BARNSLEY, UK (March 24, 2025) – A massive European night is coming to Barnsley as Callum Simpson faces Ivan Zucco for the European Super Middleweight Title on Saturday, June 7 at Oakwell Stadium, presented by BOXXER, live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland. 

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It will be Simpson’s toughest test to date, and the Barnsley boxer is calling on the passionate club fanbase to turn Oakwell into a fortress and support his battle to overcome an undefeated opponent.

Zucco, from Piemonte, Italy, has risen through the rankings with a series of impressive performances. The 29-year-old, unbeaten in his 21 professional contests, is a former WBC International Champion, who has stopped 18 of his opponents inside the distance.

Season ticket holders at Simpson’s beloved Barnsley FC will get 10% off ticket prices in an exclusive 24-hour priority access window for the June 7 event. A ticket pre-sale sign-up is also open now at BOXXER.com.

Barnsley FC and BOXXER executives have been working with local authorities to make sure the stadium is set up with the maximum number of seats for a non-football event.

Simpson’s debut at Oakwell last summer sold out inside 48 hours before going on general sale, with 7,000 fans cheering his impressive British and Commonwealth Title win over Zak Chelli.

On June 7, thousands more fans will get the chance to experience an unforgettable European night of boxing supporting ‘one of our own’ and are being urged to make the most of the clubs’ exclusive pre-sale access which includes a 24-hour 10% discount for season ticket holders.

Callum Simpson said: “This is the biggest fight of my career, and I’m expecting my toughest test to date. Last summer, I won the British and Commonwealth titles in front of my home crowd, and now we’re coming back, bigger and better, fighting for the European title against an undefeated fighter in Ivan Zucco.

“This isn’t just another fight, it’s a massive European night, and I’m coming to put on a statement performance. I need Oakwell to be a fortress on June 7 and make sure that European title stays right here in Barnsley.

“The support from Barnsley means everything to me. This town has backed me from day one, and to be fighting at Oakwell again, in front of my people, is something special. Last time we sold it out in two days, this time we’re going even bigger. It’s going to be a night to remember and I couldn’t be prouder to represent Barnsley on the big stage.”

Ivan Zucco said: “I am really honoured to fight for such a prestigious title in such a big event. Facing a high-quality opponent like Callum Simpson is an opportunity that excites me a lot. It will be a tough battle, but I am ready to give my all for victory.

“Winning the European title would be a dream come true. This title means a lot to me, not only on a personal level, but also to my family and everyone who has always believed in me. It will be an honour to bring the title back to Italy and the culmination of a journey that I have undertaken with passion and sacrifice.”

Ben Shalom, Founder & CEO, BOXXER, said: “We are excited to bring a massive night of European boxing to Oakwell Stadium headlined by local hero Callum Simpson. The atmosphere last summer was something special but this is going to be even bigger with Callum Simpson in his toughest test yet facing the undefeated Italian, Ivan Zucco, for the European Super Middleweight crown. I know the fans from Barnsley and Yorkshire get behind their own and Callum will be counting on this incredible home support to give him the edge in this epic battle between two unbeaten fighters.”

Jon Flatman, CEO, Barnsley FC, said: “We are honoured to welcome one of our own, Callum Simpson, back to Oakwell, this time fighting for the European Super Middleweight title. Callum has proved his love and his loyalty to Barnsley time and time again, we know he pushed harder than anyone to bring this fight back to Oakwell, in the heart of his community.

“I’d like to thank Sir Steve Houghton and his team at Barnsley Council for helping us to make this possible as well as everyone at BOXXER for putting their faith in us to deliver once again. The last night here at Oakwell was special, this one promises to be even bigger and better. Let’s make this another night to remember.”

Callum Simpson vs Ivan Zucco for the European Super Middleweight Title headlines a huge summer stadium show at Oakwell on Saturday, June 7. More exciting bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.

HOW TO BUY TICKETS:

• 12pm, Wednesday April 2: Barnsley FC Season Ticket Holder priority pre-sale with 10% discount for 24 hours
• 12pm, Thursday April 3: BOXXER.com sign-up exclusive pre-sale
• 12pm, Friday April 4: general sale

Sign-up for NOW for exclusive access to presale tickets at BOXXER.com

All Hospitality sales are via Barnsley Football club, enquiries via: [email protected]

This event is presented in association with official partners Betfred, HELL Energy, That Prize Guy, Riyadh Season, Car Finance 247 and Champion.

(March 21, 2023) — Two international fight cards will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ this week. The action starts Thursday, as super middleweight knockout artist Christian Mbilli takes on two-time Ecuadorian Olympian Carlos Gongora in a 10-round main event from the Montreal Casino in Montreal, Canada.
 
The ESPN+ action continues Friday from the Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy, as undefeated 168-pound contender Ivan Zucco faces off against London’s Germaine Brown in a 10-round bout.
 
Mbilli-Gongora and undercard bouts will stream live on ESPN+ on Thursday starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
 
Zucco-Brown and undercard contests will stream live on ESPN+ on Friday beginning at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT.
 
Mbilli (22-0, 20 KOs) is a 2016 French Olympian who is inching closer to a world title opportunity. The 27-year-old is coming off an impressive 2022 in which he scored knockout wins over former title challenger Nadjib Mohammedi and DeAndre Ware, along with a decision victory last December over Vaughn Alexander. Gongora (21-1, 16 KOs) represented Ecuador in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics before turning pro in 2015. In 2020, he scored an upset knockout victory over Ali Akhmedov. He then stopped Christopher Pearson in 2021 before losing a close decision to Lerrone Richards. The 33-year-old southpaw is coming off a fourth-round TKO over Oscar Riojas last August.
 
In other streaming action from Montreal:
 
Canadian Olympian Simon Kean (22-1, 21 KOs) faces his stiffest challenge yet against two-time world title challenger Eric Molina (29-8, 21 KOs). Kean was 15-0 with 14 knockouts before an upset loss to Dillon Carman in 2018. He avenged that loss the following year as part of a seven-fight knockout win streak.
 
Junior welterweight Steve Claggett (33-7-2, 23 KOs) will attempt to score his fifth straight KO victory in a 10-round tilt against Mexico’s Rafael Guzman Lugo (26-2-2, 16 KOs).
 
Undefeated lightweight Luis Santana (8-0, 2 KOs) returns to the ring in an eight-round fight against Francisco Arturo Ramirez Martinez (11-4, 6 KOs) of Veracruz, Mexico.
 
In a battle of undefeated junior lightweights, Canada’s Leila Beaudoin (8-0, 1 KO) will collide against Mexico’s Laura Avendano Mondragon (6-0, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder.
 
Zucco (16-0, 14 KOs) is a 27-year-old southpaw who debuted in the paid ranks in 2017. He beat then undefeated Luca Capuano in 2021 via sixth-round knockout to capture his first regional title. In his last fight, he stopped Marko Nikolic in the second round to capture the WBC International super middleweight title. His last six opponents have not gone the distance. Brown (12-1, 3 KOs) is a 28-year-old native of London who captured a British title in 2022 with a decision win over Charlie Schofield. In his last outing, he lost the belt to Zak Chelli in what has been his only loss so far.
 
In other streaming action from Milan
 
Francesco Russo (12-2, 10 KOs) will put his Italian junior middleweight title on the line in a 10-rounder against Christian Mazzon (9-4, 3 KOs).
 
Maxim Prodan (20-2-1, 15 KOs) will see action in an eight-round welterweight tilt against Mirko Marchetti (8-4).
 
Undefeated Italian prospect Giovanni Sarchioto (6-0, 6 KOs) will participate in an eight-round middleweight contest against France’s Houcine Moulahi (4-13-2, 2 KOs).
 

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About ESPN+ 
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.9 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). 

Ivan Zucco remained undefeated with a 2nd round stoppage over Marko Nicolic in a super middleweight fight in Verbania, Italy

In round two, Zucco dropped Nikolic with a big left. Zucco finished off Nikolic with a left and the fight was stopped at 1:30.

Zucco of Verbania, ITA is 16-0 with 14 knockouts. Nikolic of Belgrade, SER is 28-2.

Natalizi Decisions Mueller

Mirko Natalizi won a 10-round unanimous decision over Rico Mueller in a super welterweight bout.

Natalizi of Roma, ITA won by scores of 99-91 and 98-92 twice and is now 12-0. Mueller of Eberswalde, GER is 28-5-1.

Grandelli Decisions Baker

Franchesco Grandelli won a 10-round unanimous decision over Kane Baker in a featherweight contest.

In round One, Grandelli dropped Baker with an overhand right hand. In round two, Baker turned to tables with a right that sent Grandelli to the canvas

In round 10, Baker was bleeding from his nose.

Grandelli of Italy won by scores of 98-90 twice and 96-92 and is now 14-1-2. Baker of Birmingham, ENG is 17-9-1.

Nmomah Decisions El Massoudi

Samuel Nmomah won a eight-round unanimous decision over Fouad El Massoudi in a super welterweight bout.

With Nmomah battering El Massoudi, the referee administered a standing eight-round in round five.

Nmomah of Italy won by scores of 78-73 twice and 79-72 and is 17-0. El Massoudi of Lyon, FRA is 17-18-1.

Matchroom and OPI Since 82 return to Italy and Super-Middleweights will take centre-stage with Daniele Scardina and Giovanni De Carolis meeting in a huge all-Italian showdown on Friday May 13 at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, while unbeaten 168lbs talent Ivan Zucco faces Marko Nikolic at Palazzetto dello Sport in his Verbania, Piemonte hometown on Friday April 22, live worldwide on DAZN. Scardina (20-0 16 KOs) defends his WBO Intercontinental Super-Middleweight title against De Carolis (29-10-1 13 KOs), but there’s so much more at stake with bragging rights as the number one 168lber in the country to be settled on the night. Scardina sits at 10 in the WBO rankings, so the bout presents the chance for the winner to crash into the top five and begin to eye the biggest fights in the division. The 29 year old recorded a pair of stoppage wins in 2021 in Milan as he returned to the ring from a 14 month absence, and picked up the title he defends in the second of those wins, dispatching Juergen Doberstein inside four rounds in October. De Carolis, former WBA World champion, can reignite his title ambitions with victory over Scardina. The 37 year old battled Lerone Richards for the European title in May 2021 in London and after being outpointed by the Briton, he returned to winning ways over six rounds in his Roma backyard in October. In support of Scardina and De Carolis, Spaniard Mary Romero (7-2 2 KOs) will make the second defence of her European Super-Bantamweight title against Italy’s Maria Cecchi (6-0 1 KO), the vacant Italian Super-Bantamweight title will be claimed by Vincenzo La Femina (10-0 5 KOs) or Matteo Lecca (9-2 4 KOs), and there’s eight round action for Welterweight Maxim Prodan (19-1-1 15 KOs), while Super-Welterweight Cristian Cangelosi (6-0 2 KOs) and Cruiserweight Oronzo Birardi (2-0 2 KOs) will fight in six rounder bouts.  “It’s going to be an important and great fight,” said Scardina. “We are super focused; it will be a great show live worldwide on DAZN.” “I am thrilled to compete with Daniele,” said   De Carolis. “It is a match that Italian boxing needs and it will attract great attention on an international level.” Scardina and De Carolis will certainly attract the full attention of the unbeaten Zucco, who will look to land his first international strap against Nikolic, with the WBC International title on the line. Zucco (15-0 13 KOs) is leaving the domestic scene behind having landed the Italian title in April with a six round win over Luca Campano in Milan and took just three rounds to see off Ignazio Crivello in his first defense in his hometown in July. The 26 year old extended his KO streak to five with a fourth round stoppage of Giorgi Gujejiani in December, a 13th win inside the distance in 15 pro outings. Nikolic (28-1, 12 KOs ) will be out to stop the rise of the Italian, and the well-traveled and experienced Serbian takes on his fourth title fight in his 30th bout in the paid ranks. Unbeaten Roma man Mirko Natalizi (11-0 7 KOs) fights for his first title against Welshman Tony Dixon (13-3 4 KOs) for the WBC International Silver Super-Welterweight title on the undercard that also features Francesco Grandelli (15-1-2 3 KOs) takes on Briton Kane Baker (17-8-1 1 KO) over ten rounds at Featherweight, Samuel Nmomah (16-0 5 KOs) meets Felice Moncelli (22-6-1 5 KOs) over eight rounds at Super-Welterweight, and there is six round action for Mauro Forte (Featherweight,16-0-2 6 KOs), Joshua Nmomah (Middleweight, 10-0 3 KOs), Giovanni Sarchioto (Middleweight, 2-0 2 KOs) and Voldy Toutin (Light-Heavyweight, 1-0). “I am proud to headline an event of such an international importance in my hometown of Verbania,” said Zucco. “I will be ready to win the Green belt. As I have always said: “Verbania is inexpugnable!” “Our boxing schedule at DAZN just keeps getting better as we put on shows around the world, this time in Italy with a huge all-Italian showdown between Daniele Scardina and Giovanni De Carolis and Ivan Zucco facing off against Marko Nikolic in his hometown,” said Ed Breeze, EVP Rights at DAZN. “This are two cracking fights with homegrown talent looking to make a statement domestically and across the world scene. You do not want to miss out back-to-back Italian fight nights, live around the world on DAZN.” “Delighted to be back in Italy with 2 shows on April 22 and May 13” said Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith. “We have been building over the years with Scardina and now the biggest domestic rival is happening in Milan on May 13. Following the pandemic is amazing to have fans back. Don’t miss it live and on demand on DAZN!” “I want to thank Daniele Scardina and Giovanni De Carolis for accepting this fight,” said Christian Cherchi for OPI Since 82. “Without any doubts is the biggest fight Italian boxing can present at this time. We are expecting a sold-out arena and great viewers on DAZN. We are also very happy to promote the first International title of Ivan in his beautiful hometown of Verbania. His fight with Nikolic will be a step up in competition. Natalizi will challenge Dixon in his first title attempt and Grandelli will square off against Baker in a fight that promise fireworks. Don’t miss it live and on demand on DAZN.” Tickets for both shows will be available on ticketone.it. Full details will be released this week.

Fabio Turchi won a 10-round unanimous decision over Nikolajs Grisunins in a cruiserweight bout at Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy.

Turchi, 199 1/2 lbs of Italy won by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 100-90 and is now 18-1. Grisunins, 199 lbs is 12-2-1.

Dario Morello won a eight-round unanimous decision over Nestor Maradiago in a welterweight bout.

Morello, 149 lbs is 16-1. Maradiago, 146 1/2 lbs is 8-9-1.

Francesco Grandelli won a unanimous decision over Cristian Narvaez in a six-round featherweight bout.

Grandelli, 130 lbs is 14-1-1. Narvaez, 135 1/2 lbs is 16-23-5.

Ivan Zucco beat up Pavel Zgurean over three-rounds and the bout was stopped at the beginning of round four of their scheduled six-round super middleweight bout.

Zucco, 171 lbs of Italy is 12-0 with 10 knockouts. Zgurean, 170 lbs is 7-5.

Mirko Natalizi remained undefeated with a stoppage at the beginning of round four over Frane Radnic in a super welterweight bout.

In round one, Natalizi dropped Radnic with a straight right hand. In round two, Natalizi sent Radnic down for a 2nd time. In round three, Natalizi dropped Radnice with a right hand. The fight was stopped at the beginning of round four.

Natalizi, 159 lbs is 8-0 with five knockouts. Radnic, 164 1/2 lbs is 11-19.