Brit champion boxer Callum Simpson’s sister Lily Rae, 19, dies in Zante car crash as he pays heartbreaking tribute

CHAMPION Brit boxer Callum Simpson’s sister has tragically died in a horror car crash in Greece.

Lily Rae Simpson, 19, had gone to Zante for a sunny vacation when she met with the fatal accident.

Instagram @callumsimp

Instagram @callumsimp

The teen was rushed to Athens in an air ambulance where she was given urgent medical treatment – but died on August 21 of the injuries.

A heartbroken Callum shared the tragic news on social media yesterday.

Posting a picture of him posing with his little sister, the boxer wrote: “Absolutely heartbroken to say that my beautiful little sister, Lily-Rae, was in a road accident while on holiday in Zante.

“She was flown to Athens and spent 10 days in ICU, but despite the best efforts of the medical teams, Lily sadly passed away.”

Callum, a British, Commonwealth and WBA Continental Champion from Barnsley, said he would “continue to make her sister proud”.

He added: “Even though she used to ring me to complain about being referred to as ‘Callum Simpson’s sister’, I know she loved the hype.

” I will continue to make her proud. Love you always.”

Callum Simpson's rise as a boxer

EXCLUSIVE By Wally Downes Jr , Boxing Reporter

Callum Simpson used to fit Kell Brook’s shoes but now he wants to fill his boots.

Barnsley’s 27-year-old super-middleweight put himself through college with a part-time job in a menswear shop where Sheffield’s former welterweight world champ would pop in for free gear.

Simpson would have to race up and down stairs to cater for his celebrated fellow Yorkshireman.

But now the tables have turned and Brook will drive 12 miles up the M1 to support Simpson, in his bid to dethrone dangerous British and Commonwealth champ Zak Chelli.

Simpson told SunSport: “Between the ages of 16-18 I worked part-time, while I was still in college, in a clothes shop that sponsored Kell Brook.

“When Kell would come in I would have to wait for him to pick all the shoes he wanted, run upstairs to find them all in his size, then loosen all the laces so he could slide them on, like Cinderella.

Simpson would have to race up and down stairs to cater for his celebrated fellow Yorkshireman.

But now the tables have turned and Brook will drive 12 miles up the M1 to support Simpson, in his bid to dethrone dangerous British and Commonwealth champ Zak Chelli.

Ahead of Saturday’s shootout at Simpson’s beloved Barnley’s Oakwell stadium, he told SunSport: “Between the ages of 16-18 I worked part-time, while I was still in college, in a clothes shop that sponsored Kell Brook.

“We would get free tickets for his fights when they were at the Sheffield arena and my mates would always tell me ‘that’ll be you one day’.

“And now I am signed with Boxxer and Sky Sports and Kell has messaged me to say he will come over and watch.

“So going from loosening his shoes to having him at ringside will be a nice and surreal moment. But it’s all come from hard work.”

Simpson continued to subsidise his training and fighting with work in fashion right up until last year when he broke out of the small-hall circuit.

He’s timed his 14-0 form perfectly as the new Saudi money flooding into the sport is giving some of these brave men the fortunes they deserve.

But boxing fans should remember the blood, sweat, tears and honest toil they all go through to get anywhere near the top.

“This stuff doesn’t happen overnight,” the down-to-earth lad said.

“When I had my first area title fight in 2022, my first 10-rounder, I was training twice a day and working 45hr weeks, Saturdays and Sundays.

“For that fight, I weighed in at Friday lunchtime and rushed into work to make up the time, then boxed on Saturday and worked all day Sunday.

“My second fight was a four-rounder in 2019, on a Josh Warrington undercard at Leeds arena and I worked the next day.

“This stuff doesn’t happen overnight,” the down-to-earth lad said.

“When I had my first area title fight in 2022, my first 10-rounder, I was training twice-a-day and working 45hr weeks, Saturdays and Sundays.

“For that fight I weighed-in at Friday lunchtime and rushed into work to make up the time, then boxed on Saturday and worked all day Sunday.

“My second fight was a four-rounder in 2019, on a Josh Warrington undercard at Leeds arena and I worked the next day.