BARNSLEY, UK (June 21, 2024) – Tickets have sold out in under 48 hours for Battle Lines: Zak Chelli vs Callum Simpson on Saturday, August 3rd at Oakwell Stadium, the home of Barnsley F.C.  

Following a priority window for Barnsley F.C season ticket holders and an exclusive BOXXER pre-sale yesterday, the final remaining tickets went on general sale yesterday at 12:00pm. 

As fans rushed to secure their seats to witness local star Callum Simpson challenge Zak Chelli for the British and Commonwealth Super Middleweight Titles, tickets have sold out in record time with just hospitality packages now available via BOXXER.com and Barnsley Football club, enquiries via: [email protected]

Fans who have missed out on purchasing their tickets for a historic night of boxing at Oakwell can join BOXXER’s waiting list to be notified of any further ticket releases and/or returns. Sign up now at https://www.boxxer.com/waiting-list-3-aug/. 

All the action will also be available to watch live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA. 

BOXXER Founder & CEO Ben Shalom said: “The response to this event has been incredible. The sold out East Stand will be rocking as local lad Callum Simpson takes on defending champion Zak Chelli. This shows that Barnsley really do get behind their own. Fans and fighters can expect a red hot atmosphere inside Oakwell on Saturday, August 3rd.”

Barnsley F.C. Chief Executive Jon Flatman said: “We knew that the community would get behind Callum and the ticket sales show that this has certainly been the case. We would encourage anyone wanting to come along on 3 August to join the waiting list and I’d personally like to thank all those who have already purchased for their incredible support.”

Battle Lines: Chelli vs Simpson will kick-off the 2024/25 season for Barnsley F.C. with local star Callum Simpson challenging Londoner Zak Chelli for his British and Commonwealth Titles at Oakwell Stadium on Saturday, August 3rd, one week before the new season begins. 

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, HELL Energy and That Prize Guy.

In a war, and early Fight of the Year candidate Natasha Jonas won a 10-round split-decision over former 130-lb champion Mikaela Mayer to defend the IBF welterweight title in 10 exhilarating rounds at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England.

The bout saw both fighters basically exchange power punches in the center of the ring. Mayer, who fighting in her fourth weight class in as many fights could not miss with a radar right hand. Jonas, who had swelling under her right eye landed hard straight lefts and solid right hooks.

The fight was a thrilling affair that either combatant deserved to win, saw Jonas take two cards 96-95 and 96-94, while Mayer won a card 97-93.

Jonas landed 126 of 312 punches. Mayer was 149 of 493.

Jonas, 146 lbs of Liverpool is 15-2-1. Mayer, 146.5 lbs of Las Vegas is now 19-2.

Jonas said, “I had a good start. I landed harder and cleaner shots. I think toward the end she outworked me a little. I’ll give her a couple of the middle rounds. But I came on strong at the end.

“I know she is going to be absolutely devastated with the result because I’ve been there. It feels like the world is over. She is on my top two people that I’ve fought. She is very skilled. Her time will come again. She beat a lot of the champions. Please use that as motivation to become a two-weight world champion.”

Mayer said, “I thought I did enough to win. I would have given her the first round or two. But after that, I feel like I outpunched her. I landed the cleaner shots. At the end of the day, I think that this fight is worth seeing again. Like she said, it was one of the toughest fights she’s had. I didn’t have a rematch clause on my side, but I’m hoping we can get this fight done again.

“It’s definitely disappointing. But what am I going to do? I just hope that Natasha will be the standup champ that she is and give me another shot at the belt. I feel like I deserve it. I think they want to see it. I only believe that rematches should happen if they’re warranted.”

Zak Chelli squeaked by Jack Cullen by winning a 12-round unanimous decision in a super middleweight bout,

In round three, Cullen was cut around his left eye.

Chelli landed 131 of 450 punches. Cullen was 66 of 371.

Chelli, 166.5 lbs of London won by scores of 116-113, 116-112 and 115-114 and is now 15-2-1. Cullen, 167.5 lbs of Little Leaver, ENG is 22-5-1.

Kariis Artingstall remained undefeated by winning an eight-round decision over Lila Dos Santos Furtatdo in a featherweight bout.

At the end of round one, Artingstall dropped Furtatdo with a straight left at the bell.

Artingstall, 124.5 lbs of Marklesfield, ENG won by a 77-75 tally and is now 6-0. Furtatdo, 124 lbs of Sao Paulo, BRA is 9-2.

Stephen Clarke made a successful pro debut by stopping Vasif Mamedov in the third round of their four-round super middleweight fight.

Clarke was never challenged and in round three landed a series of punches that had Mamedov turning his back and referee Mark Lyson stopped the bout at 1:53.

Clarke, 160 lbs of Liverpool, ENG is 1-0 with one knockout. Mamedov, 166.5 lbs of Southhapmpton, ENG is 3-50-5.

Aaron McKenna remained undefeated with a sixth round stoppage over late-replacement Mickey Ellison in a scheduled eight-round super middleweight contest

Mckenna dominated te action and began to batter Ellison until referee Mark Lyson stopped the bout at 2:21

McKenna, 168 lbs of Los Angeles via Ireland is now 18-0 with nine knockouts. Ellison, 171 lbs of England is 15-7.