This would have been a fun stylistic match up that most likely starts as a high level chess match and then becoming a war. Any thoughts on how this goes? Does Mitchell have the skills to potentially edge out El Terrible?
I've said it before and I'll say it again Mitchell gets overrated on here. I'm not saying Mitchell wasn't an eye pleasing fighter to watch he was skillful and he was a road warrior fighting on the road alot. I dont dislike him I just think he gets a bit too much praise for not having much of a resume TBH. His best wins are competitive decisions against Tony Lopez which is a good name. But outside of that ? There isn't really much else on his resume that stands out. But saying all that Morales didn't really campaign at Super Featherweight alot. And I'd gather that Featherweight was Morales best weight where as Super Featherweight was Mitchell's best weight. I'd still go with Morales by decision just because he's alot more proven to me.
Brian Mitchell's resume is definitely underwhelming seeing how he was reigning champ at 130 for 5 years but with Tony Lopez as the only decent fighter without challenging guys like Julio Cesar Chavez, Azumah Nelson, Jeff Fenech, Genaro Hernandez, John John Molina, Mario Martinez, or Rocky Lockridge at the time they were around his weight class. His resume would have stuck out just a bit more if he fought at least one of those guys while he was champ. Very nice technician but just wasn’t tested enough unfortunately. I would compare Mitchell to someone like Orlando Canizales who was also a nice stylist with a weak resume. Saying that though in a stylistic match up I still think Mitchell can be a tough customer for Morales. Mitchell makes it a competitive fight but Morales, being the more battle tested fighter, gets the edge based on experience that helps him win via decision.
Mitchell DOES get overrated on here; however, he matches up well against Morales. Morales himself is overrated if we're being honest. I'd take Mitchell by decision. Morales is obviously better/greater in a P4P sense, but Mitchell was better at 130.
You have to really watch Brian to appreciate him. And Lopez is not his best win. And he boxed Lopez's ears off the 2nd time. The difference is Brian can fight multiple ways and Erik cannot. Furthermore this is Brian's natural weight class not Eriks.
I've seen all of Mitchell's fights he was an eye pleasing fighter to watch but again it was against modest opposition. The Lopez fights were also competitive although Mitchell did clearly win both fights by a few rounds.
The 2nd Lopez fight was not competitive at all and Lopez soundly gotten beaten. The first one was fun but the 2nd one Lopez ate Brian's jab all night.
I thought both fights were competitive although there was no question who won. Brian Mitchell vs Tony Lopez 2 1 Mitchell 2 Mitchell 3 Lopez 4 Lopez 5 Mitchell 6 Mitchell 7 Lopez 8 Mitchell 9 Mitchell 10 Mitchell 11 Lopez 12 Mitchell 116-112 Mitchell So i've seen the 1st fight a long time ago but I've never seen the 2nd fight. Although from memory i thought Mitchell clearly won the 1st fight though i never scored it round by round. Anyway onto the fight this was a very good technical fight by both fighters, they seemed to take turns taking the momentum away from eachother. For the first 7 rounds is was anyone's fight but i thought after the 7th round Mitchell controlled the fight with his jab. And outworked Lopez down the stretch who didn't seem to have much answer for Mitchell's jab except for a rally in the 11th round. Overall a competitive fight for the first 7 rounds, but Mitchell took control from then on. Mitchell just seemed to be little bit better than Lopez in every department defense, speed, jab, footwork, etc.
Early in his career Brian was kind of a brawler but as he progressed he mixed in all kinds of things to his game. South Africa had a TON of boxing talent that could have very easily held world titles if not for the apartheid. Brian went through that talent on his way towards the title- he fought EVERYONE.
How well do you think Mitchell would have done against guys like Chavez, Nelson or Fenech? Would have been nice to have seen him against those 3.
Chavez- I would favor Chavez but people would be surprised at how well Brian does. Nelson - at jr.lightweight I would go with Brian. Fenech- now that would be an insane fight. I might go with Brian but wouldn't be shocked if Jeff won.