Rocky Fielding retires at the age of 35
Former World Champion Rocky Fielding (30-3, 18KO) has announced his retirement from boxing. The 35-year-old from Liverpool made the difficult decision after losing to Dan Azeez in December.
Rocky from Stocky released the following statement on January 12: “Today, I am announcing my retirement from the sport. 26 years in boxing, from walking into the Stocky ABC gym at age nine just to keep fit for football, to winning National titles. Thank you to the amateur clubs Stockbridge ABC, Salibury ABC and Rotunda ABC.
“Wouldn't be where I am without the man Oliver Harrison, this man believed in me more than I believed in myself. Helped me so much in and out the ring. RIP Ol.
“I dreamed of being a world champion and fighting in Madison Square Garden with Michael Buffer calling my name. That came true.
“Finished my career off with two great men, Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis, two selfless men, more than coaches, thank you's for everything you have done for me, I appreciate it a lot.
“Thank you to everyone who's been part of the team, a few to mention James Moreton, Elliot Hall, James Morehan and Paul O'Donnell nutritionists and s&C coaches and the main man John Smogger Smith have been with me from the age of nine.
“Thank you to all that I have trained alongside and sparred too many to mention. Thank you to my mum, Jess, Ralphi, Romi and Rocki, my biggest supporters, my two brothers, family and friends and all that travelled and bought tickets and supported me for many years all over, and all the sponsirs that have helped me along the way.
“Now for life after boxing.”
Born 5th August, 1987, Michael 'Rocky' Fielding started boxing in Stockbridge ABC as an amateur and reached the 2007 & 2008 ABA Light Heavyweight finals whilst boxing out of Rotunda ABC. He was unbeaten until he met Chris 'Big Mamma' Cook who knocked him out in one round.
He turned professional in 2010 at th age of 23 and after winning his first three professional bouts as a light heavyweight, Fielding was offered the chance to drop down a weight to take part in The Super Middleweight Prizefighter Series after Kenny Anderson pulled out at short notice. The last-minute replacement went on to win the tournament causing a stoppage in each of his three fights and becoming the first boxer in a Prizefighter series to do so.
On 6 October 2012, Fielding defeated Carl Dilks earning the vacant English Super Middleweight title. Rocky defended his English Super Middleweight title against Wayne Reed on the Bellew v Chelimba undercard, he dropped Reed three times in this fight and won via technical knockout in the 6th round. Next up was Polish fighter Michal Nieroda. Rocky completely dominated the fight. It ended in 59 seconds as Rocky landed several body shots sending down Nieroda for the 10 count.
On 21 September 2013, at The Liverpool Olympia, Rocky defeated Mohammed Akrong with a first round stoppage to win the vacant Commonwealth Super Middleweight Title. On 23 October 2013, Fielding defended his Commonwealth title against Luke Blackledge. Rocky knocked out Luke Blackledge with a left hook 2:32 into the 1st round, retaining his Commonwealth title.
On 7 November 2015 Fielding took on the highly rated Callum Smith at the Echo Arena in an all Liverpool affair but was defeated in the first round by a TKO.
Fielding rebuilt his career with some good wins, and on 22 April 2017 beat top contender John Ryder by a controversial split decision for the British title. Five months later Fielding defended the British title and regained the Commonwealth title, which had been lost on the scales a few years earlier, with a devastating first round knockout of the Scotsman David Brophy.
On 1 November 2017, it was announced that Fielding would fight Erik Skoglund for the WBC Silver Super Middleweight belt on the undercard of the rematch between David Haye and Tony Bellew.
Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom, Fielding's promoter, announced he would challenge Tyron Zeuge for the WBA Super Middleweight World Title on 14 June 2018 in Offenburg, Germany. Despite entering the fight as an underdog, Fielding knocked Zeuge out in five rounds to win the WBA crown.
Following that, Fielding faced two-division champion Canelo Álvarez at Madison Square Garden on 15 December 2018. Eddie Hearn negotiated a deal with Canelo's promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, for the fight – as part of a historic $365million deal between Álvarez and DAZN. The fight was the first defense of the WBA belt for Fielding, with Álvarez stepping up a weight class from middleweight to challenge Fielding for his title. Álvarez floored Fielding in the first, second and third rounds before the referee waved the contest off.
Fielding fought against 11 months later and managed to reel off three consecutiv victories to keep his career alive, but his last defeat – an eighth round stoppage to British light-heavyweight champion Dan Azeez – called time on his career.
Roll of Honour
Prizefighter Champion
English Champion
WBA International Champion
2x WBC International Champion
2x Commonwealth Champion
British Champion
WBA World Champion
