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Nick Parkinson
Rocky Fielding is aiming to prove he is not finished after losing to Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and is targeting a rematch with Callum Smith.
Fielding faces Tanzania’s Abdallah Paziwapazi (26-6-1, 23 KOs) in his first fight since being stopped in three rounds by Mexico’s Canelo, boxing’s biggest superstar, in December last year.
That defeat cost Fielding (27-2, 15 KOs), 32, his WBA secondary super-middleweight title and hopes to catapult himself back into contention for big fights with a win at Olympia, Liverpool, England, on a show streamed live on ESPN+ in the US on Friday.
“This fight is about getting me back in the mix and pushing me on for the big fight, and another crack at a world title,” Fielding told ESPN.
“I think a win would put me back in the mix and I’m in the top ten with the WBC. I just have to get a win behind me.”
If all goes to plan, Fielding wants a rematch with his fellow Liverpool boxer Smith, who holds the WBA world title and is considered the division’s No 1.
Smith (26-0, 19 KOs) dropped Fielding three times in a first round blowout four years ago, but then revived his career by winning the British title and then stopped Tyron Zeuge in Germany for the WBA belt in July 2018.
“I would definitely be interested in a rematch with Callum Smith,” Fielding said.
“He’s a world champion, we’re from the same city and he’s the man at the top at the moment. I had a quick blast out against Callum, but we have both come on since then. I’ve won a world title and then lost it to the top boxer on the planet.
“Callum is looking at fighting at Anfield in the summer, and I would love to be on that bill. If they said Callum is looking for a defence, an opponent, I would take it but I’m not in a position to call anyone out at this stage.”
Billy Joe Saunders, the WBO world super-middleweight champion, is another all-British world title fight Fielding would take.
“Billy Joe Saunders is also at this weight division and he’s a great fighter who I’ve followed for a while,” Fielding told ESPN.
“I’ve been high ranked with the WBO before and I would take that fight if it came up. He’s with MTK and so am I. It would be great to share the ring with Billy.”
Fielding expects Smith, 29, to retain his world title in a defence against London’s John Ryder in Liverpool on Nov. 23.
“He’s fighting John Ryder a week after me, and I’ve joked if John gets injured I’m willing to jump in,” Fielding said.
“I’ve beat John [April 2017] but he’s worked his way back up. Once Callum starts finding his range, he could start picking him off.”