Simpson confident of bursting Smith’s bubble
Greenock’s Commonwealth featherweight champion John Simpson has dismissed Stephen Smith’s amateur accomplishments and believes his experience will prove decisive when they meet at Glasgow's Kelvin Hall tonight.
This intriguing Scotland-England clash, which doubles as a final eliminator for the British title, is the chief support to Ricky Burns’ WBO super-featherweight title challenge to Roman Martinez.
Challenger Smith from Liverpool enjoyed a decorated amateur career which included winning gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The 24-year-old has been similarly impressive since turning pro in 2008, effortlessly compiling a perfect 10-0 record.
“I know all about Stephen Smith’s success in the amateurs, but the pro game is different and he’s going to discover this against me once we’re in the ring together. I do think Smith has a bright future ahead of him but beating journeymen and blown up super-bantamweights will not have prepared him for someone like me at this stage of his career,” commented Simpson to BoxRec News.
At 27, it seems as though Simpson has been around forever after the Scot turned pro when still a teenager in 2002. Like Smith, the Greenock man knows what it is like to be handed a title chance relatively early in his career. At just 21, Simpson challenged Dazzo Williams for the British title in just his 14th fight in 2004, dropping a debatable points decision on referee Phil Edwards’ scorecard (115-114).
“It’s not that I don’t think Smith will be able to go twelve rounds, I just don’t think he’ll be able to cope with me coming at him and applying pressure all night. I remember my first twelve-rounder against Dazzo Williams. I was only 21 but I was surprised how easily I was able to complete the distance. Maybe it’s because I was the winning fight, or perhaps it was the excitement of my first championship fight that carried me through, but after that 12-rounders seemed a lot harder,” Simpson recalls.
Simpson, 21-6 (9), is currently enjoying the best spell of his career. The Scot has won his last four, three inside-the-distance, which have included back-to-back stoppage wins against another former celebrated amateur in Paul Truscott. After suffering defeats, often narrowly, against Stephen Foster Jr, Derry Matthews, Andy Morris (later avenged) and Paul Appleby, the Commonwealth champion would appear to be entering his formative years.
“I’m a much a better fighter now compared to my last defeat against Paul Appleby (a close UD in June 2008). I’m more dedicated and the decision to split my training between (long-time mentor) Danny Lee and Billy Nelson has really paid off in my recent performances. I’ve been getting some excellent sparring against Ricky Burns and I feel more than ready for Smith,” said Simpson.
Simpson’s immediate goal is retain his Commonwealth crown and then go after the British title which is currently the property of Martin Lindsay who said this week, “I just hope there is someone who has the bottle to share a ring with me for my British crown.”
“I’ll happily fight Lindsay next. I was supposed to fight him last year but the Board blocked the fight because I’d already signed a contract to defend my Commonwealth title against Stevie Bell (who Simpson stopped in seven rounds in his last fight in December). Lindsay’s been British champion for 18 months yet has only made one defence (against Jamie Arthur in March) which is unacceptable. If I beat Lindsay, I will gain the Lonsdale belt for keeps which is a great incentive for me,” added Simpson.
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