Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Brophy bullish about British title chances Caldercruix fighter confident of upsetting odds again
David Brophy is brimming with confidence as he bids to claim the British supermiddleweight crown.
The Caldercruix champion will put his Commonwealth super middleweight title on the line as he bids to defeat Rocky Fielding in a packed Liverpool Echo Arena and bring the British gold back to Monklands.
Brophy goes in as underdog with bookmakers as he prepares for his former sparring partner on Saturday night — but he is positive having enjoyed his fight camp with Airdriebased coach Billy Nelson that he can come back from Liverpool with another belt over his shoulder.
He said: “I’ve felt strong in sparring and there has been a real buzz about the gym with all these fights coming up.
“I’m just really looking forward to getting in there now. Rocky is a good fighter and a good lad. I really rate him as a fighter, but we are both at the stage where we are looking to progress.
“We need to meet. I’m confident of a win, but he’ll go in confident as well.”
The bout will mark Brophy’s first defence of his title, after he stunned the Australian fans in Melbourne by defeating Zac Dunn.
He is aiming to do the same again and upset the the home supporters backing Fielding.
“I’m going into Liverpool and fighting a Scouser — so I know what that’ll be like,” he told the Advertiser.
“Once the bell goes and you get into it, you don’t really hear the crowd though. It’s just about your opponent.
“You’ll probably get the crowd booing, but I won’t think too much into it.
“You need to do these things in boxing — and I’m confident of coming back with both belts.”
The 27-year-old expects a tough night — admitting he could have taken “easier” fights — rather than compete on the ‘Battle on Mersey’ card.
However, he is determined to test himself at the top.
“We could have sorted some easier fights for defending my Commonwealth, but I don’t know how it would benefit me if I was looking for an easy fight,” Brophy added.
“You need to try and push yourself forward and progress. You never look beyond a fight, but I’m the same as Rocky.
“We both want to use this fight to move onto the next level. We’re both in good positions.
“There’s no bad blood or anything like that, at least on my side. I just like to get on with my boxing.
“This has all the ingredients to be a really good fight.”