Callum Simpson will pay the price for picking the wrong time to face Troy Williamson.
That was the verdict of Jordan Williams, the man who is behind the renaissance of the British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion.
The two Northern rivals collide on Saturday at the First Bank Direct Arena, the Leeds venue where, back in December, Williamson ripped the British, Commonwealth and European belts from the previously-unbeaten Barnsley star.
Team Simpson triggered the re-match clause and Ben Shalom’s BOXXER stage the contest which will be broadcast by DAZN.
A big audience will tune in Io see if it will be a case of repeat or revenge, while the auditorium itself is not far off a sell-out.
Few, outside of Darlington, had given Williamson much of a chance first time around.
But Troy carried on from where he left off from his clinical ninth-round finish of Mark Dickinson last September, when he became English super-middleweight champion in his first fight under Williams.
Against Simpson, Williamson got the job done in round 10 with a brutal demolition in which Simpson was down four times. It was win number 22 from 27 bouts, with 18 of those victories inside the distance.
“If Callum and BOXXER were going to get Troy for the re-match they really needed to do it last the start of the year when he wasn’t quite a fully-fledged super-middleweight,” Williams told punch-lines.
“He’s now stronger and bigger and punching harder. His boxing IQ has grown too.
“He’s gone from strength to strength since the last Callum fight and I’m really excited for Saturday.
“I think it’s going to be a career-best performance from Troy.”
Punch-lines can confirm Williamson’s condition having watched him train last Thursday in the Twins Academy in Trimdon, just a stone’s throw from Tony Blair’s old gaff.
Williams, one of boxing’s bright new coaching talents at the age of 29, has been in the corner for those two destructive stoppages and the pair are clearly enjoying working with each other.
While Jordan acknowledges there might be bounce in Simpson after his link-up with Rob McCracken, the man who coached Anthony Joshua and Carl Froch (and others) he believes the result will be the same.
“Callum has changed trainers so we are expecting a different Callum altogether,” said Williams.
“But, ultimately, Troy is the better all-round fighter and everyone will get to see the improvements.
“I’m supremely confident, I do believe Troy is in his prime and it’s going to take something really, really special to stop the train.”
Fight fans and Williamson have had to wait for Simpson, whose 18-1 fight log is a mighty impressive one, but the wait is almost over.
“It’s been a very long camp with all the stopping and starting,” added Jordan.
“It’s been a great camp. He’s improved 10 fold since the last fight and has grown into the weight.
“Troy’s ready to go.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Chris Dean/ BOXXER
