Simpson set the pace early. Rather than giving Williamson room to attack as he had in their first fight, the Barnsley fighter pushed forward and made the rematch physical from the opening rounds.

The third produced one of Simpson’s best attacks. He hurt Williamson badly and unloaded as the former champion grabbed hold to make it through the round.

Williamson refused to disappear. He began finding success when he drove Simpson backward, and the fight developed into the type of grueling exchange that kept the Leeds crowd roaring. Neither man showed much interest in giving ground for long.

That was the story for much of the night. Simpson threw at a high rate, Williamson kept answering, and exchanges regularly continued until the two fell into a clinch. Once separated, they frequently went straight back to trading.

The danger for Simpson was obvious. Williamson had dropped him four times before stopping him in the 10th round of their December 2025 meeting at the same arena. Simpson had every reason to box cautiously in the rematch, yet much of the fight was contested in Williamson’s preferred territory.

The difference was that Simpson handled the punishment this time and maintained enough control to bank rounds. His size and physical strength helped him during the inside fighting, while his activity gave the judges plenty to score.

Williamson continued attacking through the 12th, but there would be no repeat stoppage.

Simpson left with the belts and revenge. The Leeds crowd got something else: a relentless domestic fight that rarely slowed down and kept the arena buzzing from the early exchanges through the final bell.