Was at the fight tonight and have just watched the fight on TV. Quite simply Mitchell was not ready for World level. Like everyone else i am saying this in hindsight, but Mitchell had 1 fight at domestic level and 1 fight at fringe world class. The injury obviously caused problems in his development but he should of been fighting for a European title tonight and not for a World title for another year. Having tough fights at domestic and european level would have prepared him better and he would have known what to do when getting caught early. Instead he was lost as soon as he got in trouble due to inexperience and fighting soft opponents. I don't think anyone can doubt his potential or that he has the ability to win a world title. But he needs to build up to World level not jump the q because he is a big ticket seller and has a good promoter. going on from here, I think Mitchell needs to go to the states. Not because Tibbs is not a great trainer, but to get a high level of sparring he will get which will also be a great experience. as for the rest of the night.........got beaten up by a group of West Ham fans on the train. some guy asked me who i supported and I just said Spurs not thinking about it. started giving me **** which i just ignored. finally after 5 minutes he was getting on my nerves to much and i told him where to go, he was walking away and all of a sudden a load of his mates showed up and me and my friend got roughed up. nothing to bad but made the night even worse.
He wasnt ready for world level, but its too late to start preparing him for the big fights now. He should've been stepping up gradually from his 15th fight onwards inbstead of fighting bums.
as soon as i got in the ground i had a feeling something would kick off at some point. when i was clapping Katsidis on the anoucments a guy turned round and said to me "are you a ****ing aussie" when i told him know he asked why i was clapping i told him if you had seen a Katsidis fight you would be clapping to instead of booing and that he is a seriously good fighter. the guy looked like a dick when Mitchell got stopped.
I didn't have no problems when i clapped Katsidis. I saluted him as name was read out. I think most of the lot around me were lil shaken up knowing Millwall were about. Tbh i'm more a Katsidis Fan then Mitchell so i'm glad Kats Won but Mitchell looked like rabbit in head lights tonight.
on the contrary, i think high level of opposition is what cost him - that opposition being katsidis. maybe mitchell will never make it to his level. gatti vs katsidis... imagine that...what a war, gatti would prob win out tho
Its not that his level of opposition that cost him, just the fact that he's just not good enough IMHO. Kats is a solid top 10 fighter and Mitchell wasn't able to beat him, it happens. I don't think being tested earlier in his career would have helped him.
It's nothing new really, Hatton showed us what happens when you use football to market boxing. You get a football fans' mentality everywhere and you'll never get them to understand the concept of respecting the opposition.