Barnsley boxer Callum Simpson has already received world champion training alongside Josh Warrington as he makes English title his next target

Earlier this month, the 26-year-old claimed the first belt of his professional career as he won the super middleweight Central Area title and is now the mandatory challenger for the English crown.

The 10-0 fighter claimed the area strap in dominant fashion, knocking out Ben Ridings in the second round.

Simpson, who had his first amateur fight at the age of 10 while boxing out of Barnsley Star Boxing Club, trains at Dicky’s Gym in Batley.

The West Yorkshire gym was the former base of IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington, who Simpson trained alongside in his early days as a professional.

The Leeds Warrior won the IBF title for the first time in 2018 while training at the Batley gym.

Simpson made his pro debut in mid-2019 and in his second fight was on the undercard of Warrington’s world title defence against Frenchman Sofiane Takoucht in October 2019 at the Leeds Arena.

All of that early experience alongside Warrington gave Simpson an invaluable insight into what it takes to reach the top of the sport.

"It was a great experience for me. It was good to see how hard a world champion actually trained,” said Simpson.

"That is where I want to be, so it was good to train alongside him. It helped me know how hard I need to train. I fought on his undercard, which was a good experience to see the build-up to a big fight.

"I was put in the same changing room, so I could watch him warm-up and see how he prepares for a world-title fight.

"Being around the media and all those things – it was a really good learning experience for me."

Simpson has been hailed as the “biggest British boxing prospect at present” by promoter Kevin Maree, who is the head of promotion company Maree Boxing.

The Barnsley man is not putting too much pressure on himself, however, as he climbs up the rankings.

He continued: "When I look back, I want to know I have fulfilled my potential. I believe if I do become the best version of myself then I will be a world champion.

"As long as I work hard, I believe I will be able to look back and say I have achieved everything I can.”

Simpson first stepped into a boxing club aged nine and went on to win numerous titles as an amateur.

However, it could have turned out different for him if his Dad never became his football coach when he was seven-years-old.

"I used to play football when I was seven or eight and then my Dad became my coach and would shout at me all the time, so I quit football,” laughed Simpson.

"My Dad used to box when he was younger and I used to ask him all the time to take me to a boxing gym.

"When I was nine, he took me to a boxing gym. I went to Barnsley Star when I was 10 and then had my first amateur fight.

"I won a few regional titles at heavyweight and super middleweight, I have been doing it most of my life.”

Eight of Simpson’s wins have come by way of knockout and he admits that if he wants to reach the elite of the sport, he should have the ability to stop most of his opponents in the early stages of his career.

"It is great to win my first title. That is the first domestic title you can win so hopefully the English title is next,” he continued.

"I have always wanted to win the Central Area title, it was the same title that Ricky Hatton won in Oldham. That was his first title. We never really go for the knockout but the level I believe I am at, I should be stopping everybody I have stopped.

"I never go out to knock people out in the first round. The knockout just kind of comes. Sometimes if you are too eager or rush it, you can spoil your work.

"I know the knockout is always going to come if I box how I know I can box."

Simpson plans to spend the next few years at super middleweight but does hope to make the step up to light heavyweight in the future.

"This is probably the lowest weight I will go,” he added.

"Hopefully I can clean up at this weight and then move back to light heavyweight in a few years.

"At super middleweight, I make the weight comfortably and feel good at it. I don't think I will go any lower. I will keep at this weight for a few years and then see what could happen at light heavyweight."

Simpson hopes to fight for the English belt next year with his manager in talks with television promoters. Zak Chelli currently holds the title but is poised to be in action next month.