Boxing

Keys to Victory: Where will Troy Williamson-Callum Simpson II be decided?

DAZN

8, Aug

Keys to Victory: Where will Troy Williamson-Callum Simpson II be decided?

Williamson vs. Simpson 2 live on DAZN - TONIGHT

Troy Williamson and Callum Simpson didn’t mince words in each stating he is the better boxer during Thursday’s rematch press conference.

They’ll run it back Saturday night in Leeds, England, and live on DAZN, to put an end to their rivalry. Williamson’s British, Commonwealth, and European super middleweight titles will be on the line.

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When they initially met back in December, Williamson (22-4-1, 16 KOs) produced a dramatic 10^th-round TKO of Simpson (18-1, 13 KOs), handing the latter his first professional defeat. Williamson believes another win over Simpson can present the springboard needed to fulfill his goal of becoming a super middleweight world champion by the end of the year. Of course, Simpson has the same outlook.

Will Williamson prove to have Simpson’s number with another convincing win? Or will Simpson even the rivalry with some retribution? DAZN News unpacks the Keys to Victory between the two super middleweights ahead of their domestic tilt.

Troy Williamson’s Keys to Victory

Work to get inside of Simpson’s range

Giving up a few inches in height and reach, Troy Williamson had to get inside of Callum Simpson’s range to make their fight a scrappy affair in December.

He closed the gap by changing levels and stabbing to the body. He also picked his spots well, springing forward with piercing one-two combinations that split Simpson’s guard.

In what’s poised to be a heated rematch, ‘Trojan’ will be tested to once again blast his way into the pocket.

Rely on footwork to pounce on opportunities

In addition to sheer will, Williamson must rely on his footwork to pounce on opportunities. For a big super middleweight, Simpson has adept footwork himself, but can get caught standing too upright with his 6-foot-3 frame.

Williamson must sense and seize these moments by using his skilled footwork, which ranges from subtle to smooth, to create open lanes that he can crash with bounding blows that surprises Simpson and puts him on the back foot.

Counter Simpson in cramped quarters

As Williamson has success shrinking the gap, he’ll likely be tangling up with Simpson and negating the latter’s reach. When Simpson wriggles his arms free from those knots enough to strike, Williamson must answer with sharp, hard counters. His ability to land these flush and hurt Simpson might spell the difference between him pulling off the clean sweep or taking a backstep in this rivalry.

After all, Williamson successfully standing his ground on the inside paved the way for him to buy enough ring real estate to counter and drop Simpson in their first fight. And the Yorkshire man’s legs weren’t the same thereafter in eventually being overwhelmed that same 10^th round for his first loss.

Callum Simpson’s Keys to Victory

Assert range by fighting forward with the jab

Callum Simpson had great moments of success when he was fighting forward and piecing punches together off his jab. Those were the sequences he was able to pressure ahead on Troy Williamson and smother ‘Trojan.’

The more Simpson can generate spots like this, especially putting Williamson up against the ropes, the more he can use that unrelenting force to unnerve his rival.

Do not neglect the body

Rewatching the first Williamson-Simpson fight, Simpson ought to make more regular deposits to the body. These concerted shots could sap Williamson’s movement, making him more vulnerable to heavier-handed blows from Simpson who is out for revenge.

Time Williamson’s movement

Just as Williamson can time Simpson for a counterpunch, Simpson, in seeking payback, can be ready to do the same. The difference is Simpson can take advantage of Williamson springing forward with punches by timing his movement — not in anticipation of where he is, but where he will be. Catching an incoming Williamson can be the remedy to resolving every in-ring complexity ‘Trojan’ offers.

Who has the edge in Williamson vs. Simpson 2?

Analysis: DAZN News’ Mark Lelinwalla

I see Callum Simpson mashing the dash with his pressure to stop Troy Williamson earlier than the nearly 10 rounds that the two required in their first fight. Unrelenting with forward-fighting punches behind the jab, along with the adjustment of timing Williamson’s movement, Simpson should achieve revenge in Leeds.