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So Seth got a bit of a lesson taught to him the other night and we learned that his chin isn't all that great. What did you guys think about the fight? What do you expect out of him in the future? What does he need to work on? And how far do you see him going?
Let's be honest with ourselves. We, as American boxing fans, are dying for a "Great American Hope," in the spirit of the "Great White Hope" of the past. The only difference is that we've moved passed the racial aspect of it. How did a fight like Mitchell v. Witherspoon get on HBO? Mitchell is a fun fighter to watch, but he's not even in the top ten of the division. Adamek versus Chambers is two top ten heavyweights and they're not making HBO $ in their fight.Quote:
Originally Posted by El Kabong
As much as Al Haymon pushes him, Mitchell isn't going to beat a Klitschko, unless they slip something aweful. I like Mitchell. He seems a class act too.
Frankly, Witherspoon isn't even known as a puncher. Even though he is 29, Mitchell should take some time to hone his skills. He seems pretty 1 dimensional. Am I wrong?
Fun tv friendly guy needing alot of polish. I kept thinking Derrick Jefferson or Clifford etienne right now. Love the way he focused on body to turn it and wasn't ashamed to clinch when out on his feet. I really thought that fight was over via wave off in 1st.
Mitchell could get a title fight, but he'll never win one.
It was nice to see him get tested and have a little of his aura challenged, but he will have to polish up his skills and perhaps get a new trainer because his defense is lacking and there are some finer points of boxing he could use help on. I do like the heart he showed, I like he still had power, but I agree he's not going to win a title from a Klitschko brother.....but who the hell is???
I do think he brings some excitement back to the division, it was a fun fight to watch. Witherspoon looked decent for a time as well and it wasn't because Mitchell is bad, it's because as they said Chazz finally had a proper training camp.
While Chazz Witherspoon might not be thought of as a big hitter, he's certainly not lacking in the power division. After all, all of Witherspoon's wins since 2008 have been stoppage victories. A sixty-six percent KO rate isn't too shabby either.
Not that I'm some boxrec scholar. Because of course, boxrec doesn't show you everything about a fighter. But Chazz Witherspoon is 6'4" and weighs 230 lbs. And watching from the slow motion of the video, I would definitely testify that those punches that rocked Mitchell were indeed good power shots. Regardless of what he's considered as in the ranks of punching power.
Either way, Mitchell recovered beautifully. I think we're being critical of the guy's mistakes in the ring. He did an excellent job, and stopped a good, well-trained fighter inside of three rounds.
It was a neat fight to watch. When Witherspoon came out with the high guard and Mitchell started sticking the solid left to the midsection, I knew that Mitchell was going to end up taking him out. I doubted that original judgement after Witherspoon started hurting Seth, but in the end, it ended about right.
I think Witherspoon could be a lot better if he had a better stance. The high guard with the body open is simply all wrong for when you're fighting a smaller guy that likes to bang. The philly with the stick, move, and counter would have served him wonderfully in this fight. Too bad.
He is entertaining but does not look natural, like they picked him from a american football game and manufactured him into boxing. Jess Willard of his day.
I'm waiting for some American I can tout as the next awesome, Mitchell isn't that for me, I don't know that he will be either. Sure he can be entertaining in the ring and that's a start. If he keeps progressing, I think he could be a force once the Klits retire, although if he doesn't progress he gets sparked out against some 40-something year old eastern Euro HW that's not named Klitschko.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slim the BoxingManiac
Deontay Wilder is just 26 and has a frame he can build on, but I just don't know, he's so tall and lanky I just have trouble trusting he'll have a decent enough chin (although, get trained by Manny Steward and it won't end up being an issue).
I think Joe Hanks is the best all around boxer between Mitchell, Hanks, & Wilder.....he has solid power, he seems more fluid in the ring and I think he just looks more like a boxer the way he carries himself in the ring, he seems natural at what he does. Joe is already 29 and if he doesn't jump on it he's not going to progress quickly enough to make an impact on the division.
'Monk' Foreman is already 29 and at 15(14 KO)-0-0 I don't know what he's doing...he's fighting nobodies and I guess building up experience having not been an amateur.
There are some younger guys out there, but I have trouble believing these young guys like Alexander Flores 21 years of age will stay on the right path and build a great record & get title shots & win them.
The main problem for American heavyweights is the lack of a challenge out there for them. That AND their managers & promoters simply don't want to challenge their fighters and IMO that hurts the sport and their own fighters.
There needs to be a tournament for the next wave of American heavyweights. Mitchell could fight Wilder I mean why not, throw Hanks and Flores in there too. The biggest problem with American heavyweights is not that there aren't challenges out there, it's that they are being coddled by their managers. A perfect record is meaningless if there isn't any meaningful opponents on it, unfortunately the '0' has a premium on it as a selling point, which is stupid based on the competition levels. A fighter can fight tomato cans for 15 fights max after that it's a pointless marketing exercise that actually diminishes a fighters skills.Quote:
Originally Posted by El Kabong
My thing with Deontay Wilder is that he has been moved sooo slowly. Seth Mitchell and Wilder turned professional around the same time. Yet, Mitchell is fighting much better competition. Wilder had a more developed amateur career too. It must be indicative of the fact his handlers don't have much faith in him, right?Quote:
Originally Posted by El Kabong
Bryant Jennings has somewhat impressed me with his recent performances.
You really know though. I don't see Mitchell blowing down doors and suddenly finding great defense but you can't put a price on the experience of coming that close to the brink of disaster and having to storm back against a decent opponent on a major network stage. Respectfully to a Monk or maybe even a Wilder, he'll take more from those two rounds than they door steamrolling a handful of their padders and no hoper's unopposed. As stated numbers and glossy zeros in the 'L' column can be meaningless and turn you into a trivia question faster than you can say Courage Tshabalala.
Chris Arreola is the best American Heavyweight. I don't think Mitchell wants to try him any time soon either.Quote:
Originally Posted by RantcatratLet's be honest with ourselves. We, as American boxing fans, are dying for a "Great American Hope," in the spirit of the "Great White Hope" of the past. The only difference is that we've moved passed the racial aspect of it. How did a fight like Mitchell v. Witherspoon get on HBO? Mitchell is a fun fighter to watch, but he's not even in the top ten of the division. Adamek versus Chambers is two top ten heavyweights and they're not making HBO $ in their fight.Quote:
Originally Posted by El Kabong
As much as Al Haymon pushes him, Mitchell isn't going to beat a Klitschko, unless they slip something aweful. I like Mitchell. He seems a class act too.
Frankly, Witherspoon isn't even known as a puncher. Even though he is 29, Mitchell should take some time to hone his skills. He seems pretty 1 dimensional. Am I wrong?
Agree Mitchell is a nice guy though and he does bring it, action fighter.
I read somewhere that Michael Grant may be next for Mitchell. That'd be a good fight for him. Test him for sure.
Jameel McCline is on the comeback trail too, he also would be a good test.
I agree. He will never amount to anything. His defense is appalling and any of the top 6 will bust him up with regularity.Quote:
Originally Posted by Master
He is another of HBO's hype jobs. He's too long in the tooth to improve and he will get found out.
He is exciting, but only against limited opposition.
I come to the conclusion that defense generally must be taught to a boxer before their habits crystalize, i.e. the amaturs. I seldom see a boxer improve on their defense in a dramatic fashion when they turn pro.
He showed heart, getting hurt is a learning experience in itself, he won't be in new territory if he gets hurt again. I liked his bodywork!
He's exciting. I think another 2 or 3 fights with guys around this level will do him good
Marciano was a baseball player before he went to boxing. It simply takes time for the fighters to reach the level that you want them at. It's not like Mitchell didn't do a good job in the ring Saturday night.
He's an entertaining fighter that's for sure. Seems like a genuinely nice guy so I wish him all the best. But if I'm being honest here...he doesn't beat any of the top guys in the division. I thought that before the Witherspoon fight. Never understood the hype he got for beating Timur Ibragimov. I guess he deserves some credit for being the first person to stop him but Timur himself never beat anybody of note.
From an American point of view I'd rank Seth somewhere in the 5-10 range. I'd pick Chambers, Arreola, Thompson and Johnson all to beat him. There are a few wildcards like M Scott or T Walker that could spring an upset.
Neither does his team. It's the reason he's being moved at such a snail paceQuote:
Originally Posted by El Kabong
Seth is too hittable at two low a level to take seriously.
Not that I'm a Mitchell fan but I could also see him potentially winning all thoseQuote:
Originally Posted by TigerFan
Walker can't take a glancing blow any more without going down. I see him going out in a highlight reel knock out if they ever fought. And Scott can't punch to save his life. Mitchell would walk right through himQuote:
Originally Posted by TigerFan