ROCKY RETURNS TO THE OLYMPIA

Rocky Fielding is looking to put on a showpiece performance when he steps into the ring at the Liverpool Olympia on Saturday against Portsmouth's Paul Morby.

Fielding's birth name is Michael and the obvious link with him being called Rocky, like the iconic Sylvester Stallone character in the hit film, isn't actually the case.

"It's nothing to do with the films actually," he explains. "When I was born I was 10lbs, so I was like a little rock,

"My dad called me The Rock and as the years have gone on I’ve played football before I started boxing and all my mates would call me Rocky ever since. It's a good name to have as a boxer, but my style is a bit different to 'The Rocky'."

Fielding has fond memories of the Olympia, it was the venue where he beat three men in the one night Prizefighter tournament to win the trophy.

It was also the venue of his second professional fight, where he beat Lee Duncan in November last year and the Liverpool boxer has promised another victory there.

"The Olympia is a bit of a good luck omen for me," he says. "As well as winning Prizefighter I had my second pro fight there as well,

"I'm proud to fight at that venue, it's only five minutes from where I live, so I always get great great support and the whole city gets behind me,

"Hopefully, there will be a bit of deja vu to what happened at the Prizefighter, but instead of three knockouts there will only be one."

'Rocky from Stocky' has only had a few weeks' notice for Morby, but feels his participation with Prizefighter has helped him prepare for this fight at short notice.

"Taking part in Prizefighter has been a good help with this fight," the 24-year-old continued. "You have three fights in one night and you are fighting different opponents with different styles,

"I'm ready to fight anyone, a southpaw or orthodox but I'm ready to fight,

"I originally hadn't been training for a southpaw, however in the last two weeks, we have brought in a number of southpaw boxers, after it was announced I will be fighting Paul. Everything has been spot on with sparring."

 

 

Fielding is well aware of what his opponent on Saturday is capable of and has watched Morby in action.

"I watched him box (Beijing Olympian) Tony Jeffries about two weeks ago," he said. "I've got it recorded on Sky, so after training I sit down for a couple of hours and just go over things from that fight.

"He's a good southpaw, he knows the game, against Jeffries, Paul made him look ordinary, but I'm not going to let him make me look ordinary.

"I'm going to put a show on in my hometown and show him the difference, but he is a tough lad, and his last three fights have been 10 rounds so he knows what he's doing but he hasn't been in there with anyone like me yet."

Fielding features on the undercard of Stephen Smith's British and Commonwealth Featherweight title defence against Lee Selby, live on Sky Sports 1HD.

Tickets are still on sale from the Olympia box office on 0151 6236633.

DeGALE ADDED TO ECHO ARENA WORLD TITLE CARD

James DeGale's challenge for the European super-middleweight title will act as chief support to the explosive world title showdown between city favourite Tony Bellew and Nathan Cleverly at the Liverpool Echo Arena.

The former British champion gets straight back into title contention against the reigning champion Piotr Wilczewski from Roztocznik in Poland on Saturday, October 15th.

Promoter Frank Warren confirmed the addition today at a press conference in London today.

DeGale, who won the British title in Liverpool when he beat Scouse star Paul Smith, said: "I'm looking forward to returning to Liverpool to fight for the European title in what will be a good fight for the fans.

"I had a great win there when I beat Paul Smith in December to claim the British title and although he was the local favourite then, I hope the fans will come out and support me.

"Piotr is a good tough champion and he looks like a right handful, this is really tough fight for me and I'm expecting him to bring the best out in me on the night.

"It's fantastic that I'm challenging for the European title in my first fight back and I'm going to take the title."

An action packed undercard features Liverpool's former British champion Smith along with unbeaten Liverpool prospects Joe Selkirk, Rocky Fielding and Liam Smith, plus Ellesmere Port's unbeaten talent Paul Butler.

 

A further title fight on the card sees 2008 Olympian and unbeaten pro Billy Joe Saunders challenge for the first title of his career when he takes on Southern Area middleweight champion Gary Bouldon while the card also contains Oldham prospet Ronnie Heffron, Welsh stars Craig Evans and Tobias Webb, along with the highly anticipated professional debut of Hyde cruiserweight Danny "Boom Boom" Benson.

 

Tickets are on sale now from the arena box office.

SMITH NOT BELLEW HEADLINES OLYMPIA SHOW

Featherweight hot-shot Stephen Smith will kick off the new boxing season by headlining the Liverpool Olympia show on Saturday, 17th September - after replacing Tony Bellew as the main event.

 

Smith, one of Britain's fast rising stars and heavily tipped as a future Scouse world champion, makes the first defence of the British title and will also put his Commonwealth belt on the line against Welshman Lee Selby, live on Sky Sports.

 

However, the bill was originally due to be headlined by city favourite 'Bomber' Bellew, defending his British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight straps against Sheffield's Paul David. That match-up has been ditched, which raises questions as to whether Bellew will instead challenge Nathan Cleverly for the world title.

Both Bellew and promoter Frank Warren are yet to release statements today, but expect more news on that front inside the next week.

 

Meanwhile, 26-year-old Smith had to dig deep in order to beat John Simpson in their rematch in April to claim the prestigious Lonsdale belt and become the first Merseysider to hold the title since Gary Thornhill over a decade ago.

His next opponent, Selby, from Barry, won the Celtic title last month with a sixth round stoppage of Scotsman James Ancliff, but steps up a number of levels against the former Rotunda club England star.

"I can't wait to get back in the ring as British and Commonwealth champion and defend my titles," said Smith today.

 

 

He added, "I've got so many ambitions in my career; one is to win the Lonsdale belt outright as I would love to own one of my own; I also want the European title to complete the set and I want the ultimate which is a world title.

"First I've got to deal with Selby who is a tough first defence and I was really impressed with his win over Ancliff, but he stepping up to a new league against me and he'll know it on the night."

Stephen's older brother Paul, the former British super-middleweight champion, continues his comeback on the card in an eight rounder against Bristol's Danny Butler; while the third of the four brothers, Liam, will feature in six-round contest as he aims to put a shaky patch behind him and get his aspirations back on track.

The hugely popular super-middleweight Rocky Fielding, the record-breaking Prizefighter winner, is back in action as well as light-middleweight talent Joe Selkirk, who stopped being Liverpool's best kept secret with his first round destruction of game Terry Carruthers in his last fight.

Former amateur star Paul Butler from Ellesmere Port, currently unbeaten in three fights, features in a four-round super-flyweight contest comleting a strong Scouse theme at the West Derby Road venue.

Tickets, priced at £30, £40 and £60 are available from the Liverpool Olympia Box Office on 0151 263 6633, online at www.liverpoololympia.com or www.frankwarren.tv

MATHEWS-JENNINGS FIGHT REPORT - BY ELLIOT FOSTER JNR

Derry Mathews lands a right to the body of Stephen Jennings

By Elliot Foster Jnr at Greenbank Leisure Centre

Derry Mathews is the new British Masters lightweight champion and firmly on track for a European title fight next after halting Merseyside rival Stephen Jennings in six rounds on Saturday night.
 However, enormous credit must also go to Jennings, who enhanced his career with his brave challenge.The former Junior ABA champion was victorious in defeat after going into such a high-profile fight so early in his professional career - this was just his seventh paid contest - but he found himself in at the deep end against the resurgent former world champion.
 The city was divided going into the contect, although fans from both corners, while being vocal and loyal, where extremely well behaved at Greenbank Leisure Centre.  As the two walked from their dressing rooms the small hall atmosphere was electric.
 Both boxers weighed in at 9st 8 1/2 lbs, half-a-pound under the 9st 9lb lightweight limit.
  In round one it was a punch-trading round, with both boxers measuring one another up and hitting meaningful punches as warning shots as what was to come in the latter rounds of the fight. Jenko swiped Derry with a left hook in the opening seconds, which set the tempo for the whole night.
 In round two, Mathews started to take control, but Jennings put up a good fight and matched Derry stride for stride and blow for blow.
 The third was a slightly quieter round than the previous two, with Mathews looking to be too much for Jennings; fighting a strong fight with good combinations to the face and body. He looked the more relaxed of the two Liverpool lads and that was showing in the ring.
 At the start of round four, Jennings was looking tired but still had the energy to give Derry a sweet right to the body, because of fatigue he was grappling for a time and was knocked to the canves from a clubbing right hook. Referee Steve Gray started the 10 count right on the bell to end the round. When he got to eight the brave Kirkby fighter vowed to fight on. Another big round for Derry, who had a point deducted for a punch to the back of Jenko's head.
  In round five, brave Jennings amazingly battled back and had Mathews on the ropes and gave him a one-two combination to the face. But the Salford-trained Scouser came back and knocked Jennings down for the eight-second count once more. Again Jennings vowed to fight on. Derry was then warned about the blows to the back of Jenko's head once more.
 Going into round six, Jennings, who had been taking strong instructions from a concerned Tony Quigley Snr in between the rounds, was simply looking to hang on. It was brave move and while he started well once more he still looked shaken. The man from Kirkby then should have had a point deducted himself for a blow to the back of Derry's head, but referee Gray soon had more pressing concerns as Mathews finished the fight by landing a drilling combo to the face. With ten seconds remaining, the refree waved the fight off just as the towel came flying in from the Jennings corner.

WORLD TITLE SHOT FOR DODSON IN AFRICA!

EXCLUSIVE...

Tony Dodson faces the biggest challenge of his boxing career at the end of summer, when he will square off against an African fighting legend challenging for a version of the world light-heavyweight title.
The Gatson 'Warrior' has agreed to travel to Namibia on September 30th and face non other than former two-time world champion Harry Simon, aka The Teriminator, whose unblemished 26-0 record features 19 knockouts.
A former Olympian, Simon, held the WBO world title at both light-middle and middlweight during his heyday, with wins over the likes of Winky Wright, Kevin Lueshing, Rodney Jones and Armand Krajnc to his credit.
 However, now 38, the veteran has been largely inactive for the best part of a decade after being jailed for serious driving offences and subsequently stripped of his world title in 2002. He returned in 2007 with a rudamentary points win, then was inactive again until last year when he clocked up two stoppages - all of which where on home soil.
 Dodson will also have to travel to the African contient, but is taking inspiration from another former Scouse champion, Peter Culshhaw, who made a similar journey back in 2000 to face Baby Jake Matlala in South Africa, and against the odds claimed the similarly fringe WBU belt which ignited his pro career.
 "This is my big chance," Dodson told Mersey Gloves today. "It's a big ask to ace a champion as successful as Harry Simon and in his own backyard as well, but I love a challenge and I believe I can repeat what Culshaw did to Baby Jake and make my name with this win.
 "I will be going to Africa to bring home the belt and stake my claim for a bigger world title match-up fight in the future. This is a fight I simply could not turn down."
 Dodson will undoubtedly face a vociferous welcome when he touches down in Kenya, where Simon is based and still has a huge following. Yet he is still anxious to get out there early and settle into his new surroundings.
 He adds: "The fight has been agreed verbally, I am just waiting for the contract now.
 "It will be a life changing experience for me, but I've told the promoters I want to get out there early and acclimatise. I am 100% up for the challenge and I will have a gameplan in place for Harry Simon. Don't get me wrong, the man is a legend, and I will give him all the respect he deserves. I am grateful for this chance.
 "But I will be coming home with that belt and as the first man to ever defeat one of the greats. It's the opportunity of a lifetime."

ROCKY HAPPY TO BE HOME

Rocky Fielding says he can't wait to fight in front of his home fans at the Echo Arena on July 16th.
  The 23-year-old Prizefighter winner will have his first outing for new promoter Frank Warren when he features on the blockbuster bill which is adorned with a quartet of massive domestic dust ups, and going out live on Sky Sports 1.
  Ricky Burns' WBO world super-featherweight title defence against Nicky Cook headlines, but fight fans will also get to see John Murray's fight with Kevin Mitchell, Frankie Gavin's latest title defence against Curtis Woodhouse and the mouth-watering rematch between Liverpool's own light heavyweight champion Tony Bellew and Ovill McKenzie.
 So far 2011 has been a great year for former amateur star Fielding, after he won the Prizefighter super-middleweight tournament at Liverpool Olympia with a succession of stoppages.
  Now he takes on Jamie Ambler over six rounds as he looks to make waves in one of British boxing's hottest divisions.
  Fielding will be cheered on by a huge crowd on home turf, following a real surge at the box office this week after the addition of Mitchell's big clash with Murray resulted in the show almost being a sell out.
  "I can't wait for July 16th in my home city. It was going to be a big show anyway, but now it's absolutely massive," said Fielding.
  "Boxing is always popular in Liverpool, and over the last few years with the likes of Paul Smith, Stephen Smith and Tony Bellew it's been getting bigger and bigger.
  "It's a great opportunity to build on the success I had in Prizefighter. I've been thinking about what it will mean to fight in front of all those people, and it makes hairs stand up on the back of my neck.
  "To lift first prize was awesome, but now I want some big titles. The British super-middleweight title has been held by some great names down the years, and I'd love to follow in their footsteps."

TENERIFE CAMP FOR BELLEW

Tony Bellew has taken a leaf out of former Scouse world champion Peter Culshaw's book and jetted off from some sun, sea...and sparring.
 The Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion has gone to Tenerife ahead of his big rematch with Ovill McKenzie on July 16th for a little altitude and warm weather training.
The light heavyweight rematch takes place at the Echo Arena, in what should be a blockbuster show now that Kevin Mitchell's grudge fight with John Murray has just been added.

But Bellew, whose fight with McKenzie also sees the vacant British title up for grabs, won't be having any late nights. Instead he's enjoying a spartan-style training camp to ensure he's in the best shape of his career.
In what is a predictable step following his appointment of former Culshaw conditioner and advisor Mark Quinn to his corner team, Bellew's new camp is filled with altitude runs on punishing Mount Teide, and strengthening his legs on the island's sandy beaches.
"I've not had many away camps since I turned pro," said Bellew. "I just needed to get away from all the distractions in Liverpool and fully focus on this fight with McKenzie. He's a dangerous opponent, and he proved that in our first fight when he had me on the floor.
"Out here, all I have been doing is studying tapes of McKenzie and preparing for him pretty much 24-seven. Even when I go to sleep, I'm dreaming about how I am going to beat him.
"It's probably one of the toughest camps I have had because I'm up early every morning and then working hard throughout the day.
"Everyone seems to be coming out for their summer holiday at the moment, but when they are out partying, I'm tucked up in bed. But it will all be worth it when I get my hands on that British title to add to my Commonwealth belts. And all my fans will definitely see the difference when it comes to fight night next weekend."
- Tickets, priced at £50, £80 and £100, are available on 0844 8000 400 or www.echoarena.com