Headlines Shobox Fri May 13th:
He’s relatively new to the boxing game having picked up the sport just three years ago at the age of 25, but former college football star Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell (21-0-1, 15 KOs) says to expect quite a show this Friday, May 13, as he takes on tough Nicaraguan Evans “The Sandman” Quinn (20-5-1, 18 KOs) in a 10-round heavyweight battle LIVE on ShoBox: the New Generation on Showtime. Fight fans will “see a heavyweight who comes out and applies a lot of pressure,” said Mitchell, a former linebacker at Michigan State University. “Not one that provides a boring fight. They can expect someone who is aggressive and who is coming to win and ready to put on an exciting fight.
Sharif “The Lion” Bogere (19-0, 12 KOs) of Las Vegas meets “Sugar” Raymundo Beltran (24-4, 16 KOs) of North Hollywood, Calif., for the vacant NABO lightweight title from Buffalo Bill’s Star of the Desert Arena in Primm, Nev., in the main event on Friday.
Mitchell answered these six questions about his career, his short time in the ring, and his future in the sport.
Question: You are already 28 years old and started boxing just three years ago. Do you still feel like you have a long ways to go in boxing?
MITCHELL: “I don’t feel like I have a long way to go although at the same time I feel like there are certain things that I need to improve on. I think my learning curve has been excellent. I’ve learned a lot and I have a great trainer (Andre Hunter) who has helped me along the way. I think my overall boxing game is good. The one thing I think I can improve on is countering off my defense. I feel like I have a fairly strong defense but when I go back and watch myself, I see that my opponent will miss, but that the counter is not there. It’s not second nature for me to do it. If I think about it, I do it, but it doesn’t come naturally for me. So countering off my defense is something I’m really working on.”
Question: You have said that if you had never seen NFL player Tom Zbikowski box, then you probably would have never been turned onto the sport of boxing. Is he someone you would like to fight someday?
MITCHELL: “Absolutely. I was a casual boxing fan before I started and to see someone like him that I played against in college have success, it really inspired me and got me to pick up the sport. I can honestly say that if I would have never seen him fight, then I probably wouldn’t be talking to you today. As far as fighting him goes, we are at two different stages in our careers. I think he’s 3-0 and I’m 21-0 and I believe he’s a cruiserweight. If he comes up to heavyweight and gets up there in the rankings then yes, but I’m not going to call him out now.”
Question: Your opponent is nicknamed “The Sandman” because he says his punches put people to sleep. What do you know about him?
MITCHELL: “He’s about 6-foot-2, 225, 230 pounds. He’s right-handed and a counter puncher. He has 18 KOs and good punching power. I’m going to have to stay focused and watch his punching power. His record and his KO power say it’s my toughest opponent to date, but that remains to be seen. I think he has to worry about what I bring to the table. I’m in tremendous shape and my focus is at an all-time high. I’ve been fortunate enough to never have been cut or knocked down in my career and I don’t intend to either on Friday night, but I’m not underestimating my opponent. I just know I’m not going to be the one going to sleep.”
Question: You’ve been to Kuwait and Iraq to visit the U.S. troops on a USO Tour with other boxers. What was that experience like?
MITCHELL: “It was great and so much more than I expected. Just to go over and visit them for a week was so special. To spend time with them and see what they go through on a day-to-day basis was a very humbling experience for me. It made me appreciate some of the things I take for granted. It’s just something I’ll never forget.”
Question: Your degree is in criminal justice with a specialization in Homeland Security. What do you see yourself doing after your boxing career is finished?
MITCHELL: “I might get into the boxing game maybe as an announcer or something, but just doing something that gives back to the community would be my ultimate goal and be what I’d want to do. I have a big heart and I’m all about helping the youth in my community. I grew up without a dad but did have a lot of father figures that really helped me out. I had some great mentors that led me to do the right things, so I think just setting up some programs for the youth would be a great way to give back.”
Question: Who would you most like to fight?
MITCHELL: “Right now the Klitschko brothers are running the heavyweight division. I’m not going to say they are very exciting fighters to watch, but they are good fighters and they are effective fighters and they’ve proven that they are the best. Right now, I just want to fight whoever has the belts. I’m in this to fight a world championship. I know it’s going to come in due time and I will get that fight because I want to become heavyweight champion of the world.”
The exciting night of fights is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and is sponsored by Corona and DeWalt Tools. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the first bell set for 6:30 p.m. Tickets, priced at $50 (Floor) and $20 (General Admission) are on sale and available for purchase at the Star of the Desert Arena Box Office or online at www.primmvalleyresorts.com. Tickets will also be available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
