Clearly, Seth Mitchell is the favorite in this fight. However, the fact that Witherspoon hired Andre Ward's trainer, Virgil Hunter, throws a curve ball into the mix. Mitchell is still a work in progress although he's received a ton of hype. Physically, they're in the same league, both are big men, Mitchell at 6'2, Witherspoon at 6'4, both around the same reach. Witherspoon has lost to Arreola and Thompson, but Mitchell hasn't faced anyone as good as Thompson or Arreola. It's not a bad fight if you think about it.

I think Seth Mitchell takes this one easy. Witherspoon is more experienced but he's lacking in the chin & power departments. I will say Mitchell's pressure & power will bring this fight to an end circa round 4 after a few close rounds due to Witherspoon's use of the jab and space....but Mitchell will close the gap & hurt Chazz.

Right now I see Seth Mitchell having more promise than Calvin Brock and granted people thought Brock was boring and nobody really liked him all that much, but he was a solid heavyweight.......until he fought Wladimir & hell he even gave Wlad a little bit of trouble at first. Mitchell has a killer instinct and a mean side Brock didn't flash too much and solid power in both hands albeit I think he's less skilled as a pure boxer. Let's see if Mayhem can make it work for him.

It's early days for a late starter like Mitchell but being an athlete already and then swapping disciplines should not hurt him too much in a division where power is often substituted for technique. Seth seems to have both and I like what I have seen. Lyle you are right to remark on his natural finishing instinct it will stand him in good stead as he steps up. I have not seen Witherspoon, is he Tim's lad then?:-)

Mitchell is being brought along pretty slow. He should stop Witherspoon early.

I'd love to see Mitchell face that guy who just beat the tar out of Liakhovich, Bryant Jennings I think his name is. He's fast and was really putting everything into his punches last time out.

Originally Posted by Hulk

Mitchell is being brought along pretty slow. He should stop Witherspoon early.

I'd love to see Mitchell face that guy who just beat the tar out of Liakhovich, Bryant Jennings I think his name is. He's fast and was really putting everything into his punches last time out.

I also think Mitchell ends things early

I'd like to see him face a guy like Jennings or Joe Hanks...

If Seth Mitchell is to step up he needs to take on someone durable and dangerous. He's already shown his power and ability to cut off the ring vs Timur Ibragimov who despite his timid fighting style had not been KO'd up to that point.

Personally I would like to see Mitchell really test himself...Bermane Stiverne & Maruisz Wach are good options for him

Originally Posted by El Kabong

If Seth Mitchell is to step up he needs to take on someone durable and dangerous. He's already shown his power and ability to cut off the ring vs Timur Ibragimov who despite his timid fighting style had not been KO'd up to that point.

Personally I would like to see Mitchell really test himself...Bermane Stiverne & Maruisz Wach are good options for him

Not bad picks or even an aging Ruslan Chagaev.

Originally Posted by Rantcatrat

Originally Posted by El Kabong

If Seth Mitchell is to step up he needs to take on someone durable and dangerous. He's already shown his power and ability to cut off the ring vs Timur Ibragimov who despite his timid fighting style had not been KO'd up to that point.

Personally I would like to see Mitchell really test himself...Bermane Stiverne & Maruisz Wach are good options for him

Not bad picks or even an aging Ruslan Chagaev.

Yeah, actually any of the top Russian/Eastern European fighters would be solid matches for Seth Mitchell: Boytsov, Povetkin, Dimitrenko, Pulev, Ustinov.

Seth Mitchell is a powerful guy, he's raw, but he has shown very good skill in his recent fights....he's got to step up sooner or later, he's not getting any younger. I say in 2013 (providing he wins the right fights) he'll be legitimately ready for a title shot.

Originally Posted by El Kabong

Originally Posted by Rantcatrat

Originally Posted by El Kabong

If Seth Mitchell is to step up he needs to take on someone durable and dangerous. He's already shown his power and ability to cut off the ring vs Timur Ibragimov who despite his timid fighting style had not been KO'd up to that point.

Personally I would like to see Mitchell really test himself...Bermane Stiverne & Maruisz Wach are good options for him

Not bad picks or even an aging Ruslan Chagaev.

Yeah, actually any of the top Russian/Eastern European fighters would be solid matches for Seth Mitchell: Boytsov, Povetkin, Dimitrenko, Pulev, Ustinov.

Seth Mitchell is a powerful guy, he's raw, but he has shown very good skill in his recent fights....he's got to step up sooner or later, he's not getting any younger. I say in 2013 (providing he wins the right fights) he'll be legitimately ready for a title shot.

Ready for a Klitschko?

Witherspoon might be a suprisingly tough test. It took 9 rounds for Thompson to TKo him. He lost quicker against Arreola, but Arreola can punch (despite his absolutely horrible technique when throwing the right hand).

I think Mitchell ends it midway

Originally Posted by Galaxy

I think Mitchell ends it midway

I agree.


Sorta off topic but this starts in about 50 minutes.

Chat: Chat with Seth Mitchell - SportsNation - ESPN

Great oppurtunity to showcase some power boxing here for Mitchell. I think he'll lump Chaz up and have him out on his feet for tko 8,9.

Originally Posted by Spicoli

Great oppurtunity to showcase some power boxing here for Mitchell. I think he'll lump Chaz up and have him out on his feet for tko 8,9.

Yeah I see Witherspoon taking a beatingas the fight progresses. About the 5th or 6th Mitchell should put him away