By Elliot Foster
Rocky Fielding has two jobs this weekend –– and he’ll be hoping he can do the first before it’s time for him to start the second.
The Liverpool super-middleweight, 29, has been out of the ring since April but is determined to make up for lost time this weekend.
Fielding, who was blitzed inside a round by Callum Smith last November in a challenge for the vacant British title, returned with a hard-fought points victory over 12 rounds against former Smith foe Christopher Rebrasse at the ECHO Arena, live on Sky Sports.
And the 29-year-old will be back in the ring on Saturday at the same venue over eight rounds ahead of a potential world title eliminator in December.
“I’ve been busy, [doing] hard training,” Fielding, who is expecting the arrival of his first child on fight night, told Boxing Scene.
“I’ve been getting prepared for this weekend, but I’ve had a few problems recently, that’s why I wasn’t on the [Tony] Bellew [vs. Ilunga Makabu]. My Mum and Grandad weren’t well, my Grandad was dying of cancer, and I wasn’t able to focus.”
The bill at Goodison Park was described by Fielding, who faces Hungary’s Istvan Zeller (33-12, 10 KOs), as a “great one.”
But he does say that it’s full steam ahead now in a bid to get another victory on his record before having to be at the side of his partner Jessica, at Whiston Hospital, as their firstborn arrives into the world.
“I’ve done loads of sparring, loads of work in the gym which has probably made up for the lost time and we’ve been preparing for any fight that’s come our way.
“We were supposed to fight J’Leon Love on this bill but then that went quiet after he said that the money wasn’t enough. Then there was [Andrea] Di Luisa, the kid [George] Groves boxed but he wasn’t available and then [my promoter] Eddie [Hearn] said that there weren’t any opponents available for me to defend my [fringe WBC] title against.
“Eddie did say, though, that if we get this one out of the way there could be a big fight on the horizon before the end of the year, hopefully a world title eliminator in December.”
“My first baby is due on October 15,” Fielding continued, “[which is] the same day as fight night, so it’s going to be tough and I’ve got to see what’s what, see whether the baby comes before the fight.
“But hopefully I can get a quick knockout then get to the hospital and see the baby born, but my mind’s on the fight, I’m fully focused and for anything else I’ve got family there for help and support.
“I’ll get a job done [on] Saturday and then crack on.”
