Callum Simpson revelled in the support of his Barnsley hometown as he weighed in ahead of Saturday’s British and Commonwealth title challenge against Zak Chelli.
Simpson will fight Chelli for the belts at super-middleweight with rising lightweight star Caroline Dubois taking on Maira Moneo for the WBC Interim title as chief support live on Sky Sports.
Taking to the scales under a hot sun at The Glassworks in the centre of town, with a small brass band piping to add to the festive atmosphere, saw Simpson raucously cheered.
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Joe Laws issued a bizarre pre-fight challenge after sharing a menacing face-off before Saturday’s grudge fight, live on Sky Sports
Both made weight. Simpson, after tense examination of the scales, was 11st 13lbs, with Chelli a pound lighter.
Chelli was roundly booed. But the champion seemed unperturbed by his reception.
Ticket sales, he declared, don’t win fights. “This does!” he roared pointing to his right arm.
The jeers reached a new crescendo but Chelli insisted: “I love it.
“You’re going to be disappointed on Saturday night,” he smiled, “unlucky.”
Simpson however clearly is feeling lucky. Delighted to have filled a 7,000-seat allocation at the Oakwell Stadium for Saturday, next year he wants to sell out the whole thing.
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Caroline Dubois looks ahead to her fight against Maira Moneo this weekend and predicts she will win the contest by knockout
Dazzling against Chelli would help that and Simpson believes he can.
“I’m going to knock him out,” Simpson warned. “Whatever Chelli turns up Saturday is getting knocked out.”
Caroline Dubois (9st 7lbs 5oz) echoed that sort of confidence going into her Interim title fight. Facing off with Uruguay’s Maira Moneo (9st 8lbs), Dubois tapped the belt to indicate: ‘That’s mine.’ Moneo glared back at her simply shaking her head.
“I’m locked in right now and I can’t wait to fight,” the Londoner said. “I’m going to mess her up tomorrow.
“My punches are harder, I’m quicker, I’m better, more skillful, I’m going to knock her out.”
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Watch some of Dubois’ most powerful punches ahead of Saturday’s fight against Moneo for the WBC Interim lightweight title, live on Sky Sports from the Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley
Benwell’s lively Joe Laws stood close to Stephen McKenna after they had weighed in, with five security guards surrounding them wary of another altercation.
Laws was 10st 12lbs 5oz, McKenna 10st 13lbs, but the Irishman’s advantage in height and size was abundantly plain.
He coldly threatened a “first-round knockout” saying: “Joe Laws needs to be taught a lesson and I’m going to do it in devastating fashion.
“I’m going to teach Joe Laws some manners.”
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Joe Laws and Stevie McKenna engaged in verbal warfare before a fight almost broke out ahead of Saturday’s bout between the pair
Laws though promised that he could rise to the occasion. “I’m ready for war. This is a Cinderella story,” he said.
“If he doesn’t stop me in a round, he’s failed.
“You’re getting smashed, sunshine. I’ve suffered to get here, I am bringing the heat and I’m bringing the energy.”
He finished with a final roar: “Let’s get ready to rumble!”
Watch Zak Chelli vs Callum Simpson bill live on Sky Sports Action from 7.30pm on Saturday August 3.
