Callum Simpson on sadness, fear and a ‘feeling of euphoria’ as he embarks on his toughest fight on Saturday | Boxing news

“People die when you forget about them. Or you stop talking about them. I will never stop talking about her.”

Callum Simpson’s voice chokes with emotion when he remembers his sister.

Lily-Rae Simpson died tragically young in a holiday accident. She was only 19 years old.

The grief at that recent loss is raw, unmistakable in the British champion’s eyes as he remembers it.

“Knowing that she won’t be a bridesmaid in my wedding and knowing that she won’t be an aunt to my kids and that they won’t meet her,” he said hoarsely before tears stopped him.

“I will always say her name. Even though I’m emotional now, now I’m crying, whenever someone says her name or talks about her, I smile and laugh, I’m just proud that she was my sister,” he told Sky Sports.

On Saturday, the British and Commonwealth champion will box for the first time since his death when he fights Steed Woodall in Sheffield.

It’s another occasion she’ll be remembered for. “I have a nice tribute on my kit for my next fight, a tribute to her. Barnsley Football Club did a minute’s applause for her during the game just after she passed away,” said Simpson.

But he will also have to control his emotions when he fights to defend his titles. Woodall, from Birmingham, is a dangerous challenger, after an incredible stoppage win over Lerrone Richards in his last fight. Richards is a very skilled, tricky southpaw, difficult to mark, who was stopped by Wood in six rounds in June.

“The Steed is the hardest fight in Britain for me and that’s what I wanted,” said Simpson Sky Sports.

“It should be a tough fight. That’s what I wanted and that’s what I’ve got. I’ve trained hard, I’ve prepared really well and I’m looking forward to it.

“I want to be the next super middleweight star. I want to be the next big name.”

Simpson is building a lot of support behind him. In his last fight, he defeated Zak Chelli at the Oakwell Stadium in his home town of Barnsley, with 7,000 fans, including his sister, shouting him on.

He wants to continue to develop his career, building his passionate fan base and establishing himself on the British boxing scene.

Simpson then cannot afford to lose to Woodall on Saturday. But to win, among painful and joyful memories, his mind will have to be clear at least during the competition itself.

“I try not to bring emotion into the fight, to be honest. I had emotions before the fight and I’m sure there will be plenty after. But from now until fight night, I’m not letting emotions get in the way, get involved,” Simpson said. .

“I’m trying to keep a cool, calm head. So if it’s emotional after, it’s going to be emotional after I win, but during the fight and from now on, there will be no emotion.”

Simpson firmly believes he can. “I think I’ve shown that I’m good at blocking out emotions and keeping my cool and being able to perform under pressure and under what most people would perceive as a lot of emotion,” he said.

“I think I’m good at it, I think I proved that at Oakwell when I went out in front of 7,000 people who were shouting my name. When I did that ringwalk, they were literally a meter away.

“Honestly, I feel it’s a gift. I don’t have any anxiety about fighting. I don’t feel any fear. All that fear is just enjoyment. Almost euphoric, I would say.

“I don’t want to lie and say I’m nervous. Because I’m looking forward to fight night. I’m enjoying it. I’m so grateful. It’s what I’ve been training for since I was a nine-year-old boy.

“I believe in my abilities. I believe in my preparation. So what am I nervous about?”

In the midst of the storm of grief he has been experiencing since his sister’s death, despite the intensity and messiness of the boxing match, the fight will be a relief. As long as he’s boxing Woodall, during a fierce contest, Simpson will be calm.

“I think boxing helped a lot. It gave me a good focus and a good outlet for sadness and emotions,” he said.

“If it wasn’t for all the interviews, maybe I wouldn’t have opened up so much… Maybe that helped me.

“Now we live in the moment,” he added. “Get a good win on Saturday and hopefully we’ll sell out Oakwell in the summer.

“Many years ago this would have been my dream, to be in charge Sky Sports so I don’t want to wish this weekend away and look too far into the future.

“But I have big ambitions, big goals and Oakwell is one of them. But first enjoy Saturday night. I get that euphoric feeling and live in the moment.”

Watch Callum Simpson defend his British and Commonwealth super middleweight title against Steed Woodall on Saturday, live on Sky Sports from 7.30pm.