How good do you think Kevin Mitchell will be?

boxingdvduk · Post by **boxingdvduk** » 04 Feb 2005, 20:17

I've seen this kid fighting quite a few times now, he seems to get a lot of coverage on Sky Sports. For those of you who haven't seen him, he's a 20 year old Super Featherweight. He's agressive and seems to be a strong puncher, also likes to showboat. I thought it got hit a lot of times in his last fight against Henry James and a better fighter would have punished him for it. Still, he looks a good prospect and it will be interesting to see how his career develops.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 05 Feb 2005, 14:48

I'm unconvinced as yet, he fights guys mostly with losing records and then struts around puffing his chest out...i will wait till he fights someone who punches back before i judge him

Loftgroov · Post by **Loftgroov** » 05 Feb 2005, 16:42

I've seen three of his fights, and I'm not impressed.

Reminds me of the sort of knob you see beating someone up outside a nightclub. Just gets fed raw meat to beat up on so it seems.

When he fights someone good he'll be fucked.

magnus · Post by **magnus** » 05 Feb 2005, 16:51

He does tend to give it large after knocking about punching bags with legs, but he's young and hopefully he'll become a bit easier to warm to as time passes.

He's got a decent amateur pedigree and seems to have a fair bit of power, so I'll have to reserve judgement until he steps up in class.

He's got people talking tho'. Was in The Sun today - seems he has a tank of piranas in his bedroom and sometimes strokes them (?!?)...

Anyone know who the southern area champ is in his division (super-feather) as this could figure in his immediate future?

glittermonkey · Post by **glittermonkey** » 06 Feb 2005, 21:53

As with the other replies, I remain unconvinced about Mitchell.

He does have decent power, aggression, fairly fast hands, can put his punches together nicely at times, and has lots of time to develop. He also has glaring weaknesses though, which seem to have been growing worse instead of better. He's already becoming sloppy defensively, which won't harm him at the level he's fighting at now, but if he continues to be so open as he moves up, then he's in for some hard fights. There are also the beginnings of a tendency to rely on the power a bit too much. Again, not really much of a problem now, but it's not something that's going to bring him long term success.

The huge weakness however, is the attitude. He doesn't come across well, and you get the impression that he's the type that could very easily go off the rails, and get himself into trouble. Whether that trouble will be directly of his own making, or someone just taking offence at a few of his antics, remains to be seen.

Lefthookhappy19 · Post by **Lefthookhappy19** » 06 Feb 2005, 22:34

I havent seen anything that suggests he's the puncher he's being made out to be. He's been facing the lowest of the low. It can't be stated enough just how bad his opposition has been. I don't think ive ever seen worse "fighters". Its impossible to make any kind of judgement about him other than the obvious that he's a tosser. Like schoolyard bully.

Kit · Post by **Kit** » 07 Feb 2005, 06:28

I have seen Kevin from his very early amateur days, when he must have been no more than eleven or twelve as he boxed for an amateur club fairly local to me. You could tell then he was a huge talent. I have never seen another boy from anywhere close to that age group knocking boys out cold.

I have seen many of his amateur contests where he cleaned up practically everything before turning professional very early. His professional opposition so far has been low level and hence difficult to judge his abilities. I am sure he will be gradually stepped up this year and you will see the best of him when he is in a contest where he is challenged.

I have also seen him train and spar quite recently and he certainly does not cut this bullying and arrogant figure he is sometimes portrayed. He looks a million dollars boxing off the back foot and never once did he take any liberty with any of sparring partners. If he goes in and ruthlessly bashes up his opponents on fight night, I don't think that makes him a bully. He always comes across as a friendly a nice kid and he lives in the gym. But if this so called arrogance and bullying persona get more people talking about him then all the better for him I guess.

I hope he is stepped up this year stage by stage where he is in fights where he can prove his ability, I wish him all the best.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 07 Feb 2005, 08:08

Hopefully he can take on board some of the critisism about his attitude in the ring, the crititism is not just from fans , but from other boxers, so he may listen.

As far as how good he is? have to wait and see what happens when he steps up a level, i think he definetly has the potential to go Euro level.

Nice to hear that he isn't a bully in his home gym, he just needs to cut it out in the ring.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 07 Feb 2005, 09:12

I think what riles people is that he is doing such OTT celebrations when he is beating such patsies, if he were in a world title fight or at least something where he's evenly matched, then I don't think people were bothered. I think if you act like you've just bashed up Roberto Duran whilst facing a 12-68 journeyman it's bound to piss some people off. I'm sure it's just high spirits an all that, but it looks bad.

boxingdvduk · Post by **boxingdvduk** » 07 Feb 2005, 09:18

topper123 wrote:Hopefully he can take on board some of the critisism about his attitude in the ring, the crititism is not just from fans , but from other boxers, so he may listen.

As far as how good he is? have to wait and see what happens when he steps up a level, i think he definetly has the potential to go Euro level.

Nice to hear that he isn't a bully in his home gym, he just needs to cut it out in the ring.

The criticism is has been getting is harsh. It is ridiculous to slate him for being a bully in the ring - this is what people want to see! It is a boxing match after all.

It is also harsh to criticise the standard of his opponent considering he is probably still a teenager and still fighting 4 round bouts. I'm sure it's his management/promoters bringing him up gradually.

I actually think there's nothing wrong with the OTT celebrations, it shows that the boy is hungry for success and pumped up. The showboating may get him into trouble down the line, but showboating puts bums on seats - take Naz for example. He didn't just begin to showboat when he got big.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 07 Feb 2005, 09:48

What one person can carry off, someone else can't.
some people can tell a joke and make everyone laugh, someone else can say exactly the same joke and not raise a smile.

Same in boxing , some boxers can carry off all the showboating and bragging, some can't and just look either stupid or like a bully.

bigped · Post by **bigped** » 07 Feb 2005, 09:51

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I think what riles people is that he is doing such OTT celebrations when he is beating such patsies, if he were in a world title fight or at least something where he's evenly matched, then I don't think people were bothered. I think if you act like you've just bashed up Roberto Duran whilst facing a 12-68 journeyman it's bound to piss some people off. I'm sure it's just high spirits an all that, but it looks bad.

Totally agree its well over the top, you ever watch samil sam fight.. he goes mental some time aswell when he beating crap, u see him against julius francis ?like he had just won the lottery..

Kit · Post by **Kit** » 07 Feb 2005, 10:24

Well Naz used to make me cringe at every summersault and every interview he ever gave, David Brent style. But I still tuned in for all his fights, even when I was getting ripped off on Pay-per-view.

This is an entertainment business, love it or hate it show boating, arrogance and talent puts bums on seats.

Kevin doesn't pick any of the guys he fights, bare in mind he is only 20 and 18 months in the pro's. He more than anyone can't wait to be stepped up. I expect him to get better and better as he developes and his level of opposition is raised. Without doubt he is one to watch out for.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 07 Feb 2005, 10:27

I'm just explaining why people react the way they do. A lot of the people who attend shows are die-hards who find showboating and chest beating distasteful.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 07 Feb 2005, 10:42

The antics of Mitchell don't bother me much, although they do make me want to see the other guy crack him one. Either way he's got my interest which is more than can be said for many of the current crop of "nice guy" prospects.

So long as he's not making it a personal thing each time then I say let him carry on with the OTT stuff if it makes people want to watch. Boxing needs all the help it can get at the moment.

Lefthookhappy19 · Post by **Lefthookhappy19** » 07 Feb 2005, 15:19

No-ones mentioned (til now) about him throwing guys half his size to the canvas and hitting people while down. It all adds up.