ON 3 August 2024, Callum Simpson fulfilled a promise he made to his manager, Kevin Maree, last year.
The vow was made as Maree Boxing’s Mark Heffron lost his British super middleweight title to Jack Cullen at the Manchester Arena. Cullen ended the champion’s 14-month reign with a well-placed left hook in the third round.
Maree was “absolutely delighted” when Heffron beat Lennox Clarke to win the Lonsdale title but had to wait another two years to see another of her fighters win the famous old title.
“When he [Heffron] lost, that night Callum said to me, ‘Don’t worry boss, I promise you, I promise you I’ll get it back,'” Maree recalled as Boxing News talked to him recently.
Simpson regained the title after a memorable night for the Yorkshireman at Oakwell, home of Barnsley Football Club. Simpson had thousands of fans behind him and one man standing in his way – Zak Chelli. Although the match did not go as expected, the 6ft 3ins opponent did the job, winning by a wide margin on all three scorecards.
This success continues Maree’s love for the weight class he loved watching as a youngster because of a fighter called Steve Collins.
“I love Steve and I loved his time fighting Eubank and Benn, and I love the super middleweight division,” said Maree.
“Then I was lucky enough to have Kenny Anderson at super middleweight and he won the British title. It really meant a lot to me when he got that title because I grew up watching that weight class and he won it.
“Now we have it back in camp again. I love looking at that belt and seeing the names of the guys we fought and won that belt with. It means a lot to me so I was delighted when Callum got it.”
Maree’s relationship with the division continues on October 5 at Oldham Leisure Centre, when two of his fighters, Ryszard Lewicki and Reece Farnhill, meet for the British title.
It’s safe to say business has never been better for Maree, with Simpson’s Barnsley win still felt throughout the squad. The English champion spent a week in Spain after beating Chelli but his much-needed rest was interrupted by… boxing.
“He was in a boxing gym there,” Maree said. “He was just one of them. You couldn’t stop him. He was the ultimate Duracell bunny. He had great energy in and out of the ring, and that’s why he was so popular, because he always had time for everyone.”
“He wants to box soon,” Maree added.
“If it’s Yorkshire, we like the Liam Cameron game. We think it’ll be a good game. Manchester, you have Brad[ley] Rea, Birmingham, you have Steed Woodall.
“He wants to fight regularly, and he wants to fight whoever is next, so he’ll fight whoever is next, and he’s ready. So he’ll definitely be out in the next few months.”
