This weekend’s boxing action underlines the magic of the sport. In a true ‘Rocky’ story, Briton Rocky Fielding travels to New York to face the biggest challenge of his career – a super-middleweight clash against pound-for-pound star Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Speaking at the announcement of the fight, Rocky still sounded overwhelmed by the size of the task.
“It’s the Mecca of boxing. I was there three years ago with my girlfriend, did a tour around Madison Square Garden and got ourselves tickets to the New York Knicks games, $30 dollar tickets right in the top tier. I was going to my girlfriend, imagine fighting here one day. Three years later I get a call and I’m topping the bill, do you know what I mean, it’s unbelievable!”
“It’s what we dream of, it’s what we’re in the game for, big fights, big nights, big names and I don’t shy away from anyone. This fight made sense in every department.”
This truly is a real-life Rocky story. Within the space of two fights, Rocky has jumped from domestic level in the UK, to headlining a card against one of the biggest stars of the sport, defending his title. Sure, Fielding is a massive underdog coming into this bout on Saturday, but unlike some of Canelo’s previous victims, Rocky has the tools and has the size to ask a question of the Mexican.
Sometimes the narrative of a fight overpowers the technical breakdown, the detailed analysis and the sweet science of battle. This is a prime example of this. Win, lose or draw, Brits, and Liverpudlians especially, will be looking back on this fight in years to come saying “cor, remember when our Rocky headlined against Canelo?”
The odds for this fight don’t lie. They highlight the gulf in talent between these fighters with Fielding priced up at 9/1, with Canelo at 1/20. Backing Canelo in the outrights show no value, of course, so it’s down to the more unique markets to find value.
Canelo to stop Rocky Fielding and win the fight with a body shot @ 4/7 (BetVictor)
Under 6.5 rounds @ 5/6 (BetVictor)
Canelo is looking strong at the weight for a super-middleweight. The big advantage that Rocky will have in New York is his height advantage, however, this gives the Mexican free-rein to pepper the body of Fielding as the challenger overreaches in his attempts to rock the favourite. Canelo walked through the power of ‘GGG’ in two gruelling fights; Fielding is unlikely to possesses the artillery to trouble him.
Canelo is a ferocious body puncher and with the new weight looking good on him, the power he’ll be able to create in the 168lbs division will be frightening.
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