Simpson in sizzling form

By Liz Byrnes, Press Association Sport

John Simpson insists he is in the best shape of his career as he finalises his preparation for a testing defence of his Commonwealth featherweight title against Stephen Bell in Newcastle next month.

It will be Simpson's second defence of the title he claimed with victory over Paul Truscott in January which he followed up with a defeat of the same fighter in September.

The fight, which is on the undercard of Amir Khan's WBA world light-welterweight defence against Dmitriy Salita, pitches Simpson against a challenger who has suffered just one defeat in his career.

However, the 26-year-old is adamant he has matured as a fighter and said: "I've been a pro now for seven or eight years.

"It's taken me a bit of time to be doing things properly and find out which ways to do things , like my diet and training.

"So it's things coming together.

"I'm still trained by Danny Lee but Billy Nelson is training me as well.

"So I just feel at this stage of my career everything is coming together."

The Greenock fighter added: "I am taking this fight as a really hard one. He has got a good amateur pedigree and he's got a good record.

"This will be one of the toughest fights of my career. He is quite tall so he is going to try and make it awkward for me but I am in great shape.

"I'll just be keeping the pressure on and taking the fight to Stephen.

"Hopefully I'll go on to fight for bigger and better things. I'd like my British title back."

Bell enjoys a colourful background as a model and actor and after making his film debut as a gay bare-knuckle fighter in 'Like It Is', the 34-year-old from Ashton-Under-Lyne has gone on to appear in Shameless, Hollyoaks and Emmerdale.

However, he has his sights set firmly on the December 5 bout at the MetroRadio Arena.

He said: "I'm a fan of John Simpson. I've watched his career over the past few years when he was unlucky not to pick up the British title.

"I think he has got a great style and has been in some great battles over the past few years.

"But I don't think he has ever fought anyone with the brains and the skills I've got. This is my time to prove it and I've got 12 rounds to prove it."

John Simpson is a really good pressure fighter, with underrated boxing skills. He was robbed against Derry Mathews a few years back and has had some ups and downs throughout his career. I think if he wins this fight, he should be given a shot at the winner of Martin Lindsay v Jamie Arthur fight, which takes place in February.

Yeah I've got a lot of time for Simpson, I like his no nonsense style, nothing flashy about the guy at all & he's had some shocking luck in the past with decisions going against him so he must be a strong minded guy to stick with it.

I can see this fight being similar to the Truscott fights, don't think Bell is strong enough to keep him away for 12 rounds & will get broken down late on.

Always a good night when Simpsons involved. I reckon he'd take Lindsay as the home crowd is something that John will take in his stride.

He seems to have been around for years and he's still relatively young. He has had a few dodgy decisions against him, especially against Dazzo Williams

I think that's why his ko record is so low, he was only a boy when he turned pro but now he's matured he's hitting a lot harder & you can see he's come into his own as a really good well rounded fighter, think the Simpson of today would've stopped Dazzo that night, I still remember laughing at Simpson swearing in the post fight interview lol

Yep, too true man. I just hope his warmongering style doesnt make him age too soon coz he's almost ready to go for Euro honours. Just needs to clean up the rest at domestic level but that wont be too long now. Come on Simmy


Looking forward to seeing young Appleby coming back too. I've heard he will be making a return in the new year

Heh on the subject of bear pit atmosphere's mate, I'm sure John would love that lol, he always fights in the opponents backyard anyway & seems to perform worse at home than away, not sure who his promoter is but if it's Tommy I'm sure we'll see him over there, for a record purse of course

Or Matthews...that stunk of bull

That's exactly how i see this fight going.

Bell has been brought along all wrong in my opinion. like so many prospects, he has had far to many easy 4 or 6 rounders in his career against journeymen type opposition. The longest he has went was 10 rounds against Femi Fehintola, Bell's only loss in 21 fights. I Don't think it's any coincidence that Stevie's only loss was against the best opponent he has faced and over the longest distance. Simpson on the other hand had went the 12 round distance, and had fought for the British title, by time he was 21 years old. Simpson's Experience has to play a part in this fight!

Also, according to boxrec Bell has never made the 126lbs Featherweight limit. I wouldn't advise the 34 year old Bell to burn down to Featherweight to fight a relentless pressure fighter like Simpson.

Now, watch these words come back to haunt me when Bell KO's Simpson!

Yeah, was surprised to see Bell is 34 as well, boiling down at this stage could be a big mistake.

I Look forward to seeing Appleby come back aswell.
I don't like how Paul trains in Cyprus before fights though. I would much rather he trained in a cooler temperature and got his weight down a little more slowly. I thought Paul looked tired after about 4 rounds of the Lindsay fight.

Bell did look good in the early rounds of the Fehintola fight mate, he even scored a knockdown, but then just ran out of steam in the later rounds. That is how, like you, i think it will be a very similar fight to the Truscott rematch with Bell doing good early, tiring, and then getting stopped in the later rounds.

It's impossilad to dislike simpson lol