Why Rocky Fielding and Callum Smith Should Face Each Other Next

Prior to them fighting on the same bill on June 26, Rocky Fielding and Callum Smith seemed to be on a collision course.

A domestic clash between the unbeaten pair of super middleweights, most likely for the British title, looked a certainty to happen.

Terence Dooley of BoxingScene.com wrote that the British Boxing Board of Control had revealed a date and venue had been “pencilled in" already.

But, despite both men posting impressive victories on the same bill in their home city of Liverpool, the bout has now been rubbed out on the calendar. Good thing it was only written in pencil then.

Before getting the better of Christopher Rebrasse, Smith spoke to Sky Sports about the possibility of facing Fielding:

"

That is a big fight in Liverpool. We're both undefeated and there's a lot of demand for that fight. If we both come through Friday then we'll sit down and talk.

I'd love to win the British title. I've seen my three brothers fight for it and it's a great belt to win. If that fight comes, I'd jump at it. It's a fight I'm 100 per cent confident I'd win.

"

For his part, Fielding had previously stated to Sky Sports his desire to take on Smith’s eldest brother, Paul. However, the building blocks for a bout with Callum were seemingly now in place instead.

Yet something seems to have changed—it appears those best-laid plans have now been ripped up.

After seeing Smith out-point Rebrasse to claim the vacant WBC Silver title, promoter Eddie Hearn hinted he was steering his fighter in another direction, telling Sky Sports: “The Rocky Fielding fight is definitely a great fight for Liverpool but Callum has his eyes on world titles.”

You cannot blame Hearn. Even if you're not part of his management team, it is hard not to get carried away with what you see from the man nicknamed Mundo.

He is 6’3”, 17-0 (12 KOs) and still only 25. There is obvious potential to move up, but right now he's sticking around at a weight limit that is overflowing with options.

Rebrasse was the toughest test of his career to date, and he dealt with the Frenchman impressively. His body punching was particularly impressive against an opponent who had previously gone the distance with George Groves, with a succession of left hooks underneath the ribs causing a knockdown in the 10th.

Footballer Wayne Rooney was among those who took to Twitter to praise Smith for his performance:

In the end the judges needed to decide the outcome, but Smith won by a landslide. Hearn confirmed that with the result the WBC would now rank Smith No. 1, per Sky Sports.

Badou Jack is the current champion, with the Las Vegas-based Swede to make the first defence of the belt against Groves in the autumn.

A shot against the winner is the obvious aim for Smith—if that were Groves, it would be perfect, making it an all-English clash with a major belt on the line.

Dave Thompson/Getty Images

Fielding may be having the same thoughts about a possible crack at the current holder of the IBF strap, compatriot James DeGale.

He picked up the vacant WBC International crown by beating Brian Vera, stopping the experienced American inside two rounds, but is ranked in the top 10 by the IBF.

Just as with Smith, Fielding displays real potential.

A former Prizefighter champion, the 27-year-old has shown signs of improvement in his recent fights.

He had already won the English and Commonwealth belts, but the way he dismantled Vera, someone who twice took Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. the distance, was his most eye-catching result to date.

The contrasting victories for Fielding and Smith should have laid the platform for a showdown between the two in September. Instead it might have paved the way for them to go in different directions, for now at least.

That would be a shame, as a clash between the Liverpudlians would give us great insight into their talent and their temperament fairly early on in their careers.

The city they both live in would embrace it right now—there would be no problems selling tickets—and the media coverage would offer further exposure to the spotlight.

Defeat would be a disappointment for whoever lost but by no means a career-shattering result. If it was a spectacle that left the fans wanting to see a repeat, it would do wonders for their reputation. They should use Groves as an example—he lost twice to Carl Froch yet gained many admirers for the way he fought.

World titles are understandably the aim for any boxer, but the fights you have forge your reputation. A rivalry, whether fuelled by bad blood or not, can become your legacy.

Hopefully, sooner rather than later, Fielding and Smith will meet in the ring.