Troy Williamson triumphed in a spectacular way over Callum Simpson to win the British, Commonwealth, and European supermiddleweight titles.
Simpson was the First Direct Bank Arena home hero on Saturday, but he struggled to deal with the smaller man’s overhand right hands for much of the fight.
In the tenth round, Simpson was repeatedly knocked down and forced to defend the assault without a mouthguard, which was how it was felt.
After the fourth knockdown, the referee abruptly stopped the game, and Simpson’s enthusiastic Williamson won.
Nobody has faith in me other than myself. Williamson stated that this is my weight division, which I displayed tonight.
“This is very deep.” Every single day in my car, I read this piece of paper to myself four or five times. Tonight, I put it in my sock.
On December 20, I signed the agreement, which read “I will become British, Commonwealth, and European champion.” Callum Simpson will win it all over.
After suffering three defeats in his previous five fights, Williamson, 34, clinches the title of two-weight champion after also claiming the belt at light-middleweight.
Simpson, however, suffered his first professional defeat in 19 fights, and he quickly jumped on the microphone to quell any potential trouble in the audience after being serenaded for most of the night by a raucous crowd with “Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire.”
After losing, the Barnsley native paid tribute to his fans by selling the majority of his tickets on his own.
When Simpson was stopped in the 10th, he was ahead on the judges’ scorecards.
“I believed I was winning the majority of the rounds. He said that Troy always would be in a difficult situation, and he let me get caught with a very good shot.
“I want to thank everyone who showed up tonight and is still here.”
Everyone is still cheering my name and saying “I’ve just been put down.” That will never be forgotten.
“We’re going to have a rematch.” I’ll return to work and make the necessary corrections. I appreciate you sticking with me. I’ll return.
In 2026, Williamson said he would welcome “all comers” in the new year, so a rematch might be in order.
Williamson said, “This one is for my home-born boy.”
He says, “and the new, I don’t even have to tell him. He comes up to me every day.”
I promised to return the belts to him in the hotel tonight, and I’m a million bucks.
Williamson continued, “This fight has completely altered my life.” I’ve always wanted my kids to grow up in a better manner than I did.
Ben Shalom named the three fights he wants to make in 2026 after it was announced that Adam Azim would headline on BBC Two on January 31 in London against Gustavo Lemos from Argentina.
Boxxer promoter Shalom wants to hold three massive match-ups before the end of the year as a new year presents new opportunities.
Shalom wants to compete with Dalton Smith and light-welterweight Azim.
The Sheffield fighter has long been linked with a fight with Azim and will fight for his first world title at the end of January.
Shalom also wants to see Chris Eubank Jr. face three-weight champion Claressa Shields, a legend from Mexico, Saul ‘Canelo ‘Alvarez, and Welsh star Lauren Price.
It was intended to be the season-ending moment for Alexander Isak.
The £125m signing from Liverpool had scored brilliantly past Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario on the bench to give Arne Slot’s side the lead.
After seeing Isak and Florian Wirtz, who had received his first Premier League assist after signing for £116m in the summer, Slot was thrilled to see them both play.
Here is a preview of Liverpool’s future with Mohamed Salah on Africa Cup of Nations duty and Cody Gakpo out injured. And it’s the first indication that both Liverpool’s record signings are connected.
However, as Micky van de Ven’s tackle left Isak lying on the floor in agony, that joy quickly turned into concern. As his team-mates began to gather around him, it became clear that Isak would not be able to continue.
“We’ll have to wait and see,” Slot said. However, it’s typically not a good thing if a player scores and then gets injured before making an effort to return to the field.”
It appears to be very unfavorable.
The issues continue to arise for Liverpool, who have seemingly turned the tables and are currently unbeaten in six. Isak and Conor Bradley are both facing suspension.
After receiving a knock on Isak, Bradley was taken off at half-time to sum up their misfortune in a nutshell. Isak made a final-minute save for Jeremie Frimpong, who was playing his first game since October.
In the 90th minute, Frimpong was replaced by Federico Chiesa, despite Slot’s insistence that the full-back would be fine and that he simply didn’t want to play for 30 seconds with 10 men. In any case, the two players Slot subbed on did not succeed in the game.
In the end, Hugo Ekitike’s goal put Liverpool in control of yet another crucial victory, but they almost blew it away to Tottenham’s nine men, who sent off Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero.
Jamie Redknapp’s opinion on Sky Sports was “Masterclass on how to manage the final 10 minutes.” Even Slot himself acknowledged that it wasn’t ideal.
“It’s unbelievable if you play against nine men, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they had the ball for eight and a half for the ninety minutes of extra time.” That’s not what you’d anticipate, and perhaps that indicates where we’re headed in this season, Slot told BBC Match of the Day.
They essentially survived because Spurs threw the kitchen sink at the visitors, with Richarlison being one of the key players.
It would not be an understatement to say that Liverpool appeared to have two fewer players on the pitch in the latter stages.
a significant improvement over the control they displayed for the most of the previous season.
When we had the ball, we didn’t keep it. They received a few free kicks, throw-ins, and corners from us after we kicked it away. “It became very chaotic and hectic,” Slot continued.
After a torrid run of nine defeats in 12, Liverpool’s season has been chaotic and hectic, but the title holders can take some satisfaction from knowing that they will end the year on the same level as Chelsea, who are 4th.
Overall, Slot claimed that the game was in good hands.
“Six games have been won, two have lost,” he declared. Although we still have two top nines, we are definitely not perfect. There are still some benefits to the game.
Positives to take no prisoners after Liverpool won three games, but this time, it was demonstrated once more that this side has far more questions than answers.
After leaving the soap, one Emmerdale actress admits she lost her identity.. Former Emmerdale actress Roxy Shahidi has spoken candidly about the emotional impact of leaving the ITV soap, admitting she struggled with her sense of identity after her character was written out.
Leyla Harding, a well-known and well-liked character from the show, first appeared on the show in 2008 before returning full-time in 2013. Leyla’s filming career came to an abrupt halt earlier this year with dramatic scenes that saw several characters plunge into icy water following a limousine accident.
Leyla’s tragic accident was initially overshadowed by later events, but viewers soon learned she had died in an ambulance before going to the hospital, bringing Roxy’s 17-year run on the soap.
Nearly a year on from leaving Emmerdale, Roxy has reflected on the transition and how it affected her personally. In an emotional Instagram post, she admitted stepping away from the role was far more challenging than she anticipated.
“I was accepting that I had to leave this lot behind this year,” I said. She wrote, “Friends and family are not just coworkers, but also.”
She continued, explaining how deeply her character had become a product of her own self-concept.
“Playing Layla was more important to me than just a job; she was a big part of who I am,” I said.
Although it was difficult to lose that sense of identity, frequent walks with Mr. Cooper [her pet cockapoo] gave me time to reflect, reflect, and remain optimistic.
Roxy has been teaching yoga online and has changed her focus from the soap to wellness. She claimed that the therapy assisted her in overcoming the emotional strain caused by the change.
Moving my body and moving through grief, loss, and uncertainty helped me move through them, she continued.
She continued, “Now YogaRox has grown into a new home, a new family, and a new sense of self,” adding that her yoga platform has helped her start a new chapter in her life.
“I know where I’m going, but I don’t know how I’ll get there.” Here’s to 2026, thanks to everyone who has supported me through a year of growth, challenge, and transformation.
Her post was quickly flooded with supportive messages, including from former Emmerdale co-stars. Laura Norton, who plays Kerry Wyatt, commented: “You’re amazing. You are very missed. Sky is the limit.”
Love messages were also exchanged by Ross Adams, Isobel Hodgins, and Claire Sweeney, other soap stars.
One fan wrote, “You are still so missed by us Emmerdale fans,” echoing the sentiment. You are amazing, but you are smashing it with your new projects right now! Xx”
Another said, “I miss seeing you shine on my screen every night, but being able to see you absolutely smashing the yoga,” and I sincerely hope the new year brings you nothing but happiness and big accomplishments.
In an explosive twist to the Beckham family drama, Brooklyn Beckham has unfollowed his parents, David and Victoria, on Instagram – and been unfollowed in return.
Instead of getting settled just weeks after it appeared that a resolution was on the cards, the family feud appears to have gotten worse. Brooklyn no longer follows his parents’ Instagram accounts, and neither does he. Brooklyn had been following his parents on Instagram up until December 20, despite the widely believed that he had been separated from them for the majority of the year.
As such, he was likely to have seen the recent olive branches they appeared to make via the app, particularly one seen on Victoria’s Instagram Stories, where she shared that her mother was still putting up a stocking for Brooklyn at Christmas. But far from encouraging her eldest son to reach out, Brooklyn may have removed them from his feed.
READ MORE: Inside the Beckham’s Christmas as Victoria ‘determined not to let Brooklyn ruin big day’READ MORE: Brooklyn Beckham panned by fans after getting classic British recipe wrong
Earlier this year, similar happened between Brooklyn and his brothers. Brooklyn and his wife, Nicola Peltz, were said to be blindsided when they found out they no longer followed either Romeo or Cruz, and sources said they had been blocked rather than choosing to unfollow the pair themselves.
According to a source, blocking or unfollowing someone on Instagram is similar to World War Three for Gen Z. It’s a depressing new low, they say.
Brooklyn and the Beckhams either blocked each other or he unfollowed his parents, as is known. Although his sister, Harper Seven, has an Instagram account now, he hasn’t started following her since.
Brooklyn has apparently cut off all communication with his family and avoided significant occasions like his father’s knighthood and 50th birthday. The family feud has continued for the majority of the year. Additionally, he made the decision to not invite any members of his family to his summer vow renewal.
However, his parents publicly apologised to him and his wife, and he was said to be open to reconciliation. Given that Brooklyn has once more chosen not to spend time with his family, such a make-up seems unlikely right now. Despite his mother’s olive branch, he appeared to be choosing to stay with Nicola’s family in Miami for Christmas.
Nicola posted a picture of her husband and brother lounging near the Palm Beach mansion’s pool on Instagram. Their relationship to the Beckhams and this are quite different from last year, when they spent the holiday with Brooklyn’s family in 2024.
Sharing a snap of the whole group, including Nicola and Brooklyn, to Instagram on Boxing Day, Victoria wrote: “Being together for the holidays makes me so happy. I love you all so much.”
In the men’s skeleton competition in Latvia, Marcus Wyatt defeated team-mate Matt Weston for World Cup gold.
Wyatt won at the same Sigulda track on Friday after Weston, a two-time world champion, had earlier pipped him to the top spot.
The 34-year-old ran one minute 41.37 seconds to finish just 0.1 seconds clear of Weston, who won silver, and just over half a second ahead of Zheng Yin, who is third from China.
At the World Cup competition in Copper Mountain, Colorado, GB’s Zoe Atkin also won halfpipe gold on Saturday.
Indra Brown, 15, of Australia, won silver, and China’s Kexin Zhang, 18, won bronze.
Atkin narrowly missed out on silver last week at the China freestyle halfpipe competition.
Wyatt’s victory moves him up to third place in the world rankings, trailing only Weston and Yin.
“I wanted to give Matt a better race than I did yesterday, and I came in with the mindset that the win would be there,” said Wyatt.
Before making its way back to Winterberg, Germany on January 2, the circuit heads into the Christmas break.