John Simpson (boxer)
Encyclopedia
John Simpson is a professional boxer
. He is a featherweight
, and current British Featherweight Champion. He is also the Former Commonwealth champion.
of Simon Chambers. Simpson suffered a setback when he lost his second fight on points against Lee Holmes. Simpson remained undefeated in his next ten fights, and a victory over Marc Callaghan led to him receiving a shot at the British featherweight title.
Phil Edwards scored the bout 115-114 in favour of Williams. After a six month lay off, Simpson returned to the ring to defeat former European lightweight
title challenger Dariusz Snarski via a third-round knockout.
On 5 November 2005, exactly one-year after his last title challenge, Simpson fought Andy Morris
for the vacant British featherweight title. Simpson was defeated by a unanimous decision with scores of 118-111, 117-111 and 118-110. Following this fight, Simpson lost to Stephen Foster Jr
. via a unanimous points decision in a challenge for the WBU featherweight title.
On 9 December 2006, Simpson fought Andy Morris
in his third challenge for the British featherweight title. Simpson claimed the title after stopping Morris in the 5th round. The fight was stopped after referee John Keane deemed that a cut over Morris' left eye was too severe to allow the fight to continue. Morris' trainer Bob Shannon has argued that his fighter should have been allowed to continue.
in a contest for the WBU featherweight title. Matthews was floored in the first round before Simpson was badly cut by an accidental headbutt
. Mathews went on to be deducted points in the 6th and 9th rounds for hitting behind the head
and holding. Despite the deductions and the knockdown, Mathews was awarded a wide points decision with scores of 118-112, 117-110 and 113-111. It was later announced that two of the ringside judges had failed to deduct the two points Mathews lost from their scorecards.
On 7 September 2007, Simpson fought Andy Morris
for a third time and defeated him via a seventh-round knockout to defend his British title. After the fight, Simpson said "I hope I can go on to bigger and better things now. Hopefully now I can go on to European and World titles, I started boxing to win a World title and that is my ambition".
On 6 June 2008, Simpson lost his British featherweight title to Paul Appleby
in a close unanimous points decision.
On 28 November 2008, Simpson returned to the ring to defeat Kenyan
John Gicharu on points over 8 rounds.
to meet Paul Truscott
for Truscott's Commonwealth featherweight Championship. The fight ended in victory for Simpson following a clash of heads which caused the fight to be stopped on cuts in the 8th round. On 4 September 2009 Simpson made his first defence against the man he had beaten for the title. The fight once again took place in Middlesbrough and saw the Scotsman retain his title this time stopping Truscott in the 10th round with both fighters contesting a furiously paced bout.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. He is a featherweight
Featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
, and current British Featherweight Champion. He is also the Former Commonwealth champion.
Professional career
Simpson's professional boxing career began in September 2002, with a first-round knockoutKnockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
of Simon Chambers. Simpson suffered a setback when he lost his second fight on points against Lee Holmes. Simpson remained undefeated in his next ten fights, and a victory over Marc Callaghan led to him receiving a shot at the British featherweight title.
British title challenges
On 5 November 2004, Simpson faced Dazzo Williams in a challenge for the British featherweight title. Simpson lost a very close points decision as refereeReferee (boxing)
The referee in the boxing is the individual charged with enforcing the rules of that sport during a match.-The role of the referee:Referees have the following roles:*Gives instructions to both boxers before the fight...
Phil Edwards scored the bout 115-114 in favour of Williams. After a six month lay off, Simpson returned to the ring to defeat former European lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
title challenger Dariusz Snarski via a third-round knockout.
On 5 November 2005, exactly one-year after his last title challenge, Simpson fought Andy Morris
Andy Morris (boxer)
Andy Morris is an English boxer who currently fights in the Featherweight division. He is a former holder of the English and British featherweight titles and has fought for the British super featherweight title...
for the vacant British featherweight title. Simpson was defeated by a unanimous decision with scores of 118-111, 117-111 and 118-110. Following this fight, Simpson lost to Stephen Foster Jr
Stephen Foster (boxer)
Stephen Foster is an English professional boxer fighting in the super featherweight division. He is the former European super featherweight champion and is a former holder of the English and WBU titles at featherweight....
. via a unanimous points decision in a challenge for the WBU featherweight title.
On 9 December 2006, Simpson fought Andy Morris
Andy Morris (boxer)
Andy Morris is an English boxer who currently fights in the Featherweight division. He is a former holder of the English and British featherweight titles and has fought for the British super featherweight title...
in his third challenge for the British featherweight title. Simpson claimed the title after stopping Morris in the 5th round. The fight was stopped after referee John Keane deemed that a cut over Morris' left eye was too severe to allow the fight to continue. Morris' trainer Bob Shannon has argued that his fighter should have been allowed to continue.
WBU title
On 10 March 2007, Simpson lost a controversial points decision to Derry MathewsDerry Mathews
Derry Mathews is an English lightweight boxer and former holder of the English and WBU Featherweight titles. As an amateur he won the 2002 ABA Bantamweight championship.-Professional career:...
in a contest for the WBU featherweight title. Matthews was floored in the first round before Simpson was badly cut by an accidental headbutt
Headbutt
A headbutt is a strike with the head, typically involving the use of robust parts of the cranium as areas of impact. Effective headbutting revolves around striking a sensitive area with a less sensitive area, such as striking the nose of an opponent with the forehead...
. Mathews went on to be deducted points in the 6th and 9th rounds for hitting behind the head
Rabbit punch
A rabbit punch is a blow to the neck or to the base of the skull. It is considered especially dangerous because it can damage the cervical vertebrae and subsequently the spinal cord, which may lead to serious spinal cord injury or even death.-Boxing:...
and holding. Despite the deductions and the knockdown, Mathews was awarded a wide points decision with scores of 118-112, 117-110 and 113-111. It was later announced that two of the ringside judges had failed to deduct the two points Mathews lost from their scorecards.
British title defences
On 6 August 2007, Simpson defended his British featherweight title with a fifth-round knockout of Ryan Barrett.On 7 September 2007, Simpson fought Andy Morris
Andy Morris (boxer)
Andy Morris is an English boxer who currently fights in the Featherweight division. He is a former holder of the English and British featherweight titles and has fought for the British super featherweight title...
for a third time and defeated him via a seventh-round knockout to defend his British title. After the fight, Simpson said "I hope I can go on to bigger and better things now. Hopefully now I can go on to European and World titles, I started boxing to win a World title and that is my ambition".
On 6 June 2008, Simpson lost his British featherweight title to Paul Appleby
Paul Appleby (boxer)
Paul Appleby, is a Scottish professional boxer who fights in the featherweight division.He is the youngest ever British featherweight champion.-Professional career:...
in a close unanimous points decision.
On 28 November 2008, Simpson returned to the ring to defeat Kenyan
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
John Gicharu on points over 8 rounds.
Commonwealth Champion
On 16 January 2009, Simpson travelled to MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
to meet Paul Truscott
Paul Truscott
Paul Truscott is an English professional boxer from Middlesbrough. He is a former Commonwealth featherweight champion.-Early career:Truscott made his professional debut in June 2006 at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, with a win over experienced journeyman Billy Smith...
for Truscott's Commonwealth featherweight Championship. The fight ended in victory for Simpson following a clash of heads which caused the fight to be stopped on cuts in the 8th round. On 4 September 2009 Simpson made his first defence against the man he had beaten for the title. The fight once again took place in Middlesbrough and saw the Scotsman retain his title this time stopping Truscott in the 10th round with both fighters contesting a furiously paced bout.
Notable bouts
| Result | Opponent | Type | Rd., Time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win |  Paul TruscottPaul Truscott Paul Truscott is an English professional boxer from Middlesbrough. He is a former Commonwealth featherweight champion.-Early career:Truscott made his professional debut in June 2006 at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, with a win over experienced journeyman Billy Smith... |
TKO | 8 | 16 January 2009 | Middlesbrough, England |
|
| Loss |  Paul ApplebyPaul Appleby (boxer) Paul Appleby, is a Scottish professional boxer who fights in the featherweight division.He is the youngest ever British featherweight champion.-Professional career:... |
Decision | 12 | 6 June 2008 | Glasgow, Scotland |
|
| Win | Andy Morris |
TKO | 7 | 7 September 2007 | London, England |
|
| Win | Ryan Barrett |
KO | 5 | 6 August 2007 | London, England |
|
| Loss | Derry Matthews |
Decision | 12 | 10 March 2007 | Liverpool Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880... , England |
|
| Win | Andy Morris |
TKO | 5 | 9 December 2006 | London, England |
|
| Loss | Stephen Foster Jr. |
Decision | 12 | 1 April 2006 | London, England |
|
| Loss | Andy Morris |
Decision | 12 | 5 November 2005 | Glasgow, Scotland |
|
| Loss | Dazzo Williams |
Decision | 12 | 5 November 2004 | Hereford Hereford Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester... , England |