'I'd show 'Canelo' Barnsley's sights' - Simpson eyes dream fight

Would Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez switch nan mariachi euphony of hometown Guadalajara for a tune from Barnsley's brass bands?

Or possibly nan Mexican superstar would for illustration to sip a bitter ale, alternatively than tequila, while listening to cricketing tales from nan town's legendary umpire Dickie Bird?

For British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion Callum Simpson, a conflict against undisputed king Alvarez astatine nan location of his beloved Barnsley Football Club isn't arsenic far-fetched arsenic galore mightiness think.

"I'll show him nan municipality during conflict week. Barnsley Town Hall is simply a beautiful building. For me, it's nan ninth wonderment of nan world," nan 28-year-old says pinch a grin.

"But seriously, 2 years ago, I did an question and reply saying I want to conflict Canelo astatine Oakwell Stadium and group laughed, saying 'you'll ne'er conflict astatine Oakwell fto unsocial Canelo'.

"But connected Saturday I'm fighting astatine Oakwell for nan 2nd clip successful 10 months, having sold thousands of tickets, truthful why not Canelo astatine immoderate point?"

Realistically, sharing nan ringing pinch Alvarez - who will take sides his crown against American icon Terence Crawford successful September - is simply a adjacent measurement away. And it is improbable nan 34-year-old has heard of Barnsley, fto unsocial capable to constituent it retired connected a map.

But Simpson, undefeated successful 17 fights, is assured he will onshore a world-title changeable adjacent year.

First, though, he must flooded unbeaten Italian Ivan Zucco - who has 18 stoppages successful 21 wins - for nan vacant European title connected Saturday.

"He's had much knockouts than I've had fights truthful I'm decidedly not overlooking him," Simpson adds. "This is nan adjacent due step."

Simpson was shouted to home honours by 7,000 fans erstwhile nan hometown leader hit Zak Chelli astatine a limited-capacity Oakwell past August, but promoters Boxxer expect adjacent to 15,000 connected Saturday.

"I've done 3,500 tickets connected my ain - conscionable from family, friends and messages connected societal media," he says.

Being a immense summons seller tin return you acold successful nan sport, and Simpson has built his ain wall of fans successful southbound Yorkshire.

The concealed is simply a genuine relationship pinch his section organization done individual interactions.

Simpson spends evenings astatine his section pub, personally handing retired tickets.

"None of this is artificial. I'd for illustration to deliberation I'm conscionable people a nice, hard-working personification pinch a bully heart, and group from Barnsley want to backmost me," he adds.

Speaking to BBC Sport via video telephone while parked up successful his car, Simpson is connected his measurement to volunteer for a foodbank astatine a section supermarket.

"I effort to springiness backmost to my organization and I effort to get to each kindness arena aliases section shot crippled I can," he says.

"My head and trainer opportunity I do excessively overmuch and request to rein it successful - but I conscionable emotion giving back."

Simpson has a "new-found perspective" connected boxing aft his sister, Lily Rae-Simpson, tragically died aged 19 successful a car mishap successful Greece past year.

"I ever wanted to make my small sister proud, erstwhile she was pinch america and moreover now erstwhile she's not," he says.

"She's still successful nan ringing pinch maine and I consciousness her beingness there. When I'm training I tin perceive her sound and I tin excavation that small spot deeper."

Simpson says he has watched videos precocious from his triumph complete Chelli, pinch Lily chanting his sanction and smiling successful nan Oakwell stands.

"That was nan past conflict she saw maine successful and it's [Saturday] going to beryllium an affectional nighttime for my family," he reveals.

"But I cognize really proud she was for maine and really she would person wanted maine to transportation connected and go a world champion."