Ringside Boxing Report: John Simpson vs. Paul Truscott II

By Jane Warburton September 5th, 2009 All Ringside Boxing

**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Last night at the Eston Sports Academy in Middlesbrough, England, Matchroom Sport hosted a fight night which headlined by the much anticipated Commonwealth Featherweight title rematch between Champion John Simpson of Greenock, Scotland and local man Paul Truscott of Middlesbrough.

The fight against Simpson in January was Truscott's only defeat and ended because of a cut to the right eye as a result of a head clash.

Last night's exciting return bout was even bloodier than the first and had the crowd applauding the gritty determination of both boxers all the way through the contest. More...

Boxing Preview: John Simpson vs. Paul Truscott II

By Nick Chamberlain September 4th, 2009 All Boxing Articles

Sat on the canvas straight after eight hard fought rounds for the Commonwealth Featherweight belt on January 16 of this year, John Simpson and Paul Truscott were conducting an interview for Sky Sports and had agreed
that a rematch should be put into place, after the referee had stopped the fight due to cuts suffered by Truscott.

The rematch is due for tonight and after the first fight, we should have a good scrap on our hands with these two.

Simpson 19-6 (7), and is a tough little pressure fighter, and has fought some good opposition like Derry Matthews and Paul Appleby, albeit both of which he lost, but the experience is good to have under his belt.

Paul Truscott 13-1 (1), is a fast, flashy boxer who is good on the counter and can give some opponents trouble but looking at his record, it's plain to see where the experience lies in this rematch

In the first fight, just as it was stopped, the contest seemed to have turned a corner and was going into Simpson territory, Truscott having only been the full 12 rounds once in his career.

Of course, we never got to see that as there was some bad swelling under, and not a massive cut but a cut all the same, over Truscott's right eye, leading the referee to the doctor, who confirmed the stoppage.

The first bout was a good fight, with Truscott controlling a lot of the pace with his jab and catching Simpson coming in with quick straight rights, flashy hooks and uppercuts. More...

Boxing In Britain: Simpson Dethrones Truscott, Wins Commonwealth Title

By Ricky Jones January 17th, 2009 All Boxing Results

Certified spoiler John Simpson pulled off another upset last night after defeating Commonwealth Featherweight Champion Paul Truscott at Eston Sports Academy in Truscott's hometown of Middlesbrough, England on a Barry Hearn promotion.

Simpson, a former British Feather Champion, was tagged in the early rounds as he tried to come in on the sharper skilled Truscott but after the first few frames had managed to close the distance. More...

British Boxing: Commonwealth King Paul Truscott Faces Tough Test Against John Simpson

By Ricky Jones December 29th, 2008 All Boxing Previews

Featherweight Paul Truscott of Middlesbrough, England enjoyed a sterling amateur career before joining the pro ranks in 2006 after just turning 20 years of age.

After winning ten bouts against the usual suspects on the British scene, Truscott captured the vacant Commonwealth belt in just his eleventh start by outfighting durable Ghanaian "Golden Boy" Osumanu Akaba in May of this year.

After a good eight round workout against Belgian Alex Miskirtchian in October, Truscott will now tangle with Scottish hard man John Simpson on January 16.

But is Truscott ready for the test against Simpson?

The undefeated 22 year old's promoter Barry Hearn must think so as the two are set to clash at Easton Sports Academy in Middlesbrough, the hometown of "Trussy". More...

Boxing In Britain: Appleby Defeats Pickering In Scotland

By Ricky Jones November 29th, 2008 All Boxing Results

Last night at Glasgow's Bellahouston Sports Centre, British Featherweight title challenger Paul Appleby, 13-0 (8), won his most important test to date by outpointing former super bantamweight triple champion Esham Pickering, 33-8 (13), after twelve rounds.

Appleby was aggressive from the start and looked to tire the aging Pickering but the Newark stylist drew on his long experience to survive the onslaught and even win a few rounds later in the bout when the champion began to flag from the effort.

But Pickering, never a big puncher, just couldn't keep his 21 year old antagonist off and loses the third bout over his last four outings on points. Appleby retains the British Featherweight title for the first time.

The man Appleby defeated to win that belt, fellow Scot John Simpson, 18-6 (6), was also in action on the bill, outpointing Kenyan import John Gicharu, 10-3-1 (5), in a competitive eight round featherweight contest.

Boxing In Britain: Appleby Upsets Simpson To Win British Title

By Ricky Jones June 8th, 2008 All Boxing Results

The action on Friday night in Scotland was at Glasgow's Kelvin Hall where Paul Appleby shed his prospect status by taking the British Featherweight title from John Simpson via a very close 12 round unanimous decision.

Appleby, 12-0 (8), employed superior boxing skills to pull ahead early, dropping his fellow Scotsman Simpson in the fifth to take a decided edge.

But Simpson, 17-6 (6), wasn't going away and fought a hard-nosed effort in this see-saw battle all the way through the final bell only to lose a decision on the cards 115-113 and 115-114 twice.

There may very well be a rematch ordered by the British Board as the crucial knockdown in the fifth will certainly be disputed by Team Simpson.

On the undercard, lightweight Ryan Brawley, 9-0 (1), stopped former British Featherweight Champion Jamie McKeever, 18-9-1 (6), in seven.

McKeever, of Birkenhead near Liverpool, has now lost four on the bounce while Scottish southpaw Brawley won his first contest of 2008. More...

Boxing Preview: John Simpson vs. Paul Appleby

By Andrew Wake June 6th, 2008 All Boxing Previews

British title fights are almost always entertaining, but this Friday’s all Scottish clash at Kelvin Hall, Glasgow between champion John Simpson and hot prospect Paul Appleby could well turn out to be a mini classic.

In one corner, we have an experienced 24 year old belt holder who took the featherweight crown in his third attempt and will stop at nothing to keep it in his possession.

In the opposite corner, we have a relentless attacking machine who is determined to prove his mettle and become Bonnie Scotland’s youngest ever holder of the prestigious Lonsdale strap.

Some people have said that at just 20 years of age and with only 11 professional fights under his belt, Appleby is not ready for a contest of this magnitude but the truth is that the youngster from the Edinburgh district of South Queensferry has crammed a lot into his short term as a professional fighter.

Since his first paid outing against Blackburn’s Graeme “Dezzi” Higginson in January 2006, Appleby has got in some serious tuition, spending time at Freddie Roach’s world famous Wildcard Gym in Hollywood as well as Glenn McCrory’s Newcastle academy.

He’s also held his own in sparring with Scotland ’s latest world champion, Alex Arthur, and more recently, former British light-welterweight king Barry Morrison.

So, has this opportunity really come too soon for the prospect?

It seems not. More...