By Elliot Foster
Rocky Fielding stopped Tyron Zeuge to win a version of the world title.
The 30-year-old super-middleweight upset the odds in Offenburg against the champion, stopping him inside five rounds on Saturday
Fielding, who has won English, British, Commonwealth and several International and Inter-Continental belts on the way to the upper echelons of the division, had been set for shots at titles with the WBO and the IBF before the shot at Zeuge came up.
But he will be glad that he took this opportunity and is now at the top table of the division, with just Super champion George Groves ahead of him.
The fight at the sweltering Baden Arena began with the now-former champion dictating the pace and tempo.
However, as it progressed, Fielding’s power –– built under the tutelage of Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis –– began to show and the hometown man was hurt on several occasions before being dropped in the fifth round.
Zeuge started very fast and aggressive - something he usually doesn't do - and appeared to be gassed out after a few rounds, with Fielding throwing and landing the harder punches to take over the entire contest.
Fielding, who suffered a first-round knockout loss to Callum Smith in 2015, has rebuilt his entire career with six wins in a row –– including victories over John Ryder and a first-round stoppage of David Brophy last September.
Zeuge, who has now been handed his first career defeat as a paid fighter, failed to rise from the canvas and, with the towel in the hand of his trainer Juergen Braehmer, the referee called a halt to proceedings.
That led to wild celebrations as Fielding celebrated with his team.
BoxingScene.com understands that there is a rematch clause within the deal and that both Arthur Abraham and Vincent Feigenbutz have been mentioned to Fielding by Team Sauerland as potential future foes.
