Williamson, 34, turns into a two-weight British champion having additionally gained the belt at light-middleweight – and put a torrid run of outcomes behind him after three losses in his previous 5 fights.

Simpson, in the meantime, fell to his first skilled defeat in 19 fights and after being serenaded with “Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire” chants by a raucous crowd for many of the evening, shortly jumped on the microphone to quell potential hassle within the viewers.

The Barnsley native sells most of his tickets personally amongst his followers and paid tribute to them after the loss.

Simpson was forward on the judges’ scorecards when he was stopped within the tenth.

“I believed I used to be successful many of the rounds. It was all the time going to be a tricky struggle with Troy and I received caught with an excellent shot,” he mentioned.

“I wish to say thanks to everybody who turned out tonight and continues to be right here now.

“I’ve simply been put down and everybody continues to be right here, cheering my title. I cannot neglect that.

“We have got a rematch. I’ll get again to work, come again and proper this. Thanks for sticking with me. I shall be again.”

A rematch may very well be on the playing cards in 2026 and Williamson mentioned he welcomed “all comers” within the new yr.

“This one is for my child boy at residence,” Williamson mentioned.

“He comes as much as me each single day and says ‘and the brand new…’ I do not even have to inform him.

“I promised him I used to be bringing the belts again to him within the lodge tonight and I’m completely over the moon.”

Williamson added: “This struggle has modified my life. I’ve all the time needed my kids to have a greater upbringing than I had.

“I deserve that tonight with a efficiency of a lifetime. I’ve modified mine and my children’ lives for the higher.”