Kevin Mitchell (boxer)

Kevin Mitchell (born 29 October 1984) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2003 to 2015. He challenged twice for lightweight world championships; the WBO title in 2012; and the WBC title in 2015. At regional level, he held the Commonwealth super featherweight title from 2006 to 2008 and the British super featherweight title in 2008.

Kevin Mitchell
Mitchell in 2010
Statistics
Nickname(s)
  • The Hammer
  • The Dagenham Destroyer
  • Mighty
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Reach68 in (173 cm)
NationalityBritish
Born (1984-10-29) 29 October 1984
Romford, Essex,
England
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights43
Wins39
Wins by KO29
Losses4

Amateur career

As an amateur, Mitchell won the senior-level ABA featherweight title in 2003, at the age of 18.[1]

Professional career

Mitchell made his professional debut for promoter Frank Warren on 17 July 2003, scoring a first-round knockout of Stevie Quinn. On 10 December 2005, Mitchell stopped Mohammed Medjadji in six rounds to win the vacant IBF Inter-Continental super-featherweight title, his first regional championship.

Commonwealth and British super-featherweight champion

Further success followed on 28 October 2006, when Mitchell defeated George Ashie by twelve-round unanimous decision to win the vacant Commonwealth super-featherweight title.[2] Two defences of this title came against Harry Ramogoadi on 10 March 2007 (sixth-round TKO)[3] and Carl Johanneson on 8 March 2008 (ninth-round TKO). In the Johanneson fight, Mitchell also won the British super-featherweight title, but it would be prove to a very tough outing for him, as Johanneson had managed to draw level on the judges' scorecards by the time of the stoppage.[4]

Moving up to lightweight

In 2009, Mitchell began his campaign at lightweight with the aim of winning a world title. Wins over Lanquaye Wilson on 22 May (third-round TKO) and Ruddy Encarnacion on 18 July (eighth-round TKO) served as a prelude to what would be one of Mitchell's most acclaimed performances to date, against Breidis Prescott on 5 December. Prescott, notorious for his punching power and shocking knockout of Amir Khan in 2008, had virtually no answer for Mitchell's skilful use of range, movement and accurate punches. At the end of the twelve-round distance, the judges scored the fight as a wide unanimous decision for Mitchell, handing him his 31st consecutive professional victory and the WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title.[5]

First defeat

With the win over Prescott inching Mitchell ever closer to a world title opportunity, one final hurdle awaited him on 15 May 2010 at Boleyn Ground stadium, which took place in front of 15,000 fans.[6] On the line was the WBO interim title, held by hard-hitting slugger Michael Katsidis, as well as a chance to fight for a full world title later in the year. At the opening bell, Mitchell looked to establish his jab and keep Katsidis at bay. In the first two evenly split rounds, the occasional flurry of hooks from a highly aggressive Katsidis was enough to make Mitchell fight consistently on the back foot in an attempt to keep out of range. However, in the closing seconds of both rounds, Katsidis was able to launch a charging attack and finish strongly at the bell. In the third round, Katsidis continued to charge at Mitchell and was soon able to land a combination of hooks which made Mitchell stumble backwards on unsteady legs. From thereon, Mitchell was unable to fully regain his composure and, less than two minutes later, he was buckled by a hard left hook and a further succession of unanswered punches, at which point the referee stopped the fight.

Personal struggles and comeback

Mitchell would not fight for more than a year, during which a series of personal problems came to light.[7] Going into the Katsidis fight, Mitchell later revealed that he was going through family and relationship issues, as well as living an unhealthy lifestyle. A showdown against fellow lightweight prospect and domestic rival John Murray, then undefeated as a professional, was set for 16 July 2011 as a risky comeback fight for Mitchell. In an action-packed fight featuring several shifts in momentum, Mitchell was able to withstand Murray's aggressive onslaught and score an eighth-round stoppage to capture his second WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title.[8]

World title challenges

Another year of relative inactivity followed until 22 September 2012, when Mitchell faced WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns for his first world title opportunity. In front of his home crowd in Glasgow, Burns scored two knockdowns and defeated Mitchell in four rounds.[9] Following his second professional loss, Mitchell spent ten months away from the sport. From 2013 to 2014, having switched promoters to Matchroom Sport and reunited with former trainer Tony Sims, Mitchell racked up four wins in what proved to be a steady return to form, coupled with a more mature and disciplined lifestyle.

On 31 May 2014, an unexpectedly stiff test came in the form of Ghislain Maduma, on the undercard to the rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves at Wembley Stadium. On the day of the fight, Mitchell failed to make the IBF-mandated same-day weigh-in by 1 12 lb (0.68 kg), a mistake which Mitchell put down to having eaten steak the night before. Since the fight was an eliminator to face then-reigning IBF lightweight champion Miguel Vázquez, Mitchell had forfeited his chance at fighting for the title even if he won. In the fight against Maduma, Mitchell gave up an early lead on points and absorbed many clean punches from his highly aggressive opponent. In the ninth round, and behind on all scorecards, Mitchell began to gain ground by catching Maduma with clean punches of his own. This was followed up in rounds ten and eleven, when Maduma was staggered by a series of punches and stopped on his feet.[10]

With the IBF title opportunity gone astray, Mitchell went a different route in 2015. On 31 January, he faced Daniel Estrada for the vacant WBC Silver lightweight title. In what was described as a career-best performance, Mitchell showcased his boxing skills with renewed motivation en route to stopping Estrada in eight rounds.[11] This set up a second world title opportunity for Mitchell, this time against WBC lightweight champion Jorge Linares. Their fight took place on 30 May and got off to a cagey start, with neither fighter winning any rounds convincingly. In round five, Mitchell scored a hard knockdown, allowing him to build up a lead on the scorecards and box with increasing confidence. However, Linares scored a knockdown of his own in round ten, which quickly signalled the end of the fight as Mitchell's eye had been badly cut from a punch, forcing the referee to wave off the fight.[12]

The year ended on a sour note for Mitchell on 12 December, as he made another attempt at vying for a world title on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs. Dillian Whyte. On the line was the WBA interim lightweight title, and facing him was Ismael Barroso, a then-unknown power puncher who came in with a near-perfect knockout record. From the opening round, Mitchell was unable to fend off the undefeated southpaw, who knocked him down three times. By the fifth round, the referee spared Mitchell from further damage and stopped the fight. Immediately afterwards, Mitchell had to be given oxygen by ringside doctors.[13]

Retirement

Mitchell was scheduled to face European lightweight champion Edis Tatli on 18 March 2016 in Finland, but on 10 February, Mitchell announced his retirement and withdrawal from the fight. He told Sky Sports, "I've had a good think about it over the last week and I'm happily retired now. ... I've been doing this 22 years and it's time to call it a day and start a new chapter in my life."[14]

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
43 fights 39 wins 4 losses
By knockout 29 4
By decision 10 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
43 Loss 39–4 Ismael Barroso TKO 5 (12), 2:47 12 Dec 2015 The O2 Arena, London, England For vacant WBA interim lightweight title
42 Loss 39–3 Jorge Linares TKO 10 (12), 2:57 30 May 2015 The O2 Arena, London, England For WBC lightweight title
41 Win 39–2 Daniel Estrada TKO 8 (12), 1:12 31 Jan 2015 The O2 Arena, London, England Won vacant WBC Silver lightweight title
40 Win 38–2 Ghislain Maduma TKO 11 (12), 2:56 31 May 2014 Wembley Stadium, London, England
39 Win 37–2 Mikheil Avakyan TKO 2 (8), 2:07 15 Mar 2014 Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
38 Win 36–2 Karim El Ouazghari TKO 9 (12), 2:07 14 Dec 2013 ExCeL, London, England Retained IBF Inter-Continental lightweight title
37 Win 35–2 Marco Antonio López TKO 6 (12), 1:44 5 Oct 2013 The O2 Arena, London, England Won vacant IBF Inter-Continental lightweight title
36 Win 34–2 Sebastien Benito PTS 10 6 Jul 2013 York Hall, London, England
35 Loss 33–2 Ricky Burns TKO 4 (12), 2:59 22 Sep 2012 Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow, Scotland For WBO lightweight title
34 Win 33–1 Felix Lora PTS 10 10 Feb 2012 York Hall, London, England
33 Win 32–1 John Murray TKO 8 (12), 1:46 16 Jul 2011 Echo Arena, Liverpool, England Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title
32 Loss 31–1 Michael Katsidis TKO 3 (12), 1:57 15 May 2010 Boleyn Ground, London, England For WBO interim lightweight title
31 Win 31–0 Ignacio Mendoza KO 3 (12), 1:24 13 Feb 2010 Wembley Arena, London, England Retained WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title
30 Win 30–0 Breidis Prescott UD 12 5 Dec 2009 Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title
29 Win 29–0 Ruddy Encarnacion TKO 8 (10), 2:35 18 Jul 2009 MEN Arena, Manchester, England
28 Win 28–0 Lanquaye Wilson TKO 3 (8), 2:07 22 May 2009 York Hall, London, England
27 Win 27–0 Walter Estrada UD 12 7 Jun 2008 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental super featherweight title
26 Win 26–0 Carl Johanneson TKO 9 (12), 2:29 8 Mar 2008 The O2 Arena, London, England Won British super featherweight title;
Retained Commonwealth super featherweight title
25 Win 25–0 Edison Torres TKO 3 (10), 1:09 12 Jan 2008 York Hall, London, England
24 Win 24–0 Alexander Khrulev KO 2 (12), 0:57 14 Jul 2007 The O2 Arena, London, England Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental super featherweight title;
Retained IBF Inter-Continental super featherweight title
23 Win 23–0 Harry Ramogoadi TKO 6 (12), 3:00 7 Jun 2007 Liverpool Olympia, Liverpool, England Retained Commonwealth super featherweight title
22 Win 22–0 George Ashie UD 12 28 Oct 2006 York Hall, London, England Won vacant Commonwealth super featherweight title
21 Win 21–0 Andrei Isaeu TKO 11 (12), 1:37 8 Sep 2006 Grosvenor House Hotel, London, England Won IBF Inter-Continental super featherweight title
20 Win 20–0 Imad Ben Khalifa TKO 2 (8), 0:34 7 Jul 2006 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
19 Win 19–0 Kirkor Kirkorov RTD 2 (12) 13 May 2006 York Hall, London, England Retained IBF Inter-Continental super featherweight title
18 Win 18–0 Youssouf Djibaba UD 12 25 Feb 2006 ExCeL, London, England Retained IBF Inter-Continental super featherweight title
17 Win 17–0 Mohammed Medjadji TKO 6 (12), 2:12 10 Dec 2005 ExCel, London, England Won vacant IBF Inter-Continental super featherweight title
16 Win 16–0 Daniel Thorpe TKO 4 (8), 2:10 25 Oct 2005 Guild Hall, Preston, England
15 Win 15–0 Wladimir Borov TKO 2 (6), 1:35 23 Sep 2005 Hilton Hotel Mayfair, London, England
14 Win 14–0 Karim Chakim PTS 8 29 Apr 2005 Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, London, England
13 Win 13–0 Frederic Bonifai PTS 6 8 Apr 2005 Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland
12 Win 12–0 Henry Janes PTS 4 11 Dec 2004 ExCeL, London, England
11 Win 11–0 Alain Rakow KO 1 (6), 2:46 19 Nov 2004 York Hall, London, England
10 Win 10–0 Mounir Guebbas PTS 6 22 Oct 2004 Royal Highland Showground, Edinburgh, Scotland
9 Win 9–0 Arpad J Toth TKO 3 (6), 0:45 10 Sep 2004 York Hall, London, England
8 Win 8–0 Jason Nesbitt TKO 3 (4), 0:45 5 Jun 2004 York Hall, London, England
7 Win 7–0 Slimane Kebaili TKO 1 (4), 1:25 13 May 2004 York Hall, London, England
6 Win 6–0 Eric Patrac TKO 1 (4), 2:20 24 Apr 2004 Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading, England
5 Win 5–0 Kristian Laight PTS 4 7 Feb 2004 York Hall, London, England
4 Win 4–0 Jaz Virdee TKO 1 (4), 1:13 24 Jan 2004 Wembley Conference Centre, London, England
3 Win 3–0 Vladimir Varhegyi TKO 3 (4), 1:44 6 Nov 2003 Goresbrook Leisure Centre, London, England
2 Win 2–0 Csaba Ladanyi TKO 1 (4), 2:21 18 Sep 2003 Goresbrook Leisure Centre, London, England
1 Win 1–0 Stevie Quinn KO 1 (4), 3:00 17 Jul 2003 Goresbrook Leisure Centre, London, England

References

  1. "116th ABA National Championships 2003 York Hall, London". England Boxing. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  2. "Mitchell battles to Ashie victory" BBC Sport. BBC. 28 October 2006. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  3. "Win rewards Mitchell's patience". BBC Sport. BBC. 9 March 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  4. "Mitchell delivers KO blow". Sky Sports. Sky. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  5. Davies, Gareth A (5 December 2009). "Kevin Mitchell sets up WBO lightweight title bid after beating Breidis Prescott on points". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  6. Liew, Jonathan (15 May 2010). "Kevin Mitchell succumbs to Michael Katsidis' power at Upton Park". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  7. Evans, Dave (12 March 2015). "Mitchell: I was never prepared for the big night at Upton Park". Barking and Dagenham Post. Archant. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  8. Hassan, Nabil (17 July 2011). "Kevin Mitchell stops John Murray in eighth round". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/19679799
  10. https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/boxing/live-commentary/live-commentary-froch-vs-groves-as-it-happened_157733.html
  11. "Kevin Mitchell stops Daniel Estrada in eight rounds to set up a world title shot". Sky Sports. Sky. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  12. "Photo: Kevin Mitchell's Gruesome Eye Injury After TKO". BoxingScene. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  13. Anderson, David (12 December 2015). "Kevin Mitchell battered by Ismael Barroso and left needing oxygen as world title hopes end". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  14. Robinson, Isaac (10 February 2016). "Kevin Mitchell calls off European title shot and retires from boxing". Sky Sports. Sky. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
Sporting positions
Amateur boxing titles
Previous:
David Mullholland
ABA featherweight champion
2003
Next:
David Mullholland
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Alex Arthur
IBF Inter-Continental
super-featherweight champion

10 December 2005 – July 2006
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Karim Chakim
Vacant
Title last held by
Karim Chakim
IBF Inter-Continental
super-featherweight champion

8 September 2006 – October 2006
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Emmanuel Tagoe
Vacant
Title last held by
Alex Arthur
Commonwealth
super-featherweight champion

28 October 2006 – September 2008
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Ricky Burns
Vacant
Title last held by
Román Martínez
WBO Inter-Continental
super-featherweight champion

14 July 2007 – August 2007
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Román Martínez
Preceded by
Carl Johanneson
British super-featherweight champion
8 March 2008 – December 2009
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Gary Sykes
Vacant
Title last held by
Amir Khan
WBO Inter-Continental
lightweight champion

5 December 2009 – November 2010
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Robert Guerrero
Vacant
Title last held by
Robert Guerrero
WBO Inter-Continental
lightweight champion

16 July 2011 – June 2012
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Carlos Molina
Vacant
Title last held by
Andrey Klimov
IBF Inter-Continental
lightweight champion

5 October 2013 – May 2015
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Richard Commey
Vacant
Title last held by
Javier Prieto
WBC Silver lightweight champion
31 January 2015 – 30 May 2015
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Emiliano Marsili
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