Mitchell - world class?

[davie]

Stuff it, i'm on board.

I was convinced Mitchell was done over the last few years, then every time he turned in solid performance i just wrote it of as a weak opponent and stuck to my convictions that Mitchel would never be world class. After all, any time he'd stepped up before, he was found out.
And there was always the excuses.

But Estrada was a solid fringe of world level type opponent and Mitchell was very impressive in there.
Punch perfect? No. And the Sky team really did go OTT.

But he was dominant, impressed in a few departments and did enough to convince me that he could win against one of the weaker belt holders.

I've spent long enough writing Kevin off, time to give him a bit of credit and maybe accept that perhaps he is now "living the life" and has it in him to go that next step

Thought?

[Boxerbeetle]

Sorry, no. He's had 2 great chances & blown them both. To be honest I think he's a bit chinny anyway, so will get found out at world level no matter how dedicated he is in training. (And I thought he was living the life for the Burns fight?)

[forcefraser]

He certainly looked class last night. On that form he has every chance against Linares.

As long as he leaves out the gay bondage promotional posters, I`m on board.

[Noxy]

Yep, I've always rated Mitchell. He's got an excellent pedigree and he's proved himself in some good scraps. Eddie Hearn will probably land him a title shot and he's good enough to win it IMO. The question mark to me is his attitude, sure he's doing great now but for how long? Is he more mature now that he's a bit older? I hope so.

[bripez]

Mitchell was signed on a reported long term big money contract at 18 based largely on a junior amateur career.

Just looking down his record at least 90% + of his fights have been heavily stacked in his favour.

I put him in similar class as John Murray - good lads above British and European level, but not what I would call "World" class.

He has had 2 shots and come up short both times - one of them against Ricky Burns, who many on here consider to be lower than World class yet he was better than Mitchell.

[expe]

No, European level and no better, nothing to do with dedication, just not good enough to make the step up to the top level. I can just about buy him losing to Katsidis because he didn't prepare properly, but once bitten, twice shy, no way did he do the same against Burns, who was too big, too strong, too quick, too good and hit too hard for Mitchell. He was brilliant last night, but I don't think he would have beaten any of the world champions on that performance, I'd back a couple of fighters domestically to beat him fighting like that.

[seanilius]

Hmm. He looked great last night. HOWEVER, Estrada looked like a shot fighter. Or perhaps he's just been rubbish all along. So, so slow. Gaunt and uninspired. Mitchell will look sensational against gangly plodders every day of the week.

I still think his win over Murray is one of the best fights I've watched in years but the Burns loss was weird! He should have wiped Burns out.

Can he beat Linares? Absolutely.

[crusader]

Before getting blown away in title fights he also looked very good against Prescott and Murray, both of whom were better than Estrada in my view, and he was unanimously down after 10 against a fairly inexperienced and unspectacular opponent in his bout prior to the Estrada fight.

With this in mind I don't see why someone would think a few days ago that he had always been sub-world class yet now see him as world class based on his last win.

[Monte Fisto]

i think he can compete on that stage, but winning is another thing. i hope he can, but i think he'll come up short against true world class fighters. he has the skills, but not convinced on the state of mind when things get really tough.

[rio]

He's between world and euro class. Burns and katsidis dealt with him no problem.

[Taansend]

No idea until his next shot happens but dinner fighters do'click' at a later she than others. He might be one of them. He might fornicate up again at world level. Hopefully we'll get the answer this year and hopefully it's the former.

[Tarkus]

I always thought he was, much like Brook. I think he beats Linares.

[stevieb_8006]

He's between world and euro class. Burns and katsidis dealt with him no problem.

This. Amazed so many still have faith in his abilities to compete at top level

[whiskey]

Saturday was a stand-out performance, pulling out the stoppage against that big unit at Wembley was another one.

Maybe he's finding his best work?

Time will tell I guess.

[johnswan1]

Mitchell was signed on a reported long term big money contract at 18 based largely on a junior amateur career.

Just looking down his record at least 90% + of his fights have been heavily stacked in his favour.

I put him in similar class as John Murray - good lads above British and European level, but not what I would call "World" class.

He has had 2 shots and come up short both times - one of them against Ricky Burns, who many on here consider to be lower than World class yet he was better than Mitchell.

This.

[misterpunch]

you're wrong - Mitchell showed so many good things on Saturday I make him 20% better than any previous version of Mitchell. intelligence and calm under the few bits of pressure he faced. an absolute revelation when it came to using distance. shoulder use was perfect. head movement was really first class. I have long had it in for Mitchell for wasting his and everyone else's time with his indiscipline - simms has got him looking like what he should have looked like 3 years ago.

[TheCobra]

Hard to tell on such a one-sided dominant performance like Saturday.

It's when the other guy can hit and hurt him that we see his real vulnerabilities.

I was impressed though, he's got some really classy moves on his day.

[lillywhite14]

Against the right opponent, Kevin can always look classy.

He isn't world class though. Euro class but each time he has stepped up and he has been destroyed. If he had given either of Katsidis ( who for me was always fringe world class himself ) or Burns a real argument in a losing effort then he it could be argued he is world class but he was swotted like a fly on each occasion unfortunately.

I like watching him box though, he's had a good career and if the opponent and timing is right he could land a title perhaps?

[black panther]

The proof is in the pudding. I'd love to see him pick up a title and if he can beat Linares he's definitely world class. He really is an enigma is our Kevin. He can look tough and absolute class at times then fall apart at others. I hope he can pull it all together! I know he was a bit of a beer monster but has now knocked drinking on the head. This could make all the difference.

Beating Linares is a big "if" though and I'd make Linares a firm favorite. I remember when Linares first burst on the scene, outclassing longtime world level operator Oscar Larios. He looked like a superstar in the making. But he's had some setbacks and been hampered by cuts. He was a mile ahead against Antonio DeMarco in his first bid for the WBC lightweight title before falling apart after getting cut. He really was bleeding all over the place mind you (if my memory serves).

[lillywhite14]

Don't you thnk the proof is in the pudding that's already been cooked and eaten, twice? If he fights Linares and loses, we will revisit this subject again in 2/3 years time?

[Batley18]

Without a doubt it was his best ever fight, but he was a bit too open at times.

I categorically disagree with anyone who says the lad is European level, he is definitely better than that. If he boxes against Linares like he did against Estrada, then I think he becomes World Champ. The only concern would be whether he has the mental ability to do it.

[black panther]

Don't you thnk the proof is in the pudding that's already been cooked and eaten, twice? If he fights Linares and loses, we will revisit this subject again in 2/3 years time?

You're probably right mate; against a higher level of opposition he just hasn't performed which would indicate he doesn 't quite have what it takes at that level.

However the classy moves, punch repertoire and technique and foot speed give the impressive he does have something that could take him beyond European level. He just didn't look like he performed to the best of his ability in those losses and had a real falling apart look in the Katisidis fight; like something was wrong. This was the same fighter who took some real hard licks from Carl Johansson and came roaring back. Granted, Johansson is no Katsidis, but he's no powder puff puncher either and scored some genuine one-punch knockouts in his career. Sometimes it takes fighters a while to pull it all together. I mean he's still only got 2 defeats on his record. I'm not going to write him off just yet but as I said I'd make Linares a very clear favorite, wherever the fight takes place.

[revporl]

The Estrada fight was very impressive. The combinations were sound and he was way ahead in terms of speed. Estrada couldn't have slipped that far in a year. In interviews he is saying that he is more focused than when he previously fought for titles, but it does make you think that if you can't get focused when you've a world title shot coming then when can you? I think on that showing he can beat Linares, but it is a big ask and you do have to question his consistency.

[freddydoesdallas]

Without a doubt it was his best ever fight, but he was a bit too open at times.

I categorically disagree with anyone who says the lad is European level, he is definitely better than that. If he boxes against Linares like he did against Estrada, then I think he becomes World Champ. The only concern would be whether he has the mental ability to do it.

I can see why people will argue that he is European class. Who has he beat that is actually world class? Against his two best opponents, who many would also argue about being genuine world class ie top 5, he didn't last more than 4 rounds.

I've always liked watching Mitchell but he has flattered to deceive on a numbe of occasions. As someone mentioned earlier in the thread, he was in a world of trouble last time out and his opponent ran out of gas and he took advantage of that and finished it well. The opponent was nowt special though.

He still has to prove himself but saturday night was a step in the right direction. Would you really consider any other lightweight out there who has had a 10 year career with career best wins over Estrada, Prescott & Murray amd 2 devastating world title losses as world class?

[baron_otto]

Mitchell was good, very good at the weekend but does it show he is world class? In my book no. If I'm being generous he is on the fringe of world class but not truly there. For me he needs to back up his performance with a couple of consecutive good showings against high level opponents. We have seen the occasional cracking display before but not consistently enough.