I was on Riyad Mahrez’s stag when I got boxing fight offer… I don’t want my daughters to watch, says Danny Simpson
Footballer revealed what former team-mates have wished him luck
DANNY SIMPSON was on Riyad Mahrez’s stag do when he got the offer to box – and does not want his daughters to watch.
The 2016 Premier League winner with Leicester faces YouTuber Danny Aarons on Saturday night in Dublin.
He took the fight on just over a month’s notice when KSI was forced to pull out of his main event after suffering a hand injury.
And Simpson was on a series of boozy holidays culminating in Mahrez’s stag when he got the call from Misfits Boxing chief Mams Taylor.
He told SunSport: “I had my friends stag do.
“So I was in Marbella and then Ibiza and then from Ibiza, I went to Riyad Mahrez’s stag do in Lake Como.
“And then it was pretty much after that I got a call. It was probably the right time after that holiday.”
Simpson had just left ex-Foxes team-mate Mahrez when he accepted the boxing offer – but has been wished well by the likes of Jamie Vardy.
He revealed: “I’m in the WhatsApp group, still with all the Leicester boys, called reunion, because it’s nearly ten years since we won the league.
“Everyone’s just been saying good luck like Vards, Andy King – Wes Morgan was gonna try and come but he can’t make it.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
“Ben Chilwell, all the lads have got games and stuff, so they they can’t make it.
“But everyone just said, listen, they said they wouldn’t do it so good luck and and enjoy it.”
Simpson has two daughters, Skye, 13, and Vienna, four.
His eldest Skye knows full well who his social media sensation opponent Aarons is – but he does not want either watching the fight.
Simpson said: “I don’t want them to watch.
“Watching your dad have a a fight, you know it’s not ideal when they’re used to watching me playing football forever.
“Especially Skye knows Danny Aarons and the world. But they’re supportive and just told me to do my best.”
Simpson has been training under veteran coach Pat Barrett – an ex-British champ – for the last four weeks.
And after being forced to cut out the booze and unhealthy food, the former footballer is out for more fights in the future.
Simpson said: “I’ve loved it. It’s been tough.
“The dieting, trying to lose the best part of 8/9 kilogrammes in that time has been difficult but I’ve had the right people around me.
“So I keep thinking, imagine having a 12 week camp, not already overweight, already at a decent walking around weight. I’d feel even better.
“So I’m looking forward to having a full camp in the future and and keeping fit actually while I’m not preparing for a fight.
“Because I think that’s one thing that’s given me this is, it’s put me back on the right path in terms of my diet and my food and not drinking and and eating clean.”