A promising Barnsley boxer has come out fighting for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.

Light-heavyweight Callum Simpson, who won his third professional fight on Saturday (Oct 23) in the first round  - in just two minutes and 26 seconds -  has made the North Anston hospice his chosen charity and is signing up as a volunteer.

Callum, 23, a product of Trevor Schofield’s Barnsley Star gym, went professional earlier this year after taking up boxing at the age of 10, and is currently unbeaten.

He decided to raffle off 12 ringside seats for his weekend fight against experienced Surrey boxer Richard Harrison as a hospice fundraiser.

The seats at the sell-out Doncaster Dome show raised £400 and Callum added another £160 from his prizemoney to round the sum up to £500. 

“For the last two years I’ve wanted to do something that gives back to a local charity and when I heard how Bluebell Wood helps families whose children have life-shortening conditions to make the most of every day, I knew this was the charity I wanted to form a lasting relationship with,” said the former Horizon and Barnsley College student who already has his eye on a world title.

Callum paid his first visit to the hospice just before his fight against Harrison and was ‘stunned’ by the positivity he encountered.

“I was really apprehensive at first. I expected a hospital, but it was more like a hotel!” said Callum.

“I was shown around the end-of- life suites, play and sensory rooms and was amazed. Everyone was making the very best of things.

“I have five younger brothers and sisters aged 8 to 15 and it struck me that you never know when something might happen to a child in your own family and you could end up relying on the hospice."

After getting the boxing bug from his dad Donny, who boxed as an amateur, Callum started out at a gym in Bolton on Dearne, rising to become Yorkshire Light Heavyweight and Super-Middleweight champion for two years-running.

He is currently a store manager for fashion brand Tessuti in Bradford and training at Dickie’s Gym in Batley with trainers Abdul Mghrbel and Mark Hurley.

“Boxing gave discipline to my life,” he said. “It’s a mental training as well as a physical and you learn a great deal about self-restraint and respect for others.”

Callum has signed up as a volunteer at Bluebell Wood in his free time and is determined to raise more funds to support its work.

The hospice needs over £4million a year to keep caring for families across South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire, North Nottinghamshire and parts of North Lincolnshire.

He aims to continue supporting throughout his boxing journey. “It’s even more motivation for me,” he said. “The bigger my career gets, the more I can help.”