UNBEATEN Rocky Fielding is favourite to come out on top in his super-middleweight clash with Brian Vera in his hometown tomorrow night, but the visitor is Fieldingโs toughest test to date.
On a show that also features local heroes Callum Smith and Tony Bellew in separate bouts, an upset Vera win would rain on the potential Scouse parade.
The 33-year-old holds a significant advantage in experience, having beaten Andy Lee and pushing Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr incredibly close in their first fight.
Although Fielding is taller and has a longer reach, Vera has been able to work his way inside against opponents with similar advantages, for example the aforementioned Chavez Jnr. The American also has a tendency to draw people into violent scraps and if he can do the same to Fielding, he stands a chance of earning his first victory in four fights.
Having campaigned predominantly at middleweight and without a standout knockout rate even at 160lbs, it is unlikely Vera will carry the power to seriously trouble Fielding but his high-pressure style could cause problems for the home fighter.
Fielding told Boxing News that his plan is to outbox Vera, but if the underdog can drag the 27-year-old into more of a fight past eight rounds, a distance Fielding has only met twice compared to Veraโs 16 times, he could pull off a points win โ which Betway are offering at 8-1.
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