South Yorkshire boxing's blockbuster 50-day spell
A huge period of boxing is coming up in South Yorkshire over the next couple of months
Callum Simpson spearheads a high-octane 50-day period for South Yorkshire fighters.
Local fighters, including two former and one serving world champion, feature in no fewer than seven shows through August and September.
And after that seven-week stretch comes the most significant contest of them all — Dalton Smith's defence of his WBC World Super Lightweight title at Sheffield Arena.
Here are the future highlights, bookended by Barnsley's Simpson and Sheffield's Smith.
August 8: Simpson kicks off the bonanza of boxing with his rematch against Troy Williamson, at Leeds' First Direct Arena.
Simpson, 29, was devastated to lose his British, Commonwealth and European Super Middleweight belts to the Darlington 34-year-old in December.
It was his first loss in 19 professional fights and he means to restore his profile in the second bout.
August 22: Ellie Hellewell seeks to win the vacant Commonwealth Featherweight title by beating Tiah Mai Ayton at the iconic York Hall, Bethnal Green.
The Rotherham/Doncaster-based southpaw, 26, lost her unbeaten record to Tysie Gallagher in a British and Commonwealth Super Bantamweight title fight at Sheffield's Park Community Arena last September.
She aims to prove she belongs at this high level.
August 29: Terri Harper, a former three-division world champion chasing a fourth-division title, faces Miranda Reyes in Birmingham as she tries to work her way back into global contention at Super Lightweight.
Harper begins her assault on a world title at that weight, happy to embrace the challenge while saying: “It’s just creating that little bit more history for myself. I feel like I’m at that point in my career now where I’ve experienced everything. To go out and challenge to be a world champion in four weight divisions. Not many people can say they’ve done that." Watch this space.
September 5: Rotherham's Magna Centre hosts a bumper 12-bout show, including ex-world champion Nicola Hopewell, on her 35th birthday.
The Sheffield-trained athlete is back in the ring for the first time since losing to Shannon Ryan in May.
The Jamie Sheldon bill is headlined by Cusworth Super Welterweight Connan Murray, who takes on Wakefield's Dom Hunt for the Central Area title.
Ryan Rhodes-managed Rianna Doforo will look to win the Central Area belt at Super Featherweight.
Sheffield's Samantha Lightfoot has a tune-up before her Central Arena tussle with Billy Jarmolinski, expected later this year.
Barnsley middleweight Cory Sagar will be looking for his seventh straight professional win.
September 18: The Metrodome in Barnsley hosts an event made all the more unusual by the fact two Rotherham brothers are on the bill - Redwan and Burhan Nishat, from the town's Millennium gym.
September 19: Ridgeway's Mikey Harrison takes on an opponent with a winning record for the first time in Hull. He faces Lancashire Light Heavyweight Alex Carter.
North Anston's Dylan Trevor will also feature on the Dennis Hobson show, along with Sheffield's Alfie Thomas.
September 26: Bree Wright ends a barren spell when she returns to the ring at The Old Forge, Sheffield, in a six-round contest.
Watch out also for Ricky Reeves - back after three and a half years - and a rejuvenated Kerry Orton, on the Gary Longmore/Rob Riley promotion.
Something of a break in the action then ensues, unless a local promoter fills it. Then comes the big one.
October 24: Handsworth's reigning WBC kingpin defends his belt for the first time, against one-time division ruler Alberto Puello.
The Steel City man is returning from an elbow injury and is determined to keep hold of the famous green and gold belt while chalking up his 20th career win.
It will be interesting to see who is on the undercard, locals fans will hope it will include Junaid Bostan, Joe Hayden, Ed Hardy and Chris Mulunda.