SEPTEMBER 24, 2012: Greenock super-featherweight John Simpson hoped to secure a European title bout after taking care of Welshman Dai Davies at the SECC.
The popular 29-year-old underlined the increase in his punching power since moving up a weight division when he stopped Davies after 36 seconds of the second round.
Simpson said that Davies had not been his toughest opponent, but it was an impressive performance nonetheless, and emphasised that the boxer was correct to shelve his retirement plans after suffering successive championship defeats to Stephen Smith and Lee Selby last year.
A series of highly questionable decisions earned Simpson the tag of Scotland’s unluckiest boxer, and his two losses to Smith, either side of a career-defining performance to take the British title from the well fancied Martin Lindsay in Belfast in December 2010, increased his frustration.
But Simpson was encouraged to carry on and his decision to also return to local trainer Danny Lee was an inspired one.
The reunion resulted in Simpson gaining revenge for his 2008 British title defeat by Paul Appleby when he knocked out the South Queensferry boxer in the sixth round of their contest at the Kelvin Hall to land the Celtic title in June.
Further progress had clearly been made, which was evident from the way Simpson dismantled Davies inside four minutes, landing a series of punishing body shots before completing his task with a crisp left hook.
Referee Phil Edwards didn’t even bother to complete the count when Davies was sent crashing to the canvas in front of an estimated 10,000 fight fans.
Simpson said: “He wasn’t my most difficult opponent, but he came to fight all the same and I’m pleased with the way I dominated the fight and got the job done.
“There was a tremendous atmosphere, and I lapped up hearing my name being announced to the biggest crowd I’ve ever fought in front of.
“But I’ve won bigger fights and after years at this level I need to move on because I am punching harder at the weight.
“I need bigger fights and the European title is the way forward.
“I have won the British and Commonwealth titles, but the European has always eluded me, and I am confident I can be a success at that level.”
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