Rocky Fielding

Rocky Fielding, born Michael Fielding in Liverpool on 5th August 1987, stands as one of England’s notable super middleweights whose journey took him from humble beginnings on Merseyside’s amateur scene to world championship glory. Fielding’s roots in boxing stretch back to local clubs such as Stockbridge ABC and later the Rotunda club, where he honed his craft alongside a cohort of talented compatriots, including the Smith brothers, Tony Bellew, and Joe Selkirk. As an amateur, Fielding’s career was marked by both success and resilience. He reached the national schoolboys final after just two fights, eventually clinching two Junior ABA titles. These achievements opened the door to international experiences, such as a gold medal at the English Junior National Championships in 2005 and triumph at the Junior Four Nations in Wales. His campaigns in the senior ABA finals were ultimately stymied by formidable opposition; Fielding earned silver in 2008, falling to Hungarian standout Istvan Szucs, and suffered narrow defeats by Lawrence Osueke in subsequent tournaments. Through approximately 70 amateur bouts—with about 15–18 losses—he also competed for England roughly ten times, even securing a silver medal at a multi-nations event in Jordan, before the allure of the professional ranks became irresistible.

Transitioning to the paid code in September 2010, Fielding’s professional debut unfolded at Fit City in Broughton, Salford. He faced James Tucker over six rounds, prevailing on points—a modest start that signalled his intent to work his way up from the domestic level. The early phase of his career encompassed wins across the northwest before a pivotal moment arrived with his entry into the Prizefighter Super Middleweight Series.

Fielding stepped in on short notice and seized the opportunity; he became the first boxer in the tournament’s history to win all his contests by stoppage, a feat that rapidly elevated his standing in British boxing circles. This momentum carried into title bouts at the regional level, with Fielding capturing the English super middleweight crown in 2012 by halting Carl Dilks. Subsequent defences, including a dominant performance against Wayne Reed, underscored his knack for early finishes—he often dispatched opponents with telling body shots, illustrated by a swift stoppage of Michal Nieroda in just 59 seconds.
Fielding’s upward trajectory continued with his first round victory over Mohammed Akrong in September 2013, which secured the vacant Commonwealth super middleweight title in Liverpool. He retained the belt with another clinical finish of Luke Blackledge inside the opening session, displaying the kind of punch power and poise that had become his hallmark. Alongside his knockout wins, Fielding added international experience against the likes of Charles Adamu and Noe Gonzalez Alcoba, the latter a respected campaigner stopped in five rounds in Manchester. By mid-2015, Fielding boasted an unblemished record—a mix of skill and destructiveness that seemed destined for British title contention, but boxing’s landscape can change in an instant.

That change came in November 2015 at Liverpool’s Echo Arena, where Fielding met fellow scouser Callum Smith for the vacant British super middleweight title. The bout ended abruptly in the first round; Smith dropped Fielding three times, the final knockdown precipitating a referee stoppage. It was a conclusive defeat, reminiscent of the unforgiving nature at the elite level, yet Fielding responded with determination as his career entered its second act. Rebuilding ensued through fights against tough opposition, notably a split-decision win over John Ryder in April 2017 that earned Fielding the coveted Lonsdale Belt. The fight, fought in Liverpool, saw Fielding edge a closely contested battle on two judges’ scorecards, outboxing Ryder across twelve competitive rounds. This victory reignited his pursuit of major titles, leading to a dramatic first-round knockout of Scotsman David Brophy to reclaim the Commonwealth crown later that year.

Despite setbacks, Fielding’s resilience was rewarded with an opportunity to box for world honours. On 14th July 2018, in Offenburg, Germany, Fielding challenged Tyron Zeuge for the WBA (Regular) super middleweight title. Seen as the underdog, he responded with a career-best performance. The fight turned decisively in the fifth round as Fielding’s body attack overwhelmed Zeuge, securing a stoppage and elevating him to the status of world champion. The win not only announced his arrival on the global stage but also demonstrated the value of persistence and adaptation in a career marked by both triumphs and setbacks.

The peak of Fielding’s visibility came in December 2018, when he stepped through the ropes at Madison Square Garden to face Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in a high-profile world title defence. The Mexican, making his debut at super middleweight, proved formidable. Fielding was dropped four times—three of those by Alvarez’s crushing left hooks to the body—before the referee halted the contest in round three. Though unsuccessful, the fight thrust Fielding into the broader consciousness of the sport. It provided his highest-profile bout to date, sharing the stage with a future Hall of Famer and one of boxing’s contemporary superstars.

Throughout the remainder of his active years, Fielding continued to pursue further challenges. Wins over Timo Laine, Emmanuel Danso, and Abdallah Paziwapazi kept his record solvent post-2018, before an eighth-round stoppage at the hands of Dan Azeez in December 2022 marked the latest chapter in his competitive journey. Consistently competing between super middleweight and light heavyweight, Fielding’s career thus far stands at 33 professional fights, 30 victories—18 by knockout—and three defeats, all via stoppage. His record encapsulates not just fleeting success but a determined progression through the British and world scenes, fighting in venues from leisure centres in Salford to boxing’s grandest stages in New York.

Fielding’s story remains one of resilience and adaptability. Having resided in Dubai in recent years, he continues to embody the spirit of the journeyman made champion, with formative experiences in Liverpool’s gyms providing a lasting foundation. His achievements—from amateur accolades to holding regional and world titles—reflect both the breadth of his career and the depth of his fighting resolve. The ongoing journey of Rocky Fielding speaks to a job that, while marked by definitive moments and memorable contests, still holds the promise of more chapters to be written in professional boxing’s unpredictable narrative.