THIS past weekend, British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion Callum Simpson embraced his spectator role in Sheffield and Birmingham, watching an Easter double-header ringside.

Seven weeks out from his mandated EBU European title shot against fellow unbeaten contender Ivan Zucco (21-0, 18 KOs), the 28-year-old saw some familiar faces and a few potential future foes too.

He warmly applauded Elvis Ahorgah (13-4, 12 KOs) before his 10-round decision defeat by former European middleweight champion Tyler Denny (20-3-3, 1 KO) on the latter's return, some two-and-a-half months after Simpson stopped the flamboyant Ghanaian in five rounds during a short-notice assignment on February 1.

Having teased a local derby duel between himself and Liam Cameron (23-7-1, 10 KOs) for the Oakwell slot in June, instead he'll face his toughest test yet in Italian southpaw Zucco.

After watching 2020 Olympic silver medallist Ben Whittaker (9-0-1, 6 KOs) redeem himself with an early night's work in the main event, Simpson didn't seem particularly impressed.

"The first two rounds went exactly the same as the first fight they had, obviously he must've caught Liam a lot cleaner and got the stoppage," he told The Ring.

"I don't know what's next for him but I'd say keep Ben away from me, definitely. My style, I beat him all day long, yeah he's a nice boxer but the professional game is so much different than the amateurs, you need to be a fighter - I can do both - box on the inside and be too much for him."

Although they're a division apart at present, Simpson has the 6ft 3in frame to seamlessly slot into the light-heavyweight picture if and when that decision makes sense.

Having made his professional debut at 181lbs in June 2019, the proud Barnsley man only committed to making the 168-pound limit three years later and it's proven fruitful.

After a second-round stoppage over Ben Ridings saw him collect the Central Area title, his next fight five months later was the first of a long-term promotional deal with BOXXER and Sky Sports, who have steadily built his profile.

Two years later, he's headlined twice in Yorkshire and will do so a third time with an increased capacity at his beloved Oakwell Stadium on June 7. How is he feeling?

"Well, this is my first southpaw opponent so we've been getting some good sparring in, everything I've been working on has clicked straight away. My weight is good, everything's going well so far.

I heard of Ivan when he beat Germaine Brown [UD10, March 2023] but you know I don't watch much boxing, so the team have studied film and I've seen enough of him now. We know exactly what we're doing, sparring twice a week with two or three guys mixing in the rounds, that's what it'll be from here."

The conversation briefly shifts to Simpson cornering his stablemate Jasmina Zapotoczna (9-1), who surprised many by edging a 10-round split decision against Chloe Watson, snatching the European flyweight title on a historic Royal Albert Hall bill last month. He beams.

"As soon as I saw her with the title, I thought ... I've got to get one too, she can't be the only European champion in our gym! Chloe has a much bigger profile, Ricky Hatton in her corner and a big amateur background but that doesn't always impact what happens in the paid ranks. I wasn't amazing as an amateur either, but like I said before, they're two different sports."

Does that success from Dicky's Gym foreshadow what's to come for him? "I've learned a lot about myself, my ability and how far I can go over the last twelve months. I can go all the way."