Simpson & Wardley deliver in memorable Barnsley & Ipswich stadium fights
Lewis Watson 
There's something about a stadium fight in the UK that simply guarantees drama.
And that was underlined this part weekend, as favourites with the betting sites, Callum Simpson and Fabio Wardley, both won in memorable fashion in front of their home faithful, remaining unbeaten and punctuating their climbs to the top of British boxing conversations.
Free Bets boxing expert Lewis Watson looks back at Saturday's talking points
Callum Simpson was found guilty of getting caught up in the atmosphere inside his beloved Oakwell Stadium. The super-middleweight contender had to climb up off of the canvas twice in rounds one and three to eventually stop the tough and talented Ivan Zucco, bagging the vacant EBU title at 168 pounds in the process.
Simpson now moves to 18-0 with 13 stoppages to his name, throwing his name deep into the mix for world title opportunities in the exciting super-middleweight division.
After the final bell in Barnsley, there was nothing but respect between the pair.
"After going to war with Ivan Zucco in the ring yesterday, today I went to his hotel to meet his family, exchanged team kits and then took him and his girlfriend out for food—introduced him to his first Yorkshire pudding as well," Simpson explained. "I think I managed to convince him that Barnsley is, in fact, better than Rome. Nothing but respect for Ivan and Team Zucco, absolute class inside and outside the ring."
Simpson drew a crowd of 15,000 to Barnsley on Saturday night and is now targeting a return in 2026 with a world champion in the opposite corner.
Canelo Alvarez has a sweep of the titles in the division, but after his super-fight with Terence Crawford this autumn, there is a chance these straps will fragment.
Up the A1 and A14 in Ipswich, Fabio Wardley roared back after losing every round to polax Australian challenger Justis Huni in a memorable 10th round.
Wardley's power continues to get him out of trouble — but such is the point in the heavyweight division. Huni was punch perfect before falling asleep in the championship rounds, allowing the Ipswich fighter to land with a devastating short right hand, flush on the button.
Both Wardley's and Huni's stock has risen, but Huni's manager Mick Francis wasn't happy with the referee's count, as his charge attempted to get back to his feet on away soil.
"You haven't heard the last of this," Mick Francis, Huni's manager stated post-fight. "I’m lodging a protest with the WBA. I’ve already spoken to Eddie Hearn and Spencer (Brown) and they agreed — it’s a f***ing world title, not some fight in the park. And they didn't give Justis Huni the correct opportunity [to get up]. Justis wasn't wobbly when he got to his feet. Yes, he got hit with a good shot, and if he'd had enough, fair enough. But Justis was putting on a boxing clinic. They were looking for any opportunity to give this fight to Wardley."
Wardley will now be looking to challenge for a world title after bagging the interim strap with the WBA, but doors will also open for Huni in what is a very competitive second tier of heavyweight boxers.
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