The lightweight division is there for Mitchell’s taking!

He'd probably beat Demarco IMO, who really isn't that good either. In fact, I reckon he's rated only because Valero beat him, and people like to act like he was better than he actually was.

 

Of course, I merely meant that, in order for him to prove he has any hope of getting anywhere close to the top of the division, those are the kind of fighters you have to beat. If you want to be mentioned alongside Acosta, Katsidis, Vazquez, etc, you've got to beat some kind of relatively decent class of fighter, just as they did. You don't get in amongst them by beating John Murray, nor do you do it by simply signing to fight them. If he's going to gain some success, you've got to face and defeat a decent caliber of opponent, which is why he should fight them, whether he's going to win or not.

 

Which is funny considering The Ring have promoted Mitchell to number five on the back of beating Murray. ****, I’m not even sure why Murray was at four, and I really like both guys.

 

I am not dismissing your opinion but people love talking about bloody footwork don't they. Loom at Pacquiaos footwork its ****ing shocking, he is still one of the best fighters ever.

 

To be fair DFTaylor you were saying these things last week as to why kevin would lose the fight?

 

Are you serious, Pacquiao has some of the best footwork in boxing today?

 

Because they’re still true, Rob. I said in all my posts that I felt it would be a close fight, which it was. I was right about all the things that made it a close fight – Mitchell’s tendency to get involved and his fast hands, Murray’s poor defence and his respectable timing.

Murray’s about the same level as Mitchell. There wasn’t much in it until the seventh – it was a pretty even fight. Mitchell took over more because of Murray’s predictability than his own astute tactics – which were appalling, basically get leathered on the ropes and then hope he’s worn himself out.

Saying that 135 is there for the taking with the amount of classy operators out there is ridiculous. Especially when it’s based on similar tactics – hope all the big boys run away so Kevin can install himself as a totally un-noteworthy champion.

I like Kevin and was impressed by how he came back from a fight he wasn’t looking too comfortable in. I thought Murray was going to bully him all the way through the fight and grind out a win. But Mitchell used those fast hands to do damage when it counted – but that doesn’t erase the fact that it was a close fight until that point.

Also, RE: the footwork, people talk about it because it's probably the most important thing in the game. If you can’t get near your opponent then you can’t win fights. If you can’t get away, you can’t win fights.

Pac’s footwork is incredible. He’s always in position to attack, even when he throws punches from angles, he gets in and out of range incredibly quickly, and he’s always balanced. I can’t think of many times I’ve seen him swinging wildy and falling over himself.

 

To be fair that is exactly whats happening though. 3 of the best 4 fighters in Soto, Marquez and Guerero are moving up in there next fights. Rios will follow them next year to. Then you left with guys like Acosts & Katsidis who I agree you favour to beat Kevin but if you time it right you catch them on the way down like Hatton did with Tysuzu. Guys like Antilion & Vasquez are never going to be superstars so theres no reason to fight them.

Get Kevin the vacant WBO. Defend it a few times agaisnt decent but not world class opponents. Build his fanbase up. Fights with Burns & a Murray rematch will do that. Then you have a Kevin Mitchell, brimming with confidence, in his prime, fully adjusted to the lightweight limit and he can go back in with Katsidis.

 

Well, it's because it's relevant. It's a glaring ch1nk in Mitchell's armour, and it's what has restricted him. Better footwork would've enabled him to deal with Murray much easier than he did, it's the reason why he kept getting trapped on the ropes, it wasn't because Murray was forcing him there, it was because he was almost voluntarily moving himself there. If you see him getting ground down and stopped late on in a fight, don't be surprised if it's because he's been moving as wide as he was against both Katsidis and Murray which has lead to him fatiguing himself.

I don't know where you're coming from with regards to Pacquiao's footwork mate, his rapid improvement in that aspect has been imperative in making him he fighter he is today.

 

I really don't see many fighters other than Marquez & Rios taking Murray out quicker than the 8th round. Soto and Guererro would have just boxed to wide UD's

While the fight was close I don't think there was a point where Kevin wasn't in control.

 

Soto would brutalise Murray. He’s incredibly adept on the inside and would simply use his superior technical skills to keep Murray turning.

Guerrero chooses to fight safety first, but he can be quite destructive. Keep in mind he’s been flying up the weightclasses, so some of his natural power isn’t there at the higher weight. Either way, Murray wouldn’t get near him so, even if he didn’t stop him, it would be a more impressive, though less exciting, performance.

I don’t see how you could watch that fight and say Mitchell was always in control. He was getting beaten up and looking very uncomfortable at the start of the sixth. That was what made the fight exciting, it was so closely contested while it lasted.

 

Mate I am pretty bias towards Kev but you take it to a new level. You make Slap look like an andy lee hater.

although i had it 5-2 as well lol

 

You gave him the fifth at “a push”? That just sounds like bias, dude. Murray worked Kevin over in that round. And even then, you’ve hardly disproved my point. If we all agree that Mitchell took over in the sixth (although Murray still did some good work after that), then we’ve got five rounds. Even if Mitchell won three of those (which he didn’t) it’s still basically a one round fight – and pretty damn close whatever way you look at it.

Mitchell needs a lot more work technically on his balance and footwork before he steps up further. He’s got the physical ability, but he needs to refine his technique. But at 25 and lacking defence in the way he does… I can’t see him ever being world-class.