Kevin Mitchell Interview -
Talks Murray, Lora, Burns and Rios
Photos and Interview Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro
February 8, 2012
(FEB 8) This coming Friday WBO
Inter-Continental Lightweight Champion Kevin Mitchell is set to face
Spain based Felix Lora in a non-championship bout at the famous York
Hall in Bethnal Green, London. Mitchell returns to the ring
for the first time since stopping John Murray in July last year at the
Echo Arena in Liverpool and this fight is said to be a warm up ahead of
a challenge for Ricky Burns new acquired WBO World Lightweight crown.
With such an important bout waiting in the wings Mighty Mitchell will
surely be looking to impress in front his home crowd, in similar style
to his utter destruction of arch rival John Murray last year. Full
Story
Earlier today I caught up with Kevin at
the pre-fight media workout at his home gym - the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in
Canning Town, London - to talk about the John Murray fight as well as
the upcoming fight against Felix Lora and more.
But first, for those that have forgotten the Fight of the Year winning
showdown at the Echo Arena in Liverpool back in July, when young guns
Kevin Mitchell and John Murray had a true Western style shoot out, here
is quick recap.
From the moment Dagenham gunslinger Mitchell confidently moseyed his way
into the arena to the chants and jeers of Manchesters top gun Murrays
fans it was clear that this was a very different Mighty from the one
that was gunned down big time by Aussie shootist Michael Katsidis last
year.
Mitchells resolve and intent was obvious to all, no more was he willing
to play second fiddle to Murray. Right from the off he dug into his
fully loaded arsenal to let rip with a pin point accurate double handed
flurry. Murray shrugged of the initial assault and walk the Londoner
back onto the ropes before launching an equally vicious attack of his
own.
Dipping and swaying Mitchell avoided virtually everything Murray threw
at him before slickly stepping aside and letting rip with a series of
punishing hooks to the body. The resilient Mancunian responded as only
he can, standing his ground, absorbing each rib cracking shot and timing
his counters to perfection, but Mitchell was more than just Mighty he
was already beginning to look magnificent as he secured the first round.
The second was another cracking round. Mitchell seemingly using his
superior body work to slow the ever forward moving Murray, that is until
about midway through when Murray lands one of his massive rights.
Mitchell reels back to the ropes and yet another Murray double handed
salvo rains down on the Londoner. A close round but Murray just about
nicks this one in my book.
Right from the opening bell of the third Murray starts hunting down his
quarry. Mitchell attempts to keep him at bay with crisp jabs but it just
slows the raging bull down for a second or so. Mitchell dips back into
his arsenal and pulled out a couple big powerful rights, only for Murray
to respond with a double handed assault of his own. Moments later
Mitchell turns the table and backs Murray onto the ropes and lets rip
with a massive double handed salvo that sees out the round. It was
another seriously closely fought round, but I felt Murray had just done
enough to make it his own.
The fourth sees a good old fashioned toe-to-toe slug fest open up the
proceedings. Murray launched big Bertha round, whilst Mitchell mixed it
up and firing off a series of rocket powered uppercuts and hooks, to
both body and head. In the dying seconds of the round Murray backed up
the Londoner to the ropes again, Mitchell avoided everything Murray
threw at him before sidestepping and turning the tables, backing Murray
to the ropes, and launching a big double handed salvo until the final
bell. No doubt in my mind the was Mighty Mitchells round one hundred
percent.
Murray walks down Mitchell in the fifth, but this time instead of
dipping and swaying his way out of trouble the Londoner responds with a
series of three punch combination of uppercuts and hooks to the body
which appear to have a major effect on Murray. Mitchell is quick to
notice this and turns the heat up letting rip with wicked body shots,
uppercuts and double handed salvos to the head which start to slow the
ever advancing Murray. An easy round to call in Kevins favour, but dont
go thinking it was one way traffic, it wasnt.
The effects, to Murrays face, of the previous round were clear to
everyone as he came out for the sixth, there were noticeable dark
swellings under both eyes. Mitchell was quick to notice these and set
his sights and let off a series of exocets to the head each time Murray
came within range. A real ding dong battle ensued, Mitchell letting rip
with hooks and big right hands whilst Murray responds with megaton bombs
and short sharp rights to the side of Mitchells head. What a round it
was pugilistic heaven and far too close to call.
Round seven sees Murray charge like a raging bull closing down MItchell
before launching a series of seriously hard jabs and big rights,
Mitchell responds with yet more double handed exocets to the head. By
mid round Murrays face is looking like a train wreck. In the dying
seconds it looked like Murray was heading to Boot Hill, Mitchell lands a
massive nuke that sends Murray reeling and rocking, but before Mighty
Mitch zoned in for the kill the bell tolled. Sure I dont have to say
this was Mitchells round.
Again Murray charges forward from the opening bell, but the moment he
came into range Mitchell launched yet another exocet before moving in to
let rip with a massive uppercut followed by big double rights, Murray
responds in similar vein and an all out war ensues, which abruptly ends
with a massive left hook that sends Murray face down to the canvas.
Murray makes the count but Mitchell is on him in a flash and lets rip
with another wicked combination that rocks Murray to the core and left
the referee no option but to stop the fight after just one minute and
forty six seconds of the round.
So there you go, thatll give you an idea of what to expect from our Kev
on the 10th February, now lets hear what the man himself has to say.
Rio - Kevin, first things first. Congratulations, your magnificent
battle with John Murray was named 2011 Fight of the Year by Boxing News
and BoxRec, how do you feel about that?
Kevin - Thanks to the readers of Boxing News and BoxRec who voted for
the fight. Im so pleased that everyone enjoyed the fight, its always an
honour to be recognised for achieving something.
It was good to give my fans something to cheer for after the Katsidis
fight.
Rio - The media as a whole showered accolades on you for your
magnificent performance on the night, but how did you see the fight?
Kevin - I see it as a 50/50 fight.
After the beating by Michael Katsidis I wanted to put the record right -
I watched that fight again last night, Katsidis did his job, I werent
right and I got beat.
Everyone was saying Kevins finished, he got done in two rounds. Which
wasnt a bad thing as it made me push harder. As of 2012 Im going to push
even harder as I want a World title.
Yeah, it was a terrific fight, but I always knew deep down that Id beat
him, I knew Id be too much for him, too much difference, I can change
things, I can fight, I can box, I can punch hard.
Rio - OK, back to this Fridays fight, even though its a non-championship
bout I know just how seriously you have been taking your training, you
were even in the gym over Christmas and New Year - So just how do you
feel training has gone.
Kevin - Its been going well, Im bang on target for the fight this
Friday.
I feel fit, did most of my sparring with Colin Lynes after some earlier
rounds with Gary Corcoran, got my fitness up and then sparred with Colin
and an Italian guy here called Freddie (Federico Tavares) helped me out.
Thanks to them, and of course Jimmy and Mark (Tibbs), Im spot on for
Friday.
Rio - Do you know much about your opponent Felix Lora?
Kevin - Hes gonna be a tough guy for ten rounds, I know Im able to put
him away if I want to, but Im not going in there and try and blast him
out, Im gonna go out there and get some rounds in, if I nail him I nail
him but if I dont itll be good to get the rounds in.
Rio - I know you never look past any opponent, but as the word is that
after this therell be a Summer showdown with Ricky Burns for his World
title - Whats your thoughts on this?
Kevin - Ill beat Burns and then Ill knock Brandon Rios out.
Rio - Rios has said that hes moving up to Light Welter - are you that
determined to fight him that youll move to Light Welter to fight
him?
Kevin - Yeah, Ill move up if I have to, I want to fight him.
Theres a lot of needle there, hes got a big mouth, he thinks hes a
powerful man.
I dont care if he goes up a weight . Ill win the title at Lightweight,
defend it a few times and then Ill go up to Light Welter and beat him
up.
Rio - Sure is some needle there - OK, finally is there anything you
would like to say to your fans?
Kevin - Thanks to all the fans that are going to turn up at York Hall on
Friday, I promise you all a cracking fight.
Kevin Mitchell versus Felix Lora headlines the sold out Frank Warren
Promotions event at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, on Friday 10th
February 2012 and broadcast live on BoxNation (Sky platform Channel 456
& Virgin 546).
Published on WBAN. We cover women's boxing and men's boxing.
