Hard man Fields has earned a title chance

Ben Fields (left) and Jamie Stewart during their clash

THERE a few fighters more rugged than Digbeth warrior Ben Fields, tough as teak and a draining test for the best.

Fields, a man with a chequered past who found salvation through boxing, has dragged many a prospect into a meat-grinder of swirling leather.

Like a violent Duracell bunny, he slings punches non-stop. At times it’s not pretty to watch, but it’s effective. Only the best, at domestic level, find a way to fathom Fields.

What’s more, he’s blessed with a chin of iron.

Seemingly destined to following the journeyman route when turning pro with no amateur experience, light-welter Ben has bulldozed his way through the rankings. He has earned his title of boxing’s bogeyman the hard way.

He has watched while those he’s drawn with and even beaten received plum contests. He refuses to be bitter and believes his chance will come. At 33, time is not on his side.

Fields brings his uncompromising brand of all-out aggression to Edgbaston’s H Suite on March 25. The individual in the opposite corner is guaranteed a very uncomfortable night. That’s a given.

“We’re looking at a six rounder,” he said. “If I win, that’s two draws and a win in my last three and, hopefully, that will get me something.

“The lads I’m fighting are getting English title eliminators and even British title shots. I accept that – boxing is a sport where you can’t expect any favours and I understand that.

“The fights I’ve had has shown me the level that I’m at. I just think about the person I am. I’m 33, but it will take a good while to knock the fight out of me.

“If there’s any justice, I’ll get a big fight, but sometimes there’s not a lot of justice in boxing.”

The many bouts Ben has taken with odds stacked against him have forged a real ring handful.

He travelled to London last November to face Billy Allington and drew. Allington fought for the British title in his next bout.

Before that, he travelled to then Midland champ Jamie Stewart’s home city of Stoke and, after 10 rounds of uncompromising action, again earned a share of the spoils. Watching from ringside, I felt that was the right result.

He earned plaudits for taking ferocious punching Kaisee Benjamin the distance for the Midlands welterweight title.

Victories over unbeaten lads spill from Fields CV, earning him another nickname – “The 0 Taker”.

And there have been nights of glory. In 2020, Fields laid it on Alex Fearon for 10 rounds, a victory that earned him the Midlands 10 stone belt.

His “grind ‘em down” style was not suited to the Ultimate Boxxer format, where fighters compete in three round contests, and he bowed out at the first stage.

Make no mistake, Fields has pieced together a 10-12-4 record the hard way.

Next month’s opponent will, hopefully, be a  less demanding proposition for Ben – and no one can begrudge the man that.

If any fighter has earned a night when the odds are stacked in his favour, it’s Ben Fields.