Callum Simpson Gets Revenge, Beats Troy Williamson

Williamson had stopped Simpson in the 10th round of their first meeting last December after dropping him four times. Rather than trying to erase that loss with an immediate knockout, Simpson fought with greater control in the rematch and made his size and work rate count.

The biggest danger for Williamson came in the third. Simpson hurt him badly with heavy punches at close range, forcing the former champion to grab and survive until the bell.

Williamson recovered and gradually turned the fight into the physical battle he needed. He had success when he forced Simpson backward and landed the cleaner punches, particularly during several of the middle and later rounds.

Simpson never allowed the fight to deteriorate the way the first one had. The 29-year-old continued throwing in combination, leaned on Williamson during the inside exchanges and generally avoided giving him the clean opportunities that produced four knockdowns eight months earlier.

By the 10th, Simpson was doing a better job controlling the distance rather than simply meeting Williamson punch for punch. That proved important as Williamson continued pressing and trying to reproduce the dramatic finish from their first fight.

There was no repeat.

Both fighters made it through the championship rounds, leaving the outcome to the judges. Simpson had done enough across the 12 rounds to take back the two domestic belts and even their series at one victory apiece.

A third fight would be easy to sell. Williamson owns the far more decisive result with his four-knockdown stoppage, while Simpson now has the titles and a clear points victory. The rivalry is 1-1, and neither result completely settles which fighter is better.