Callum Smith – Rocky Fielding: A Closer Look at the Outcome

By Roy “Sharpshooter” Bennett

A couple of nights out from a big fight nerves are stretched taut. And it’s not necessarily the boxer who is under the most stress. Wives and girlfriends, kids who are old enough to understand what daddy does for a living, friends, and extended family are all on tenterhooks leading up to fight night. No doubt this scenario played itself out this past weekend in England when unbeaten super middleweights Callum Smith and Rocky Fielding clashed for the vacant British title at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.

Both boxers cut contrasting figures as the Master of Ceremonies introduced the officials. Smith, Liverpool, 18-0, 13 KO’s, looked cool, calm, and collected while Fielding, Warrington, 21-1, 12 KO’s, appeared tense and had the look of a man who was letting the size of the occasion get to him. It was noticeable during the referee’s instructions that Fielding took a deep breath as if to reassure himself that he was ready for the biggest night of his professional boxing life.

At the first bell the big fight nerves were already in evidence. Fielding stood too straight up and found himself overreacting to Smith’s probing jabs and feints. Mature beyond his years Smith quickly sensed he should take advantage of the situation and shot a big right hand to the jaw over his Merseyside rival’s lazy jab to badly stun him. A follow up left hook to the body sent Fielding sprawling to the canvas onto the seat of his trunks.

Rocky popped up at 7 and was forced to cover up as Smith backed him into the ropes with a barrage of hooks and body shots. Fielding weathered the storm from behind a high guard as Smith poured on the pressure. Realizing he was at serious risk of being overwhelmed Fielding came blasting back with some heavy artillery of his own. The Warrington man caught Smith with a good right hand to halt his advance and then attempted to drive Smith back with a sustained attack to briefly swing the momentum of the action in his favor, however, in doing so Smith caught him a with a big left hook counter to the side of the head to send him down for a second time.

Fielding was badly hurt but managed to struggle up at 8 on unsteady legs. Referee Phil Edwards took a close look at him before letting the action continue. A hard brace of shots against the ropes including short right hand to the chin put Fielding down for a third time to end matters for good at 2 minutes 45 seconds of round one. Earlier this year I wrote a column on the Top 5 British boxing prospects. Callum Smith appeared on that list in the No.3 spot. He has impressed me every time I’ve seen him perform. Technically very sound, and a good shot picker with power in both hands, I’d like to see him continue to develop his craft by defending the British title once before attempting to bag European level honors.

For me talk of world titles is a bit premature. I feel he would be better served fighting more seasoned opponents with styles that will force him to make improvements in his overall game. But that’s not the way things work nowadays and I’m unlikely to get my wish for a more steady development path to a world title shot.

And what of the top fighters in the division who are in Smith’s way? RSR super middleweight champion Andre Ward has moved north to seek greener pastures at light heavyweight. The top four RSR ranked contenders – James DeGale, Badou Jack, Andre Dirrell, and Arthur Abraham – all present varying levels of difficulty for Smith at this point. As talented and impressive as he undoubtedly is I don’t think he’s ready yet.

A fight with RSR ranked No. 13 contender Derek “The Black Lion” Edwards 27-5-1, 14 KO’s, would be a very good test for Smith. Edwards has mixed in very good company losing to Adonis Stevenson, Matt Korobov, Andre Dirrell, and Mexican standout Gilberto Ramirez, and holds a one round knockout win over RSR No.2 ranked Badou Jack.

Alternatively an all British showdown with George Groves might be the preferred route to a title opportunity. I’m banging the drums for either fight. If Smith can come through a Edwards or Groves bout with flying colours a world title shot should be the next logical step late in 2016.

With his emphatic victory on Saturday night Callum Smith has firmly thrown his hat into the mix at super middleweight. I can’t wait to see what happens. Watch this space.

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