Matchroom Update: Fielding Vows Smith KO, Burnett Signs

Rocky Fielding believes he has the power to KO Callum Smith when the two unbeaten Super Middleweights clash for the British title at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on November 21, live on Sky Sports.

Fielding and Smith have an even share of 24 KO’s in the paid ranks, but Rocky believes that Smith has struggled to put away two of his tougher opponents in Nikola Sjekloca and Christopher Rebrasse, and that if he connects with Smith’s chin, the first defeat ‘Mundo’ suffers in the pro’s will be via KO.

“It’s a great fight, one I am confident that I can win, and I think I will knock him out,” said Fielding. “He’s been in with Sjekloca and Rebrasse, who cannot punch, and gone the distance. They caught him with shots that if I threw them, they would hurt him. He’s a good fighter, he’s doing his thing, and I knew that they would say they have not seen anything different from me, but when we get in there they will see what I am capable of.

“He’s been putting away blown up Middleweights with his body shots. He put Rebrasse down with one but he got up, take that away and what has he got? When I come in throwing shots from different angles and with both hands, I’ve been knocking people clean out – putting them to sleep like I did with Luke Blackledge – he can whack but so can I.

“The city has wanted a massive fight for years and we’re going to deliver it.”

Fielding’s clash with Smith tops a massive night of boxing on Merseyside with the coveted Lord Lonsdale belt taking centre stage – Scotty Cardle defends his Lightweight title against local favourite Sean ‘Masher’ Dodd while Chris Jenkins and Tyrone Nurse rematch for the vacant Super Lightweight crown. In the chief support bout, Ricky Burns can take a huge step towards reclaiming his WBO Lightweight title when he faces Josh King for the Inter-Continental Lightweight title.

Limited tickets are sale now from the Echo Arena website www.echoarena.com and on 0844 8000 400 – priced £40, £60, £80, £100 and £150. Tickets for November 7 are available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets

Ryan Burnett has signed a three-year promotional deal with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing.

The talented Bantamweight holds an 11-0 record in the paid ranks after turning over in 2013 from a decorated amateur career that peaked with gold in the Olympic Youth Games amongst his multitude of domestic titles.

The Belfast man teamed up with vaunted trainer Adam Booth later in 2014 and, with Hearn and Sky Sports, the 23 year old is ready to turn his undoubted potential into titles.

“I’m very happy to be signing with Matchroom,” said Burnett. “As we said a year ago, we would build me before we looked at promoters, things with Adam have gone perfectly and to plan. Now we are looking to open the doors to big things and Eddie is the man to do that very thing.

“I have an amazing team around me and now it’s all about opening the right doors and I’m 100 per cent sure with the team around me I’ll become a World champion.”

“Ryan is the most talented fighter that I have ever worked with,” said Booth. “He is quick, strong, powerful and clever. I am very excited to be working with Eddie on Ryan’s career now.”

“I have lost count of the amount of times people have told me Ryan is one of the most exciting young fighters they have ever seen,” said Hearn. “These thoughts have come from people in the game that I believe in and respect – I am so excited to join forces with Ryan and Adam and deliver them absolutely everything they need to get to the final destination.

“With Sky Sports, Ryan now has the perfect platform to become a household name and box as frequently as he requires. His exciting style and personality will delight viewers, so sit back and enjoy this journey.”