Callum Simpson reveals devastating loss of teenage sister in road accident put brutal KO defeat into perspective

CALLUM SIMPSON didn’t mourn the loss of his undefeated record for a single second – having learned the real meaning of grief. Barnsley’s 29-year-old super-middleweight ace had his career derailed in December when underdog Troy Williamson dropped him FOUR times in the tenth round. Callum Simpson with his late sister Lily-Rae Credit: Instagram Lily-Rae died aged 19 after a road accident on holiday in Zante Credit: Instagram A crushing first loss would have broken a weaker man but the 2024 death of 19-year-old sister Lily-Rae, in a road accident on holiday in Zante, has given Simpson perspective way beyond four corners and a canvas. Simpson told SunSport: “I didn’t mourn my undefeated record, my family were probably more worried about it than me. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! “I lost my little sister a few years ago, that’s loss. “That’s real pain and perspective and losing a fight would never compare to that, trying to come through it, still trying to come through it. “I lost a fight but it’s about how I come back from it now. I can’t drop my head or feel sorry for myself ” Simpson heroically returned to the ring just five months after Lily-Rae’s heartbreaking death and he insisted that – rather than hiding his agony away – he wanted to say and see her name as often as possible. He said: “Lily-Rae Simpson. Every fight I have her name on my kit and my gloves, she’s always with me, all the time. “I was offered time off and easier fights after she passed but she was my biggest fan, she would have wanted me to keep taking big fights and pushing forward. Most read in Sport The Home of Boxing in 2026 There's a massive year of boxing ahead! It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring. The Gypsy King has beaten Mariusz Wach in his second fight of the year to set up a huge fight with Anthony Joshua And AJ did the same, knocking out Kristian Prenga in the second round of a thrilling encounter – the Brit was knocked down twice in the opening round. Now fans are looking forward to Moses Itauma’s return for his toughest fight yet against Filip Hrgovic in August. Here’s all the big fights coming up… August Sat 15 – Claressa Shields vs Kaye Scott – DAZN Sat 29 – Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic – DAZN September Sat 12 – Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia – DAZN *If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue. “If I could push on through that, I can push on through anything.” Following the devastating December car crash Anthony Joshua was in – that snatched away the lives of best friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele – AJ has been urged to take more time to recover. The 36-year-old London 2012 legend had to climb off the canvas to beat Kristian Prenga in July’s emotional return but Simpson recognises the sport’s ability to help heal. He explained: “Boxing has been an outlet and a massive help to me. “I had good talks in the gym, that would take my mind off things and it also offered a physical outlet. “Even doing interviews, having the chance to speak about Lily-Rae, it all helped massively.” Troy Williamson stopped Simpson Credit: Getty Williamson facing off with Simpson ahead of their rematch Credit: CHRISTOPHER DEAN Darlington 34-year-old Williamson resurrected his career with his violent stoppage of the Yorkshire lad at the same Leeds arena that he will revisit. Before that he had lost four of his last six, a hat-trick of those down at the 11st super-welterweight limit he was brutalising himself to reach. Now campaigning a full stone heavier, he knows the pain that 6ft 3in Simpson is going through to make the 12st limit. Williamson said: “He’s probably trained and sparred around 13st, so when he finally gets down to 12st he will be a shadow of his former self. “I have been there and done it, when I got down to 11st I was never the same fighter, I never rehydrated fully, I would fight like I was walking on clouds. “He’s a big fella, he’s never going to say it, none of us do, but he seriously harms himself making the weight. “It’s Thursday now, everyone is laughing and joking but the hardest bit for him hasn’t even started yet. “He’s still got to dry out, that’s the hard bit, and then we will see.” Comment now