English Champ Rocky Fielding Gets Commonwealth Title Shot

Rocky Fielding will face Mohammed Akrong for the vacant Commonwealth super middleweight title at the sold-out Liverpool Olympia on September 21, live on Sky Sports.

Fielding was due to defend his English title against fellow Scouser Tony Dodson but after the former British champion pulled out, Fielding now gets the chance to fight the Ghanaian for the title vacated by George Groves ahead of his World title clash with Carl Froch.

Akrong has 19 wins with 15 inside the distance and faced former World title challenger Marco Antonio Rubio in 2011, with Fielding thrilled to be getting a shot at the title on home soil.

“I’m delighted to be fighting for the Commonwealth title,” said Fielding. “I want to move through the titles and test myself against every possible fighter, so facing Akrong for the Commonwealth is a great chance.

“The fight with Dodson would’ve been a cracker, but that may still come round another day. I’ll be fully focused on beating Akrong in style and with the Commonwealth title around my waist, there’s some big fights out there later in the year.”

Fielding’s clash with Akrong is the second Commonwealth title fight on the card, with a lightweight cracker between champion Derry Mathews and Curtis Woodhouse. Liam Smith and Erick Ochieng clash for the vacant British light middleweight title, Callum Smith will use the show to press his claims for a first title shot after notching four first round wins in a row, while Robbie Davies Jr. returns to the scene of his debut triumph in June.