Boxing: Simpson keen on Oakey bout

British light-heavyweight champion Neil Simpson has thrown down a challenge to the new Commonwealth title holder Tony Oakey.

Simpson was stripped of the Commonwealth crown that he had won in January when he was beaten by Ugandan-born but Italian-based Yawe Davis in a European title fight last month.

However, the Coventry-based fighter is keen to regain the belt from Oakey, who has the British crown in his sights after stopping Zimbabwe’s Hastings Rasani last week to pick up the vacant Commonwealth title.

‘‘If he wants to get it on for both titles then I will take on Oakey any time,’’ said Simpson.

‘‘He didn’t even have any right to be fighting for the Commonwealth title in the first place and I want it back.

‘‘I was only told after the fight that because Uganda was in the Commonwealth, the title had become vacant and I was also promised I would have the first crack at winning it back.’’