Super Medium-Madio Callum Simpson got up twice before securing an impressive victory over Ivan Zucco in his hometown Barnsley.
Simpson, 28, made history by keeping his record unbeaten (18-0) to become the first European champion of the city when he stopped Zucco of Italy in the 10th round at Barnsley FC Oakwell Stadium.
The Englishman dedicated to victory to his sister, Lily-Rae Simpson, who died at age 19 in a car accident in Greece last year.
“Once I gave up, in these last rounds, I will be sincere, I started thinking about my little sister Lily,” said Simpson.
“I’m going to be honest, I just thought I had to press for her and everyone. This time, last year, Lily was sitting here cheering and she was there with me tonight, when she got hard, when she got hard.
“In the eighth round, I thought, ‘I have to dig deep, I have to keep pressing, I have to do it for her.’ She was with me tonight.”
With the victory, Simpson stands in great restraint for a move to the world level Until the end of the year.
But Oakwell’s shrill crowd feared the worst with just eight seconds on the clock in the opening round when Zucco knocked Simpson with his left hand hard.
Simpson shook the KnockDown and Zuncco with a good punch, but the house’s favorite was caught very square in the third round, fell for a second time for a left hand.
