Danny Simpson keeps his Premier League medal after the ex-Leicester football star’s first Misfits Boxing fight ends in a split draw with Danny Aarons

Former footballer Danny Simpson began his Misfits Boxing career with a draw against YouTuber Danny Aarons in the main event in Dublin on Saturday night.

Although there was no official title to be won, Simpson put his Premier League winners’ medal on the line, while Aarons put his Gold YouTube Subscriber plaque on the line.

Simpson – who played for Man United, Antwerp, Sunderland, Ipswich, Blackburn, Newcastle, QPR, Leicester, Huddersfield, Bristol City and Macclesfield before retiring from football in July – had only started training for this fight five weeks ago.

Aarons also made his Misfits Boxing debut on Saturday, but the 22-year-old – despite being 15 years younger than Simpson – appeared to be slightly more experienced, having been training for almost six months.

The Essex-born streamer also received increased support from the crowd, who thoroughly enjoyed a fight where a knockout always seemed a possibility as both men went at it with enthusiasm from the start.

His opponent was 22-year-old YouTuber Danny Aarons, who was also making his Misfits debut

Both fighters swung freely during four rounds of chaotic boxing in front of a fired-up crowd

Still, both fighters managed to stay on their feet throughout the match, despite Simpson staggering briefly in the fourth and final round.

Simpson held on until the end and both men seemed very happy to hear the bell, after which they embraced each other respectfully.

But when the result was announced, Simpson was visibly disappointed and later said he thought he had ‘stolen the ball’.

Simpson also credited his opponent for contributing to a ‘f***ing great match’

One judge gave the match a score of 38-38, while the other two cards gave a score of 39-37, one in favor of Simpson and the other in favor of Aarons.

One judge gave the match a score of 39-37 in Simpson’s favor, one gave Aarons a 39-37 lead, and the other called it a draw at 38-38.

Simpson was not happy when it was announced that the fight had been declared a draw

Misfits Boxing is a product of and is managed by KSI, who performed a number on Saturday

Simpson spoke to Mail Sport ahead of Saturday’s match and opened up about the chain of events that led him from the summer break to the boxing ring.

“Everything happens for a reason,” Simpson declared. Admitting he had had a carefree summer of Euro celebrations and stag and hen parties, he confessed: “You know, you’re having fun, but are you really having fun?”

A phone call from boxing promoter Mams Taylor presented Simpson, who won the Premier League with Leicester in 2016, with a new challenge.

Simpson recalled, “Back then, I probably enjoyed the summer a little too much. But now, in the last three or four weeks, this is fun. Mom Taylor called me and said, do I think I can do this in four or five weeks? And I like challenges.”