Crolla's Column: Super Start in Sheffield

Boxing is back and it’s great to start the New Year with a belter of a show in Sheffield. The Steel City really is one of the great UK fighting cities – and while I will always be biased and say Manchester is the finest of them all - I have to admit I’ve always been impressed by talent like Prince Naseem Hamed, Kell Brook and too many more to mention.

Top of the bill at the Canon Medical Arena though, is Callum Simpson from just down the road in Barnsley. He shifts a lot of tickets so it will be a top atmosphere when he gets in the ring to defend his British and Commonwealth super-middleweight belts against Steed Woodall.

Steed has been around for years; he took his career over to America and he’s served his dues. He’s been around the game a long time and he deserves his shot, but I reckon Callum will be a bit too busy for him. Whether Callum gets the stoppage or not, I’m not sure. I can see him putting Steed down, he is a big puncher, but Steed is cute enough to get through a few rocky moments and go the distance. But it is Callum on points for me.

Callum and his family have been through a very tough time with his sister being killed in an accident on holiday in the summer – just a few weeks after his last fight against Zak Chelli. I think he’ll use this tragic situation and his grief as motivation.

The chief support on the night gives us another chance to enjoy the talents of Caroline Dubois. She’s still only 23, was recently upgraded to WBC lightweight world champion and there is no doubt she is one of the faces of women’s boxing.

Caroline’s looked very good throughout her career. Maybe it’s that Dubois gene, but she certainly carries power! She’s a huge puncher at lightweight and I think she’s too good all-round for Jessica Camara. Whenever Jessica has been stepped up, she’s been beaten, and I think Caroline is by far the best opponent she’s been in with. I think Caroline will get the stoppage as she’ll want to get her name out there to fight the likes of Natasha Jonas, Lauren Price, Katie Taylor, or Chantelle Cameron.

Caroline has been linked with my fighter Rhiannon Dixon, but unfortunately, she underperformed in her last fight against Terri Harper – and fair play to Terri – but we can’t be talking about the big fights until Rhiannon is back to winning ways.

There’s another really intriguing fight on the card between Billy Deniz and Mickey Ellison. Billy will be a big favourite, but if Mickey has been in training and is half-fit, he’s a good test for Billy. Mickey juggles full-time work as a joiner with professional boxing – not an easy thing to do. But he has been in with the likes of Lerrone Richards and Aaron McKenna and he is not going to be worried about getting it on with Billy.

It’s definitely a step-up for Billy and one he’s been asking for. Mickey has the attitude that he will fight anyone. He likes a challenge and will not be overawed, but I just feel that over eight rounds, Billy will be a touch too sharp for him. I think Billy could buzz Mickey early on, be asked a few questions before going on to win on points.

From a personal note, all my fighters are back in the gym and all looking for a big year ahead. It’s been great having the craic again after a fairly quiet couple of weeks. There’s always a battle to take control of the music and at the moment, Rhiannon is in charge so we’re listening to her hip hop from the 2000’s. The Croft twins, who come from the West Wales mountains, aren’t very happy with that. If they’re not training to country music, they sulk!

We took a picture after our first session together at the beginning of the week – and I look like I’ve enjoyed Christmas a bit too much! That’s all the incentive I need to get back into shape myself – not fighting shape though! There won’t be any comebacks from me!

Claim the best betting offers in boxing, over on our bookmakers page.