Callum Smith to face Rocky Fielding in Liverpool showdown
Callum Smith will take on Rocky Fielding in Liverpool on the 7th of November, Eddie Hearn has announced today.
The two unbeaten super middleweights will go toe to toe for Smith’s WBC silver super middleweight title and also the vacant British super middleweight title. There is also a good chance that this may turn out to be a world title eliminator, with the winner expecting to make a surge up the world rankings.
A bout that has been the topic of huge conversation over the last year will finally take place in the Echo arena with Hearn admitting that both fighters really wanted this fight to happen. Just like the Frankie Gavin v Sam Eggington fight in Birmingham that was announced yesterday, the match making supremo has put together another huge fight that will divide a city. Both fighters hail from Merseyside, Liverpool.
“Mundo” as Smith is known by, has looked to be a boxer with a huge future in recent fights, and we are starting to see why many tip him to be the most successful of the 4 fighting Smith siblings. He dominated former George Groves foe, the tough French-man Christopher Rebrasse in his last fight to capture the vacant WBC silver super middleweight title. The 25 year old getting a wide points victory in a fight he controlled from the opening bell.
He has looked a more polished fighter in the last 18 months, and with the power in his right hand seemingly looking more destructive in every fight, he has the confidence to know he can knock out any opponent at any time.
He will be looking to increase his unbeaten record to 18-0 and will hope to catch the eye of potential opponents including fellow Brit’s James DeGale and George Groves.
Standing across the ring from him will be one of the most improved fighters in British boxing at the moment. Rocky Fielding is walking on cloud nine ever since his demolition of Bryan Vera in June. Vera has mixed it with World class operators in the past, such as Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (twice), Andy Lee and James Kirkland and had performed credibly each time. He was no match for Fielding though, as it took the Liverpool man a mere 4 and a half minutes to dispose of the American. It was painfully obvious that night that Vera was a shadow of his former self.
You can only beat what’s put in front of you however, and Fielding could not have been more impressive. He has knocked out 5 of his last 8 opponents and is looking to improve on his record of 21-0 against his city rival.
This fight has come at the best time for both men and it will be very interesting to see who comes out on top.
Will it be Callum Smith who will take the glory and become the proud pride of Merseyside before going one better than older brother Paul and winning a World title? I wouldn’t bet against it.
Or will we have a fairytale “Rocky” story and Fielding taking home the Scouse bragging rights.
One thing is for sure, with both men being so talented, a loss for either would not mean the end of the world – I expect to see both these super middleweights fighting for world honours in Liverpool or elsewhere.