Callum Smith and Fielding clash in British title blockbuster
Callum Smith and Rocky Fielding will clash for the vacant British Super Middleweight title in an all-Liverpool blockbuster at the Echo Arena on November 7.
The unbeaten Liverpool stars have been on a collision course following their impressive wins in June, with Fielding blasting away World rated Texan Brian Vera inside two rounds and Smith outpointing former European champion Christopher Rebrasse.
Along with the coveted Lord Lonsdale belt – vacated by Callum’s brother Paul – the winner will take huge steps on the World scene in the 168lbs division as KO star Smith (17-0) is rated at number two in the WBC where he holds the Silver title while big-hitting Fielding (21-0) is rated at six in the IBF.
“This is one of the biggest domestic fights of the year and such a fascinating fight,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Neither fighter would back down or out of this fight and now fight fans get an absolute cracker. It is 21-0 vs. 17-0, both fighters are ranked highly across all World governing bodies, there is going to be some atmosphere at a packed Echo Arena on November 7 but the big question – Who’s Fooling Who?”
Stephen Smith faces Boschiero in IBF eliminator
Stephen Smith will face Devis Boschiero in an eliminator for the IBF Super Featherweight title at the Liverpool Olympia on September 19.
‘Swifty’ is hunting a World title shot against IBF king Jose Pedraza, and will need to be at his best against the Italian, the former European champion who was edged out in a WBC World title challenge in Japan in 2011 via a controversial split decision against Takahiro Ao.
Smith made waves in the 130lbs division last year with impressive wins over Sergio Medina and Mauricio Munoz, and the 30 year old is gunning for a World title shot against Puerto Rican Pedraza, who landed the crown in June.
Scotty Cardle provides the chief support with a first defence of his British Lightweight title and faces a stiff test against tough Welshman and former British Super Featherweight champion Gary Buckland.
Unbeaten World ranked Light Welterweight Bradley Saunders making his return from a hand injury, Prizefighter champion Tom Doran, Manchester’s unbeaten Middleweight Marcus Morrison and Liverpool Lightweight Sean Dodd.
“This is by far the biggest fight of Stephen Smith’s career and victory over Boschiero will guarantee him a shot at IBF champ Pedraza next,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Boschiero is a very tough fight, he clearly won the WBC title in Japan and should have been crowned champion – he will give Stephen all he can handle. Scotty Cardle will make the first defence of his British title on the card and unbeaten World ranked Bradley Saunders returns following hand surgery earlier this year along with Prizefighter champ Tom Doran, unbeaten star Marcus Morrison and popular local Lightweight Sean ‘Masher’ Dodd. It’s a packed night of boxing and a huge night for a member of Britain’s most successful boxing family.”
Middleweight prospect Liam Desmond back in October
Unbeaten Essex middleweight Liam Desmond (5-0) received confirmation this week of his first professional title fight booked for December this year.
First, the 22-year-old participates in his second six-rounder on October 17th at Grays Civic Hall in Essex on a Carl Greaves Promotions show.
The young prospect said, “Got a title fight in December and I’m out again in October. That was always the plan, to get the rounds and experience in and then get a title before the end of the year.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure but I think it’s going to be for the new Challenger belt that has sort of replaced the old Masters titles.”
The British Boxing Board of Control banned the Masters titles earlier this year and replaced with the new British Challenger title.
Desmond raced to five fights undefeated by beating Liam Griffiths (3-37-1), Dee Mitchell (9-63-1), Kieran Gray (6-33-1) and Rob Brown (1-0) on points in his debut year as a professional.
The latest win over two-time Masters champion, Chris Jenkinson (8-20-2) proved that the Essex boxer is at a level ready to challenge for silverware.
Ever the professional with a wise head on such young shoulders, Desmond declared, “I’ll only be thinking about the October fight and I won’t be looking ahead to December at all, not until that first fight is over.”
He continued, “As an amateur, I’ve had loads of fights lined up that I knew of ahead of time so it’s something that I’m already used to. I’m back in the gym now and will probably be there most days.”
“There ain’t a lot of time to play with so it’ll be one week of rest after this fight and then straight back into a hard training camp.
“It’ll finish the year off perfectly for me. To be able to finish this year at 7-0 with a title in just my second year will be amazing.”
The mid-October fight will be Desmond’s second six-rounder following his most recent win over the heavily experienced, Chris Jenkinson on June 20th at the same venue for all of his fights – Grays Civic Hall.
Trained by Kevin Lilley and managed by Carl Greaves, he commented, “I’m quite a slow starter so I’m be more suited to the longer distance. There’s nothing confirmed on opponents yet, I’ll hopefully get someone around the same sort of standard again.
“That last fight was good for me, it was a tough fight and I done well against him. I don’t want to jump up too quickly but it’s too short a career not to test yourself in hard fights. It’s good for a confidence boost as well when you do well against an opponent that has already had success.”
Known to fans as ‘The Hammer’ from his amateur days boxing for West Ham ABC, the 6ft tall athlete from Corringham has settled into the paid ranks comfortably following a decade of amateur boxing, winning 46 of 59 fights and collecting a Haringey Box Cup gold and silver medal, as well as a Swedish Box Cup silver medal.
He now claims to begin seeing the benefits of all of the hard work as his reputation starts to climb, “I think I’ve set my name out there now and I got a lot of good feedback recently so I’ve definitely got more support now which is great and hopefully it will continue to build.”
The main event sees Southern Area champ, Adam Dingsdale (13-2-1) go up against Kevin Hooper (17-3) for the vacant English lightweight title.
