Sharmba “Little Big Man” Mitchell: No Longer Obsessed with Making Weight.

“Very few fighters are in my league. I don’t think that Zab (Judah) is one of them either. The only reason he is the undisputed champion (welterweight) right now is because he fought a guy (Cory Spinks) in his league. Once he steps up, he will lose because he will be outmatched. My level is like the Shane Mosley’s, and Oscar de la Hoya’s.”–Sharmba Mitchell on where he feels he belongs in the welterweight rankings.

Obsessions are never a healthy thing for anyone, but it is human nature to feel a sense of emptiness if there is something missing. This is even more common in boxers. One may hold a grudge ala Fernando Vargas against Oscar de la Hoya, while others just cannot accept a defeat, especially if the fighter believes that the loss was because of an injury that occurred before that particular fight. This was the case of Sharmba “Little Big Man” Mitchell. Having turned professional in 1988, and worked his way up the ranks for ten years until finally earning his shot and winning the first of his two world titles, Mitchell found himself in a unification bout against Russian born knockout artist Kostya Tszyu. The contest took place in 2001, and ended with Sharmba retiring in the seventh round after a recurring knee injury did not allow him to box effectively. Mitchell could not live with this defeat, and his obsession to fight Tszyu again and take back his world title began. That obsession kept Mitchell at the junior welterweight limit for another three years until November 6, 2004, when he finally faced Tszyu again; only, Tszyu obliterated him in three rounds. “I really should have moved up to 47 (147 pounds) about a year and a half ago, but I just wanted Tszyu. It was me in that ring, but it really wasn’t. I didn’t have any energy for that fight at all. I was completely gone by the time I stepped into the ring with Tszyu. Probably my last three fights from N’Dou (Lovemore), until my last fight with Tszyu, it was taking me all of my training camps just to make weight. I could not focus on training properly because I was just worried about making weight and was so drained every fight,” said Sharmba Mitchell (55-4-0 with 30 KOs) to this writer from his training camp in Washington D.C.

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Sharmba is preparing for his first fight at welterweight against Chris “The Mechanic” Smith, televised as part of Showtime’s pay-per-view under-card of the continuing saga of “Iron” Mike Tyson, set to air on June 11, 2005. One has to ask why would Mitchell, who, having started his career at 133-pounds, and fought the past eleven years at 140- pounds, chose to take on such a tough, solid fighter like Smith who has been a welterweight his entire career. “I’ve been a champion twice in the past and I just can’t afford to take lesser fights. I’ve been in this game too long and don’t need to build my record. I’m a great fighter and believe in my abilities. I’m feeling great and I’m not killing myself to make 47 (147 pounds) and I feel real strong and comfortable at this weight. I’ll take care of business come June 11.”

And regarding Chris Smith, Sharmba had this to say, “He’s been doing some talking and it’s cute. I do my talking in the ring. He’s not in my league. Very few fighters are in my league. I don’t think that Zab (Judah) is one of them either. The only reason he is the undisputed champion (welterweight) right now is because he fought a guy (Cory Spinks) in his league. Once he steps up, he will lose because he will be outmatched. My level is like the Shane Mosley’s, and Oscar de la Hoya’s. I mean, I’m going into my sixtieth fight and I only have four losses. Two of those are to a future hall of famer (KostyaTszyu). Everyone loses man. All the great ones like Ali, “Sugar” Ray Robinson lost, but they came back. I’m coming back and I’m focused to be the undisputed welterweight champion of the world.”

At the age of thirty-four, having had physical problems in the past, and getting ready to fight for the sixtieth time, one has to wonder, how much longer can Sharmba keep doing this? “I want to have about five more fights and get the welterweight titles man, and then I’ll leave it alone.” And once he “leaves it alone,” what are Mitchell’s plans for life after boxing? “I want to go back to school and graduate from college with my business management degree. I have a year-and-a-half to go with school. I have a few real estate businesses. I own a bar, and am trying to buy another one. I have five children, four girls and one boy, which I support. My son will never box, ever in life. This is a crazy sport man. He will play football or another sport, but I will never let him box.”

In regards to the upcoming Kostya Tsyzu vs. Ricky Hatton fight, Mitchell offered this prediction, “Hatton is out of his element man, in this fight. He only knows one way to fight and that is coming forward. That’s Tsyzu’s fight. He wants you to stand in there and bang with him. If Tsyzu is healthy and had no issues with weight, Hatton is going to get knocked out.”

In closing, Sharmba had this to say, “All my fans, you know I’m still here. I’m getting ready to make me a run to this welterweight title. To all my fans, I’ll be back on Showtime. You’ll see me on the eleventh, so keep your heads up. I’m there man. I’m back.”

So fight fans, on June 11, 2005, Sharmba “Little Big Man” Mitchell will be back and we will see if he can truly make a successful run towards the welterweight title. He seems focused and determined about accomplishing that goal. If he can keep the obsession part in check, Mitchell may well be on his way to becoming a three-time world champion.

Sergio Martinez can be reached at srg_mrtnz@yahoo.com