Tuesday 22 September 2015 11:14, UK
Rocky Fielding believes his punching power will prove key when he takes on Callum Smith for the vacant British supper-middleweight title.
The Liverpool rivals clash on November 7 with Fielding unbeaten on 21-0-KO12 and Smith not far behind on 17-0-KO12 - and Fielding is relishing the chance to prove his supremacy.
He told Sky Sports: "It's going to be a good fight. I believe I can win it. He does rounds well but I think the better the opponent, the more I rise to the occasion. I'm carrying a lot more punching power. I know I can trouble him. If I catch him, I can hurt him."
On growing up in the same city, Fielding added: "I was at Stockbridge when I first started boxing and then I moved to Salisbury. I won a few titles for Salisbury then as I got a bit older, I took myself down the Rotunda because the Smiths, Tony Bellew and Joe McNally were down there.
I sparred with Callum but he was 69kg and I was 81kg. I was a few years older but sparring was good. He never won no sparring, so I don't know where he's coming from there.
"I went down there and we got on. Paul and Stephen were pro then so it was me, Callum and Liam. It was mainly me and Liam - we trained through the ABAs together and did a camp together.
"I sparred with Callum but he was 69kg and I was 81kg. I was a few years older but sparring was good. He never won no sparring, so I don't know where he's coming from there. We get on but this has been a long time coming.
"We've both been doing well as a professionals, we're both Scousers and everyone in the city wants to see it so now we're getting it on."
Elsewhere on the card, Commonwealth Games gold medalist Scott Fitzgerald will make his professional debut having signed for Matchroom.
