The Brian Mitchell thread

Little known fact. From 1974 thru 2005, it was required to have a mustache in order to obtain a boxing license in South Africa.

The more you know.

 

He looked like Freddie Mercury in boxing trunks.

Sort of.

 

I was at Arco Arena in Sacramento California when Mitchell ventured there to fight Tony The Tiger Lopez. He outoboxed Lopez clearly IMV yet got a controvesial draw.

I also went to the rematch and Mitchell again boxed circles around Lopez and this time got the decison he deserved.

I was very impressed with his skillset and counterpunching. He didnt need to run around the ring to slip punches and he was a good active offensive fighter. Not alot of power but he made his style work.

Tony Lopez was a good fighter and he beat him twice.

 

yes.

Im a Sacramento native and got a chance to follow Lopez`s career at that time. He used to pack Arco Arena in the late 80s. His fight with Lockridge was FOTY in `88.

Tony could definitley fight and thats why I have alot of respect for what Mitchell did. In the other man`s home country.

 

I'm still surprised that Mitchell beat Jackie Beard, and Irving Mitchell.

 

Tony lopez was a good exiting fighter to watch but he was always fighting in his home town sacramento lots of home cooking a true champion fights any were

 

Brian Mitchell's the best we've ever had in South Africa, and we've had some decent ones. He always took his craft extremely seriously and came in tuned to perfection every match. Despite pushing a fast pace, I don't think I recall him ever gassing. Guys like him are what a boxer should be like. I've often wondered how Corrie Sanders would have turned out if he'd had Mitchell's dedication.

 

Before you go nuts and post in all caps, maybe you need to understand what "Quality of Opposition" means. It means quality of YOUR OPPONENTS. It does not mean quality of guys in your division WHO YOU DID NOT FIGHT.

Mitchell's quality of opposition, as several have pointed out, was, overall, weak.

The Lopez fights showed, yes, Mitchell was a legitimately good fighter.

But, Lopez is , by far, his toughest opponent and best win.

Examine Mitchell's record and it filled with defenses against guys who were not even remotely near their best when he fought them or were not near the top of the division ie the WBA ratings were pretty bad.

Jackie Beard - pretty much faded
Irving Mitchell - faded
Joe Rivera - never too good
McDopnnell - tough guy who did beat a shot McGuigan, but that's it. Almost killed by Azumah Nelson.

I think prime for prime, Mitchell loses to Lockridge, JC Chavez, Nelson, Laporte is probably 50/50.

 

A lot of these guys did fight each other

Gomez fought Lockridge
JCC fought Laporte and Lockridge
Lockridge fought Barry Michael (you incorrectly call him Mitchell), JC Chavez and Gomez and fought LaPorte earlier in his career at FW
Michael fought Lockridge
Laporte fought JCC, Nelson, Molina and Lockridge, earlier in his career at FW.
Nelson fought Gomez at FW, and Jeff Fenech
Fenech fought Nelson
Taylor eventually fought Molina

Mitchell fought - NONE OF THESE GUYS

BTW you left out Tony Lopez, who is the one top guy he actually fought.

Thanks for the list.

Analyzing it provides a clue why Mitchell is not seen in the rosy light he is seen by you.

 

If these fights had happened when OP says they could have happened:

1986 Brian Mitchell W12 Wilfredo Gomez - Gomez was SHOT
1987 JCC KO 9 Brian Mitchell
1987 Brian Mitchell W 12 Barry Michael - Michael was mediocre - like most of Mitchell's actual opponents during his reign

1988 Juan Laporte KO 11 Brian Mitchell - it's possible Mitchell outhustles him, but if Laporte is fully motivated, which he would be since it's a title fight, Laporte has the strength and power to get to Mitchell. -

1988 Brian Mitchell W12 Rocky Lockridge - Lockridge was still good, but starting to slow down. If this fight happened in '86 or '87, I'd pick Lockridge by Decision.

1989 Azumah Nelson W12 Brian Mitchell - Nelson's superior strength and power is the difference
1989 John John Molina W 12 Brian Mitchell - Molina's work rate is the difference
1989 Jeff Fenech W12 Brian Mitchell - Fenech was better at lower weights but has enough here to outwork Mitchell
1990 Brian Mitchell W12 Bernard Taylor - Taylor was quite a bit past his best, but did stop the fragile Calvin Grove in '90. Mitchell is not fragile and dominates the late rounds for a UD.
1990 Brian Mitchell W 12 Genaro Hernandez - Hernandez peaked later

 

Some sweet fights Saad is speculating on. I reckon Mitchell would do better than he thinks. He was good enough to outhustle Lopez, who has wins over some of those mentioned. It's a pity we never saw them.