Nearly all the boxes you’d want checked for an underdog apply to Canelo Alvarez’s Saturday night opponent at Madison Square Garden.
Michael Fielding goes by the nickname “Rocky,” which he picked up when a friend said the then-10-pound baby looked like a rock.
He qualified for this high-profile US debut by capturing the World Boxing Association’s secondary super-middleweight belt in surprising fashion by technical knockout over Tyron Zeuge in Germany this July.
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Since his win, Fielding has trained for the Alvarez fight by running through the streets of his hometown of Liverpool, England, cheered on by neighbours who’ve known him since he was a child.
On Saturday night, Fielding (27-1, 15 knockouts) hopes to keep the surprises coming against middleweight champion Alvarez (50-1-2, 34 KOs) who is seeking to become the ninth Mexican fighter to win a world title in a third weight class.
Canelo Alvarez faces Rocky Fielding in the first fight of an 11-fight, US$365 million deal with the streaming service DAZN. Photo: AFP
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“Everything about it is a big challenge and I look forward to it all,” Fielding said. “I’m fighting one of the best pound-for-pound boxers here at Madison Square Garden.
