By David Finger
In what promises to be one of the most eagerly anticipated American heavyweight matchups of the year, undefeated Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell (24-0-1, 18 KOs) looks to continue his meteoric rise up the heavyweight ladder with a win over former top prospect Chazz “Gentleman” Witherspoon (30-2, 22 KOs) this month in Atlantic City, NJ on the undercard of the Hopkins-Dawson championship fight on April 28th. It seems like ages since boxing fans could get legitimately excited for a heavyweight fight featuring two Americans, but the exciting style of Witherspoon and Mitchell has many fans wondering if this could be the spark that reignites the heavyweight division. It was not only interesting to fans because of the styles of both fighters, but because of the background of Witherspoon and Mitchell. Mitchell, a college graduate and former linebacker for the Michigan State Spartans, has already earned a reputation for being a breath of fresh air in the division and an all around classy guy. And Witherspoon? Well, his nickname of “Gentleman” is widely seen as well-placed for the cousin of former heavyweight champ Tim Witherspoon who also is a college graduate.
Mitchell and Witherspoon took time yesterday to field questions from the media via conference call to discuss the upcoming fight and their careers.
“I feel good, and I feel really blessed to have this opportunity,” Witherspoon stated when asked to give an introductory remark, “I want to thank everyone who made this possible, and I’m happy to be here.”
Mitchell also thanked those in attendance, and witherspoon for taking the fight. “Thank everyone who made this possible. I want to thank Chaz for accepting the fight. I am very hyped for this fight. I’m training extremely hard and I’m excited, and you all should be excited. To have two African American heavyweights who both have college degrees. I consider him a big, fundamentally sound fighter who comes to win.”
Although Witherspoon’s career has yet to show signs of world championship potential (he was stopped in the two previous fights against ranked contenders) there is little question that he is an immensely talented heavyweight who has yet to reach his full potential. “Come the 28th, he’s going to be ready,” advised Mitchell, “I know he is going to train hard, this is a ‘nail in the coffin fight’ for him.”
Still, Mitchell feels that he is up to the task and is not taking Witherspoon lightly. “It might be a nail in the coffin for Chazz,” added Mitchell “but if I lose, my coffin will be in production and I’m not ready for my coffin to be in production.”
Some natural questions were fielded towards Mitchell in how he compares himself to other legendary American heavyweights from years past, and the early accolades from many in the sport that he is the next “great American heavyweight.”
“I just continue to work hard and do what I have to do to be the next heavyweight champion,” Mitchell said about the accolades. “It’s not that hard (to focus on Witherspoon) because I have to keep winning. If I don’t keep winning all that talk is for naught. All of these things are contingent on me winning.”
But Mitchell realizes that a loss to Witherspoon would bring the talk to a screeching halt, and that he has a tough opponent in front of him on April 28th. Still, there are the losses that Witherspoon suffered at the hands of Chris Arreola and Tony Thompson, and a certain motivation in outshining those two highly ranked opponents.
“I defiantly would be lying if I said no,” Mitchell said when asked if he would want to look as impressive as Thompson and Arreola against Witherspoon, “I want to go out there and be entertaining. It’s an entertaining sport. I believe if I put my punches together and stick with my game plan I can get him out of there, but I am prepared for a hard 12 rounds. I don’t want my KO streak to stop, but win lose or draw I’m coming to fight.”
As for Witherspoon, who has shown flashes of brilliance in his career, he also recognizes how significant a win will be.
“People have yet to see me at my best,” added Witherspoon, “I plan to go out and put on my best performance. Everything is starting to come together.”
Witherspoon feels that a new trainer in Virgil Hunter and his first ever training camp should bring out the best in him, and that fans will be shocked at his performance.
“Everyone knows when Chazz Witherspoon comes to a fight, its going to be a fight,” added Witherspoon, “I’m a man’s man, I’m not afraid of any man. I’m not saying every other opponent was scared but when you watch the fight; they were throwing punches to keep him off them. They were fighting scared. I came into boxing at 12 and shocked the amateurs. It’s sort of the opposite (with Seth Mitchell). He’s having a meteoric rise as a professional. I think now I’m getting more seasoned and more mature. I believe I’m starting to come into my own.”
“I defiantly welcome the challenge,” Mitchell added, “I don’t think a lot of people come to the ring intending to fight scared. I think a lot of people come to the ring and they underestimate my boxing IQ, my heart, my intestinal fortitude, and my quickness. If you slice me open, you’ll find no female dog in me.”
Witherspoon admitted that, outside of the ring, he and Mitchell might just get along quite well. “He sounds like an upstanding guy,” Witherspoon said of Mitchell, “I wasn’t trying to knock any of his opponents, I was stating the facts, I’m not a scared guy and I come to fight.”
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