The two were last in each other’s company on December 20, when Williamson dropped the popular Barnsley man four times and stopped him in the 10th round to become the new British, Commonwealth and European super middleweight champion.

On Tuesday, Williamson (22-4-1, 16 KO’s) got his chance to meet his rival again. He and Simpson (18-1, 13 KO’s) spent the full day together as they began publicizing their August 8 rematch.

The event will be the first of Boxxer’s new deal with DAZN, which will broadcast the grudge match from the First Direct Arena in Leeds.

Williamson has complained long and loud about how long it has taken Simpson to finalize the return, but the 34-year-old from Darlington was calm and composed when the two came face to face.

“I don't really take much from it, to be fair. I hope he's ready. I want the best Callum Simpson for the rematch,” a clearly confident Williamson told The Ring. “I think he activated the rematch just down to pride alone. I think he's been pushed into it, if I'm honest.

“Like I said, he needs to move up [in weight], he should move up. I'm going to knock him out again. And coming back from two knockout losses, it's going to be hard.”

Beating Simpson lifted Williamson to the No. 6 position in the IBF super middleweight rankings.

At the turn of the year, he told The Ring that he was expecting the call to face Cuba’s Osleys Iglesias for the governing body’s vacant 168-pound title. Williamson was contacted about the fight but his contracted rematch with Simpson prevented him from accepting the opportunity to face The Ring’s No.2-ranked 168-pounder.

In April, that same obligation stopped him from fighting Germany’s Simon Zachenhuber on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s unanimous decision victory over Russia’s Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Williamson now has his date and is certain that big opportunities will once again present themselves should he score a repeat victory.

“Yeah, I'm highly ranked in all governing bodies. Obviously, my full focus is on Callum, but beat Callum and then I'll get my opportunity again,” he said.

“I really, really believe by the end of this year I will be a world champion.”