A huge upset unfolded on the evening of December 20 at the First Direct Bank Arena in Leeds, England, where Troy “Trojan” Williamson pulled off a remarkable feat, stopping Callum Simpson in the 10th round to snatch the British, Commonwealth and EBU European super-middleweight titles. Simpson had entered the ring as the clear favorite and was unbeaten until last night. The event was broadcast live and free on BBC Three following the strategic agreement signed last August between the broadcaster and Ben Shalom of Boxxer, the company that promoted the show and is currently the leading boxing promoter in the United Kingdom. A partnership aimed at bringing professional boxing back to prime-time public television.
Italy should take note.
In the days leading up to the fight, Simpson had told the BBC: “Troy is a tough fighter, but this is my moment and I’m ready to show once again why I’m one of the most exciting boxers in Britain.”
Mission failed.
Williamson, for his part, was not intimidated at all and told the same broadcaster: “Callum has had a great run, but he’s never faced anyone like me. I’m going to ruin his Christmas.”
Promise kept.
In the opening round both fighters looked to take control of center ring. Simpson boxed smoothly from the outset and, as the seconds ticked by, began to add power to his shots. Just before the bell, Williamson appeared momentarily shaken by a left straight.
From the second round onward, however, “Trojan” tried to set things straight, making it clear he hadn’t come to play the role of the underdog. He did so by landing a powerful overhand—his best punch—and finding the target on at least three more occasions.
Simpson started the third round working at range, landing some very clean shots. Williamson broke the sequence with a solid right hook but was forced to absorb Simpson’s reply: a left hook followed by an uppercut. Neither man was willing to give up the center of the ring or take a single step back. There was no relaxed boxing—every punch was thrown with bad intentions. As the minutes passed, the roar inside the First Direct Bank Arena began to fade, with Simpson’s fans holding their breath.
The fourth round delivered high drama and quality boxing. Deep in the battle, the competitive level rose, producing swings of momentum. For a moment Simpson seemed to have found the opening to end the fight early, landing a vicious left hook, but Williamson showed a granite chin.
In the fifth, Simpson changed tactics, attempting to break Williamson down by unloading heavy shots to the body. But “Trojan” looked in great shape and superbly conditioned, once again making his presence felt with his powerful right overhand.
In the sixth round Simpson continued to work from long range, but Williamson proved to be a difficult target: he was very mobile and had lowered his stance, widening his footwork. A position that made the angles of his punches harder to read, allowing him to break through Simpson’s guard with a sharp left hook.
In the seventh, Simpson came in with a double jab, but Williamson used his experience to tie him up. Based on what had been seen so far, the pre-fight predictions were proving wide of the mark, and on the scorecards “Trojan” appeared to be ahead.
In the eighth round it was Williamson again who made his mark with the right overhand, while Simpson answered back to the body. The feeling, however, was that the champion’s power was not enough to break his opponent down. On the contrary, Williamson landed two more heavy right hands, and this time Simpson didn’t seem to absorb them as well.
Ninth round. Simpson once again tried to rely on his left jab, but it was Williamson who found the opening to hurt him with a left hook, close the distance and land a left-right combination. Simpson attempted a response, but “Trojan,” fully in the zone, worked effectively even with his back to the ropes. At this point the champion looked dazed, intimidated.
Early in the tenth round, a precise left hand from Williamson sent Simpson to the canvas. The champion got back to his feet quickly and tried to clinch to regain his composure, but Williamson was relentless. With just over a minute to go, he shut him down with a hook. Simpson bravely got up again, but Williamson, sensing he was on the brink of a historic win, went for the finish, landing three consecutive right hooks. Simpson collapsed for the third time, along with his shattered plans. Yet he still found the pride and strength to stand up once more. At that point, continuing made little sense: the now former champion was only risking excessive—or worse, unnecessary—punishment. The referee, however, inexplicably allowed the fight to continue. It took just one more punch—another right hook—to send Simpson down for the fourth time. This time, the referee had no choice but to stop the contest.
It was a thrilling fight, easily a three-star affair, and one that rightfully takes its place among the great upsets in boxing history.
For Simpson, the bout with Williamson had been seen as a turning point on the road toward a world title shot, something he himself had spoken about in several interviews, targeting 2026. After what we saw, that big opportunity no longer seems so close at hand. Now, in future fights, he will have to prove that the heavy punishment he took—especially in the final round—has not left a mark on him, physically and, above all, psychologically.
For Williamson, on the other hand, this fight meant something entirely different. It was his big chance to relaunch his career and silence those who labeled him as a very good boxer but not a top fighter. What is certain is that, after last night’s performance, more than a few people will have to rethink their opinion of him.