BOXING PREVIEW - 8TH AUGUST

There’s nothing quite like a Saturday double-header and that’s exactly what we get this weekend, with a super-middleweight banger in Leeds for British, Commonwealth and European honours, along with a proper 50/50 between two undefeated fighters for a vacant world title in Dublin.

We’ll start off in West Yorkshire, where Troy Williamson and Callum Simpson will throw down for a second time in eight months.

Troy Williamson vs Callum Simpson 2 – British, Commonwealth & European Super-Middleweight Titles

One of the fights of 2025, Troy Williamson once again proved to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable fighters in British boxing as he upset the odds to stop the then-undefeated British, Commonwealth & European 168lbs champion, Callum Simpson.

A young man who had, up to then, been faultless in his 18 professional fights to date, Simpson was highly regarded as a future world champion and was seen as a relatively big favourite going into his fight with former British super-welterweight champion Williamson.

There was a script to be ripped up, and that’s exactly what ‘The Trojan’ did.

Down on all three scorecards after nine rounds, Williamson showed his experience in the 10th when dropping Simpson four times, with referee Lee Every eventually waving the fight off and saving Simpson for another day.

That day comes this Saturday night, eight months after their first battle.

Back at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, where the first fight took place, Simpson will be looking to prove that it was just a bad night at the office and that he really is the real deal.

But how does he do that?

The thing that let him down massively in the first fight was experience.

Unbeknownst to him, he was up on the cards, but Williamson, like he always does, was coming on strong. Bearing in mind he had stopped four of his previous five opponents, the Barnsley man may have put too much into the early rounds to assert his size advantage, especially considering it was Williamson’s second fight up at 12 stone.

One of the positives from the first fight is that Simpson can be much better in the second than he was in the first, due to the fact he’ll have learnt a lot.

Williamson, with his experience, had already been to plenty of rodeos like that one.

He stopped Ted Cheeseman in similar fashion in the 10th round back in 2021, so he probably sensed early on that Simpson was potentially going to be there for the taking later in the fight.

Aesthetically, the concern for Simpson is that he has outgrown super-middleweight. Even though he had a rematch clause for this fight, no one would have blamed him for stepping up to 175lbs off the back of the first defeat of his career.

He’s teamed up with GB Boxing’s Rob McCracken and Richie Woodhall in Sheffield and, already, just from the training clips he’s put on social media, he looks a lot lighter on his feet and more relaxed.

He knows how to lose now, which, for some fighters, can be a bad thing, but for someone like Callum, it’s the sort of thing that will do him good.

If he’s a lot more relaxed early on, uses his size a lot more methodically and puts that experience from the first fight to good use, it may just be enough to see him get the win.

For Williamson, the objective is simple once again: make Simpson work as much as possible early on and, like he did in the first fight, drag him deep into the later rounds. He doesn’t even necessarily have to throw a heap of punches. If he uses feints with both his feet and hands and mentally tires Simpson out, it’ll be just as effective.

What Williamson is aware of is the fact that he will be facing a much-improved Callum Simpson this time around, so if the 34-year-old can once again go up a couple of levels himself, this will no doubt make for one of the best fights of 2026.

One of the fights to watch out for on the undercard is Gradus Kraus up against Sean Hemphill.

Dutchman Kraus is highly regarded as one of the biggest prospects in the light-heavyweight division, having stopped 10 of his 11 professional opponents to date, and in Hemphill, he takes a big step up in class.

Now 19-3, the American has proved his durability of late, upsetting the then-undefeated Mark Jeffers before losing a split decision to Ty Mitchell.

If Kraus can get him out of there, it’ll be one heck of a statement.

Another Fury makes his professional debut on the card too, with James Dean Fury, the great-nephew of Peter and second cousin to Tyson, Hughie and Tommy, lacing up his gloves for the first time as a professional.

A three-time national champion as an amateur, big things are expected from Fury under the tutelage of his great-uncle Peter, and this Saturday night will likely be the start of something special.

Aaron McKenna vs Etinosa Oliha – Vacant IBF World Middleweight Title

Over to Ireland now, where Zuffa Boxing heads to the capital for the first time, with Monaghan’s very own Aaron McKenna taking on Italy’s Etinosa Oliha for the vacant IBF World Middleweight Title.

Oliha was expected to face Shakiel Thompson for the title before the Englishman suffered a shock defeat to Brad Pauls, meaning that next in line for the shot was McKenna. It’s worked out well for him, with the Irishman headlining Zuffa’s first show in Ireland since the start of the year.

These are two men who have been relatively inactive of late, having both boxed just three times in nearly three years.

McKenna goes into the fight off a career-best performance against Liam Smith in April of last year, whilst Oliha has boxed just once since September 2024, and that was only three rounds when he stopped journeyman Ivan Njegac in what can only be described as a keep-busy fight.

Due to the inactivity, both men will inevitably be rusty, and it may simply be a case of who can shake off the rust and settle into their rhythm quickest.

Despite both standing at 6ft 1in, these are two men who like to go about their work rather differently.

McKenna is technically one of the best boxers in the world right now. He mixes the power of his shots up well and looks to get in and out of range with his feet. His power comes from his timing and accuracy, whereas Oliha is the polar opposite.

The Italian likes to plant his feet a lot more and throw his shots from much wider angles, to the point where it actually looks quite reckless. He also throws more combinations whilst showing complete disregard for his defence.

If he boxes like that on Saturday night, McKenna has the ability to make him look silly.

If the Irishman can offset those bursts before Oliha lets his hands go, he’ll likely become more desperate as the fight goes on and ultimately leave more openings for McKenna, which, considering how good his ring IQ is, he’ll almost certainly make the most of.

Neither man has been hurt so far in their career, so both have shown good chins and durability. This fight will almost certainly come down to who can stick to their game plan best and, if not, who can adapt the quickest.

In the chief support, the 16-0 Callum Walsh takes on former European and English middleweight champion Tyler Denny in an absolute cracker of a fight.

14-0 with 11 stoppages at super-welterweight, Walsh has won both of his fights up at 160lbs by decision against solid opposition in Fernando Vargas and Carlos Ocampo.

In Denny, though, he comes up against a man with nothing to lose.

Two defeats in his last four fights and now closer to 40 than 30, this is probably Denny’s last real chance at a life-changing payday. He’s by no means known for his punching power, but his engine and output will definitely ask questions of Walsh.

If the Irishman can get him out of there, it’ll certainly take him one step closer to a world title shot in early 2027.

Two great cards full of Irish and British talent – it’s definitely a TV and laptop job this Saturday night.