mark Jeffers (MD 10), Super Middleweights
  • Rhys Edwards vs. Thomas Essomba (PTS 8), Featherweights
  • Sam Hickey def. Harley Hodgetts (PTS 6), Middleweights
  • Ellis Price def. Jake Price (TKO 5/6); Lightweights
  • Frankie Stringer def. Kane Baker (PTS 8); Lightweights
  • Mauro Silva def. Omir Rodriguez (TKO 4/6); Middleweights
  • Red Johnson def. Harley Collison (PTS 6); Super Middleweights

Where to watch Callum Simpson vs. Ivan Zucco

Preliminary bouts will stream from 5 p.m. BST (12 p.m. ET) on the Sky Sports Boxing YouTube channel.

Viewers in the UK can watch live from 7 p.m. on Sky Sports Action, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Showcase.

Dom Farrell

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.