Brian Mitchell is highly underrated, the kind of guy who doesn't ever look all that impressive but by the end of the fight he'd often have the other guy turned inside out. Rocky was inconsistent and often came up short against the better competition. I'll take Mitchell's consistency. Brian won his last 40 fights or so, including a run of some 5 years where all his title defenses were on the road (usually in the other guy's backyard) because they wouldn't let him defend it in South Africa for political reasons. That takes uncommon poise and mental toughness, always fighting in the lion's den. Would have been a good test of skills, however.
I would favour Mitchell but Lockridge would be a very worthy opponent. He had the skills to cause Brian some problems.
Prime for Prime Lockridge wins by decision. Lockridge would be his toughest opponent. Slightly past his best Tony Lopez was Mitchell's toughest opponent. Yes, Lopez edged Rocky and Mitchell eged Lopez but Rocky was slightly past his best and Lopez was in his prime when they fought. I think it's a good matchup. Both are pretty busy, defense is comparable, Rocky had more power. Mitchell cut easier. 1984-1987 Lockridge beats prime Mitchell. 1988-1990 Rocky loses by decision. In his career, Lockridge faced the better competition by far so Mitchell's glossier record looks better on the surface but close examination shows Lockridge fought the best in two divisions.
that's my point. Mitchell 's level of competition when he was in his prime was very low. that his best opponent was a guy past his prime when he himself was slightly past it makes it difficult for me to pick him over a guy who fought elite competition. In his prime, Lockridge blew out Roger Mayweather, beat Boza-Edwards, lost a disputed decision to Eusebio Pedroza, was jobbed against Gomez and lost a close decision to prime JC Chavez. Mitchell in his prime, beat shot Irving Mitchell, shot Jackie Beard, average Jim McDonnell, mediocre Alfredo Layne, etc, etc, etc,
Mitchell edged Lopez the first fight; the second fight he gave him a boxing lesson. Irving and Jackie were coming off win streaks iirc.
Beard was on a 7 fight win streak including 5 ko's and was 21-2 going into that fight ... that's not exactly 'shot'. And Sweetpea was 41 fights with 5 losses ... not too shabby, although I'll concede that he may have been getting long in the tooth.
Mitchell's quality of competition indeed left something to be desired for the most part. One or two of the local guys Mitchell fought were better than the likes of Bottligieri and so on. On the other hand, he did fight on the other guy's back yard nearly every time. That doesn't excuse him altogether, but it is more understandable, imo. But yeah, I'd have loved to have seen him fight the likes of Lockridge, Molina etc.
