“People die when you forget about them. Or you stop talking about them. I will never stop talking about her.”
Callum Simpson's voice chokes with emotion when he remembers his sister.
Lily-Rae Simpson died tragically young in an accident while on holiday. She was only 19 years old.
The sadness of that recent loss is raw, unique in the eyes of the British champion as he remembers it.
“Knowing that she's not going to be a bridesmaid at my wedding and knowing that she's not going to be an aunt to my kids and they're not going to meet,” he said sternly before breaking down his tears off.
“I always say her name. Even though I'm emotional now, crying right now, when someone says her name or talks about her, I smile and me laughing, just proud that she was my sister,” he said. Sky Sports.
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Callum Simpson and Mark Jeffers discussed whether they would fight each other in the future, while both appear to benefit from their next bouts.
On Saturday, the British and Commonwealth champion will box for the first time since her death when he faces Steed Woodall in Sheffield.
This is another time where she will be remembered. “I have a nice tribute on my kit for my next fight, a tribute to her. Barnsley football club did a minute's tribute to her in the game just after she died,” said Simpson.
But he also needs to control his emotions when it comes to boxing to defend his titles. Woodall from Birmingham is a dangerous opponent, coming off a stunning stoppage win over Lerrone Richards in his last fight. Richards is a highly skilled, difficult southpaw, hard to tag, who Wood stopped within six rounds in June.
“Steed is the toughest fight in Britain for me and that's what I wanted,” said Simpson Sky Sports.
“It should be a tough fight. That's what I wanted and that's what I've got. I've trained hard, I've prepared well and I'm looking forward to it.
“I want to be the next super middleweight star. I want to be the next big name.”
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Callum Simpson reflects on his emotional victory over Zak Chelli for the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles in front of his home fans at Oakwell Stadium
Simpson is building a base of support behind him. In his last fight he defeated Zak Chelli at the Oakwell Stadium in his hometown of Barnsley, with 7,000 supporters including his sister, roaring him on.
He wants to continue to develop his career, build on his passionate following and establish himself in the British boxing scene.
Simpson can't then lose to Woodall on Saturday. But to win, among the painful and joyful memories, he must keep his mind clear at least during the competition itself.
“I try not to let my emotions fight me if I'm honest. I've had feelings before the fight and I'm sure there will be plenty after. But from now until fight night, I won't let it. feelings go on, get involved,” Simpson said.
“I try to keep a cool, calm head. So if it's emotional after, it will be emotional after I win but during the fight and from now on, there will be no emotions.”
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Highlights of the action from the British and Commonwealth middleweight title fight between Zak Chelli and Callum Simpson
Simpson strongly believes he can do that. “I think I showed that I'm good at stopping emotion and being calm and being able to perform under pressure and under what most people would see as a lot of emotion ,” he said.
“I think I'm good at that, I think I proved that at Oakwell when I walked out to 7,000 people shouting my name. When I made that circle they were literally a step away.
“I really feel like it's a gift. I don't get nervous for fights. I'm not afraid. That fear is nothing but pleasure. Almost euphoric I would say.
“I don't want to lie and say I'm getting nervous. Because I'm looking forward to fight night. I'm enjoying it. I'm so grateful. I this is what I have trained towards since I was a nine year old boy.
“I believe in my ability. I believe in my preparation. So why am I nervous?”
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Callum Simpson talks to Andrew Clarke after his unanimous decision win against Zak Chelli in front of his home crowd in Barnsley
In the midst of the storm of grief that he has been suffering since his sister's death, despite the intensity of boxing, fighting will be a relief. As long as he is boxing Woodall, due to the anger of the competition, Simpson will be at ease.
“I think that boxing helped a lot. It has given me a good focus and a good opportunity for the sadness and the emotion as well,” he said.
“If it wasn't for all the interviews maybe I wouldn't have opened up so much… maybe it's helped me.
“Now let's live in the moment,” he said. “Get a good win on Saturday and then hopefully Oakwell will be sold out in the summer.
“Years ago this was my dream, going forward Sky Sports so I don't want to wish this weekend away and look too far into the future.
“But I have big ambitions, big goals and one of them is at Oakwell. But first to enjoy Saturday night. I'll get that euphoric feeling and live in the moment.”
Watch Callum Simpson defend his British and Commonwealth heavyweight title against Steed Woodall on Saturday, live on Sky Sports from 7.30pm.
