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SPORTS Wednesday 24 OctOber 2018
Fielding respecting but not fearing Canelo in title match

By BARRY WILNER, AP Sports
Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — When
Rocky Fielding enters Madi-
son Square Garden on
Dec. 15, it won't be his first
time in the big arena. It will
be his initial visit for a boxing
event — his fight against
Canelo Alvarez.
The WBA super middle-
weight champion will put
his belt on the line and be
a hefty underdog against
what even Fielding calls
"an elite fighter ... the face
of boxing ... a superstar."
Fielding and his girlfriend
took a tour of the Garden
a few years ago, then went
to a basketball game. He
hoped to someday be in
the ring at the Manhattan
venue that Fielding notes is
the world's Mecca of box-
ing. He even imagined it.
"I was coming off my first Dreams do come true." lovkin fight, Alvarez does "If I beat Canelo at Madi- the same, uh, ring, as climb-
defeat and was somewhat It won't be much of a own a 1-0-1 record against son Square Garden, I will ing into the MSG ring with
down," says the Brit who dream if Fielding loses, as Triple G, though both bouts be up all night and will be perhaps the best boxer in
is 27-1, the loss to Callum so many people outside of were very close. the superstar the next day. the world.
Smith coming just under his camp seem to expect. For his part, Fielding envi- To get the win at Madison For now, Fielding is simply
three years ago. "We came Alvarez comes off a draw sions himself as the star of Square Garden and the thrilled to have such a ter-
over, took the tour and re- and then a win over Gen- the show in mid-December. win for my own fans, there rific chance to establish
turned at night for a bas- nady Golovkin as middle- "I know what I am up will be a new face of box- himself as a top guy in the
ketball game. The history weights, and a third bout against, a tough, elite ing and that will be me." sport.
this arena holds struck me. with Triple G is what the fighter who has been on Fielding hasn't faced any- "I will enjoy every bit of it
As a fighter, you connect boxing community hankers pay-per-view and sold out one close to Alvarez's level, that goes now, but taking
with it. And I said one day I for. arenas," he said. "You have though. He stopped Tyron the background and the
would fight here. But Alvarez seeks to join a to start somewhere; he did. Zeuge in July for the WBA noise away on Dec. 15, it's
"Three years down the group of Mexican fighters I'm the world champ and I crown in his first fight out- me and Canelo," he says.
road, I am fighting the big- with three weight crowns. want to get to that level he side of Britain. "This is what I am in the
gest name in boxing. In the And while the money would is at, and I am confident of A bout in Offenberg, Ger- game for and this is what I
main event — for my title. be massive for a third Go- getting that win. many, doesn't quite have trained for since age 9."q
Wozniacki gets 1st win at this year's WTA Finals

By SANDRA HARWITT "I always believe in myself leading 3-1 in the second.
Associated Press and when I'm out on the Svitolina failed to serve out
SINGAPORE (AP) — Defend- court I believe I'm going to the match at 5-2 in the third
ing champion Caroline win." set but converted her third
Wozniacki earned her first Kvitova, who won the WTA match point in the next
victory at this year's WTA Fi- Finals title in her debut ap- game with a forehand win-
nals, beating Petra Kvitova pearance at the year-end ner.
7-5, 3-6, 6-2 on Tuesday. tournament in 2011, was The most tense moment of
Elina Svitolina earned her the one taking chances the match came in the third
second straight win in the on Tuesday. But Wozniacki game of the first set, which
other group match, out- played steadier defense lasted 15 minutes and went
lasting Karolina Pliskova 6-3, and waited for the Czech to deuce 10 times. Svitolina
2-6, 6-3. The results mean all to make mistakes. finally held after saving six
four players are still in con- Kvitova finished the match break points.
tention to advance to the with 40 winners and 40 un- "Actually, I was thinking
semifinals from the White Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark plays a return shot while com- forced errors. Wozniacki how long we are playing
peting against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during their
Group. women's singles match at the WTA tennis finals in Singapore, had 19 winners and 14 un- this game? No more," Svito-
Wozniacki, who became Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018. forced errors. lina said, smiling. "We were
the first Danish woman to Associated Press Wozniacki, who broke her both I think a little bit strug-
win a Grand Slam title at opponent in the first and gling with our nerves."
this year's Australian Open, day," Wozniacki said on erful, you have to stay on fifth games of the deciding Svitolina only needs to win
is now 1-1, while Kvitova is court after the match. "I your game. I just tried to set, took a medical timeout a set in her last round-robin
0-2. returned well. I served well. stay focused and get a lot to have her left knee ban- match against Wozniacki
"I played much better to- Against Petra, she's so pow- of balls back. daged when Kvitova was to reach the semifinals.q