Underdog Rocky Fielding can make Canelo work for victory

WBA super-middleweight title bout
Sky Sports Main Event, 3am Sunday

After Rocky Fielding's crushing first-round defeat to Callum Smith few would have thought that just three years later he would be defending the world title against one of the all-time greats at one of the world’s most iconic venues.

Fielding has made a career of proving his doubters wrong but when he steps into the ring with the mighty Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in the early hours of Sunday morning he faces the biggest test of his life and is bidding to cause one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.

The venue could not be more apt for a festive surprise. New York’s Madison Square Garden lies just a couple of blocks away from 34th Street, making it the perfect setting for a Fielding Christmas miracle.

However, the odds are stacked against the 31-year-old defending his WBA super middleweight title. Bookmakers go 1-14 about a Canelo win and it would seem they have more belief in Santa Claus making a ringside appearance than they do in a Fielding victory.

Canelo's incredible speed and power have escalated him to the pinnacle of two weight divisions and after victory over Gennady Golovkin three months ago, he is widely considered the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet.

Only Floyd Mayweather has inflicted defeat on the 28-year-old and after two controversial fights against Golovkin - the first of which was a draw - Canelo steps up to super middleweight in a bid to become one of a select few to hold world titles in three different weight divisions.

It is hard to see Fielding having the class to defeat the mighty Mexican, but bookmakers may have underestimated the task at hand for Canelo as he takes on a fighter who stands four inches taller and is a natural super-middleweight.

Fielding has learned a lot since his defeat to Smith in 2015. He was too open that day, he got in too tight and was knocked out after just two-and-a-half minutes. But he has since learned from his mistakes and goes into this as a much more intelligent fighter.

The Liverpudlian has a big reach advantage and, providing he doesn’t allow Canelo to get in close enough to use his ferocious body punches, he can frustrate him in the early rounds.

Canelo was lucky in many eyes not to have lost both his fights with Golovkin and, given he has not knocked out an opponent for more than two years, this one might not be over as quickly as many predict.

That said, Canelo’s class should tell as the fight goes on. He knows he is a big favourite to win and with Golovkin and Jermall Charlo watching, only a stoppage will suffice for the Mexican star.

That big finish is likely to come, but it might have to wait until the later rounds, with Fielding going down gallantly.

Recommendations
Alvarez to win in rounds seven to 12
2pts 9-4 Sky Bet
Alvarez to win in round nine
1pt 14-1 Betfred

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