Zak Chelli (15-2-1, 7 KOs) vs Callum Simpson (14-0-0, 10 KOs)

Battle lines will most certainly be drawn on August 3rd when BBBofC British and Commonwealth Boxing Council Super-Middleweight champion Zak Chelli (15-2-1) enters the territory of home favourite Callum Simpson (14-0) in Barnsley. It can be viewed live on Sky Sports and Peacock on August 3rd.

Simpson, whose considerable following and sway has allowed for their bout to take place at Oakwell Football Ground, will be eager to claim important regional belts and the scalp of Chelli in front of his home forces.

Chelli, from London, has made himself a firm favourite in the British scene with his exciting performances and tit-for-tat fight style; having stripped Jack Cullen (22-6-1) of his honours last time out in a brutal affair.

Certainly, with how easy Chelli is known to bleed, it may seem difficult for the champion to withstand the power of Simpson, who is bigger and bulkier at the weight. The Fulham fighter will be aware of the challenges that Simpson poses, however, and will also be aware that this is the biggest jump in Simpson’s career thus far.

For his part, Simpson certainly can throw leather and did so in a second-round stoppage against Ben Ridings (5-4) for the BBBofC Central Area Super-Middleweight title; the only major title that Simpson can lay claim to.

However, with an unexplained discrepancy in his resume, it is hard to fully gauge where Simpson is currently; in February of 2022, his opponent was supposed to be Michael Osmanu Osunla (12-3), but it clearly was not. For a fighter in the modern era to have such a stain on their Boxrec does bode well.

Either way, both men will certainly trudge across battle lines in the name of British title glory.

Another fighter known for throwing leather is ‘Sweet Caroline’ Dubois (9-0) who, much like her heavyweight brother, will be sure to bring damage on the day.

The IBO World Lightweight champion is looking to slink towards further honors with a fight against ‘La Panterita’ Maira Moneo (14-1) – who herself is the current owner of the WBC Interim Lightweight belt. Having long since dominated within South America, Moneo has held the interim belt since July of 2023, with a TKO of Alys Sanchez (17-9-1).

Dubois will certainly be tough competition, a risky move for someone with an interim title in a brimming division. Both women share a common opponent – Yanina del Carmen Lescano (14-4). Moneo can attribute her lone loss to the Argentinian, although this came by way of a disqualification. Dubois, on the other hand, made easy work of the competition, dropping her on the way to a points victory.

It is absolutely a brilliant match-up, one that pushes Dubois closer to genuine honors whilst also allowing Moneo the chance to stamp her place amongst the current crop of female lightweights.

With the vacant WBC International Silver Super-Welterweight title on the line, ‘Hitman’ Stephen McKenna (14-0) sets Joe Laws (14-2) within his sights.

Although it very much reads as a set-up fight for McKenna, one that pushes him further into the rankings of the WBC, the ‘Benwell Bomber’ certainly has an opportunity to upset the odds. These odds, however, are extremely stacked against the 30-year-old as the age, height, reach and experience all back McKenna.

Given the tension and conflict at the press conferences, it is also clear that McKenna has harnessed psychological warfare in his plan to secure WBC honors.

Fellow Irishman Connor Coyle (20-0) returns to familiar territory, after many years of fighting overseas, particularly in the United States, where he is the longtime holder of the North American Boxing Association Middleweight title.

Very highly rated with the WBA, Coyle, at 34-years-old, will soon be chasing world titles; this could very much prove to be a tick-over for ‘The Kid’. Bizarrely, he has been matched against Lancashire southpaw Kyle Lomotey (12-1) for his return across the pond.

Very much a small-hall fighter, this could prove to provide family-man Lomotey with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; his career stalled after an appearance on the Khan-Dib undercard in Saudi Arabia back in 2019.

Coyle, on a run-of-form, will certainly be dead-set on making an example of the 33-year-old Lomotey – and he will certainly need to if he can consider WBA World Middleweight champion Erislandy Lara (30-3-3) in his future.

The rest of the card promises to push young, developing fighters into the regional spotlight.

‘Super’ Mario Silva (5-0) makes his Boxxer debut against seasoned journeyman Dale ‘The Choirboy’ Arrowsmith (6-109-5). With roots in both Portugal and Manchester, the middleweight is seeking to represent both on the boxing stage; with his large stature for the weight, Silva will be sure to best Arrowsmith, who is well-accustomed to going the distance.

Joel Kudoa (6-0) from Dagenham is also well-accustomed to Arrowsmith, having encountered him in his second bout. Now, the undefeated prospect crosses battle lines of his own, using the platform of Sky Sports to continue his pathway through the super-welterweight division.

Billy Deniz (11-0) looks to add to the bustling cruiserweight scene in Britain, with the 23-year-old looking to inch his way closer to those at the height of the national level. Currently 11-0, ‘Turkish Tyson’ will channel his namesake against ageing Frenchman Khalid Graidia (11-14-5). With a litany of Barnsley-based barnburners on display, ‘battle lines’ seems like an appropriate tag-line; blood will certainly be drawn, regardless of the outcome.