Rocky Fielding and Callum Smith Can Both Prosper No Matter What the Outcome

The late Mickey Duff once said, per sports-quotes.com, “A lot of boxing promoters couldn't match the cheeks of their buttocks.” 

The straight-talking Duff was a promoter and manager himself, so he knew the issues that came with matchmaking in the fight game. Boxing politics can often put up roadblocks to potential bouts, and the bottom line is everything tends to come down to money.

Yet, sometimes the men who make the deals can hit the nail right on the head. Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn has, it seems, done just that in announcing that Callum Smith will face Rocky Fielding later this year.

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As a promoter, you have try to do right by everybody. It is the sports equivalent of plate spinning, a circus act where you have to keep things moving or else the whole situation will collapse around you.

Fighters want the right opponent for the right money. The paying public, meanwhile, need to be convinced that the bout is worth them parting with their hard-earned cash. Then, there's the matter of picking a venue for it all to take place, not to mention the added issue of television coverage.

For instance, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has come in for recent criticism after announcing Andre Berto will be his 49th—and potentially final—opponent.

Steve Bunce of ESPN wrote about the fight, “Berto is not a bad fighter, he is just not as good as most of the men that Mayweather has beaten.”

Erik Morales—a boxer who rarely backed down from a challenge—told ESPN Deportes (h/t Edward Chaykovsky of BoxingScene.com), “I don't think it's a very competitive bout. It's two fighters who, without being racist, almost nobody wants to see. Perhaps the fight is interesting for them, but for us not.” 

Mayweather, of course, is in a position of complete control.

He can pick who, as well as where and when, he fights next. That is the benefit of being the best in the business. Whatever your opinion of him—and he appears to be the boxing equivalent of Marmite, in that you either love or hate him—Money talks. The boxing world, meanwhile, has to just sit there and listen.

But, while the American doesn’t have to take risks at this stage of his career, others understand that taking a chance is the best way to prosper.

Hearn has taken a gamble in agreeing to put two of Britain’s rising stars in the super middleweight division in the ring together on November 7.

The British title will be on the line when the pair meet at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England. It is home turf for both men, so they will not lack for support inside the venue.

In confirming the bout, Hearn said in the Matchroom Boxing press release:

"

This is one of the biggest domestic fights of the year and such a fascinating fight. 

Neither fighter would back down or out of this fight and now fight fans get an absolute cracker. 

It is 21-0 vs. 17-0, both fighters are ranked highly across all World governing bodies, there is going to be some atmosphere at a packed Echo Arena on November 7 but the big question – Who’s Fooling Who?

"

The announcement immediately pricked the interest of the boxing community on social media platforms. Even current fighters Enzo Maccarinelli and Amir Khan reacted to the news on Twitter:

Smith and Fielding are former gym-mates from the Rotunda club in Liverpool. They didn’t need to fight each other at this stage, with both having already built up impressive records in the paid ranks.

However, the level of interest, plus the lure of a Lonsdale belt and the added bonus of a big payday, have led to a contract being signed.

Smith—the youngest of four fighting brothers—was last seen beating the durable Christopher Rebrasse on points in June. He is tall (6'3") and talented, and he is learning his trade in trainer Joe Gallagher's gym.

Fielding, meanwhile, is a rough diamond who is proving to be a quick learner. While Smith went the distance in the summer, Rocky flattened the experienced Brian Vera inside two rounds on the same card.

Both Liverpudlians have their eyes trained on a world-title shot in 2016.

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That could mean they end up facing either James DeGale and George Groves, two domestic rivals who also went up against each other relatively early in their pro careers.

While the rivalry between Fielding and Smith is nowhere near as heated, there are some similarities to be drawn.

DeGale and Groves were also undefeated when they met in May 2011. They, too, were local rivals, both hailing from London, who had come across each other in their amateur days.

They had a combined total of 24 pro fights, yet a showdown between two such relatively inexperienced boxers was still big news in Britain. That was purely down to their relationship, or lack of one. It was clear the contempt for each other was not a tactic to sell tickets—they simply don't like each other.

Since winning on points at the O2 Arena in the English capital, Groves has twice failed to take the IBF and WBA belts from Carl Froch.

He will hope to make it third time lucky in his quest to become a world champion when he faces WBC title-holder Badou Jack on September 12, on the undercard to Mayweather against Berto.

DeGale, meanwhile, already has his hands on a major strap. Chunky defeated Andre Dirrell in May to become the new IBF champion.

He has not lost since Groves got the better of him on the scorecards over four years ago, but that defeat still rankles with him. He told Sky Sports, "Our rivalry goes back, it's not a made-up rivalry. It's serious—we don't like each other, so I think it's natural fight to be made and I look forward to it."

The lesson for Fielding and Smith is that, no matter what the result when they go toe-to-toe in their own back yard, it will not define the path their respective careers will take.

For now, though, they deserve praise for making this mouthwatering domestic duel a reality. Hats off to Hearn, too. He has given the British public a fight they clearly want to see, judging by Twitter:

Even Hearn himself seems excited:

Considering the early interest, he won’t now have to work overly hard promoting the event.

Someone’s "0" has to go in November. But regardless of the outcome, both Fielding and Smith can go on to bigger and better things.