Brian Mitchell: the ultimate road warrior

[Londo]

Mitchell to be inducted in boxing Hall of Fame

THERE were celebrations all- round at Colin Nathan’s gym in Johannesburg yesterday when it was announced that former WBA and IBF world junior lightweight champion Brian Mitchell had become the first South African boxer to be elected to the elite International Hall of Fame.

http://www.thetimes.co.za/Sport/Article.aspx?id=902141

More on Brian's career here
http://www.southafrica.info/about/sport/greats/mitchell.htm

He finished his career with 46 wins, a solitary loss and two draws. His 12 successful defences of the junior–lightweight title remain the record in that division to this day.

In rankings based on the formula of "the man who beat the man", Mitchell was rated the world's best junior-lightweight boxer from 1986 to his retirement in 1991. He proved his toughness by making 10 of his title defences on the road, and he proved his ability time after time when fighting for the world title.

Many South Africans would consider him the country's greatest ever pugilist. Today, he is one of South Africa's foremost boxing trainers.

In 1991 Mitchell travelled to Sacramento to face local hero Tony "The Tiger" Lopez. In a hometown decision that shocked boxing experts, Lopez managed to draw with Mitchell. The South African boxer was stripped of his WBA crown for facing Lopez for the IBF title, and suddenly he found himself without a world title for the first time since 1986.

However, he again faced Lopez in Sacramento in September, and on that occasion made sure of victory with a convincing points win, claiming the IBF title in the process.

I was lucky enough to be at both those fights, the best live boxing I have ever seen. The arena was packed to the roof with Lopez's supporters - probably about 10,000 - and everyone was on their feet from Round 1. Tony the Tiger was THE guy in Sacramento and I and my buddies were at all his local fights. And they never got any bigger than his 2 dust ups with Brian.

This time I was shouting for Brian. I only heard one or 2 shouts for Brian the whole fight. The crowd was roaring the whole time, the atmosphere electric. Brian took the fight to Tony both times and Tony was not a guy who took a step backwards. Brian beat him in his own backyard as he had to do with some many of the other fighters he beat in his career.

A few years later he came back to Sacramento as a "guest of honour" at some other fight and he got a huge greeting from the local fans. I went up to speak to him and shook his hand. I remember his hands were big with thick fingers.

My respect to you Brian. You deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. Congratulations!

 

[daveza]

Was never a great fan of Brian Mitchell. Always had the feeling that his opponents were carefully picked to avoid a beating.

A good boxer yes, but not a legend like Sugar Ray Leonard.

Personally I was A Charlie Weir fan until Tap Tap Makhatini turned his lights off.

 

[Londo]

Was never a great fan of Brian Mitchell. Always had the feeling that his opponents were carefully picked to avoid a beating.

A good boxer yes, but not a legend like Sugar Ray Leonard.

Personally I was A Charlie Weir fan until Tap Tap Makhatini turned his lights off.

I was out of SA for all of his (Mitchell's) career so I can't comment on what you say. But he had to fight away from home for all his championship defending fights. And you have to fight the top contenders or you will lose your belt.

Charlie Weir was a good fighter, too.

Have you read "Dancing Shoes is Dead" by Gavin Evans? Subtitled " A tale of fighting men in South Africa". You will enjoy it, for sure.

 

[zeb]

I'm a big fan of Mitchell the boxer, Mitchell the man not so much - he turned out to be a bit of an @sshole in the years after retirement.