Heavyweight Seth Mitchell Will Wait For Johnathon Banks
Seth Mitchell & Alantez Fox photo by Anna John for Stiff Jab.
by Gautham Nagesh
Despite his stated desire to fight this month, it looks like Maryland heavyweight boxer Seth Mitchell will be taking it easy for at least the next few weeks.
Mitchell was preparing for a chance to avenge his only loss against Detroit’s Johnathon Banks last month, when an injury to Banks’ hand postponed the fight. Now it appears the fight will take place in June. Details about the date and location remain unclear, but Mitchell has resigned himself to waiting at least a few months before returning to the ring.
“It’s not fun,” Mitchell told Stiff Jab by phone. “I’m the type of fighter that likes to stay busy.”
Mitchell has been keeping busy and in shape by visiting the gym two to three times per week. But he has been careful not to over-exert himself, and admitted the time off may do him some good in the long run.[[MORE]]
“Everything happens for a reason,” Mitchell said, suggesting the extra time will help him cement lessons learned after Banks stopped him in the second round of their November tilt. He knows the stakes are even higher this time.
“If I don’t go out there and take care of business, it’s a huge setback,” he added. "It’s hard to accept defeat, but I learned from that fight.
Like most fighters managed by Al Haymon, Mitchell has been a mainstay on HBO in recent years, but that will likely change for the rematch with Banks. HBO recently cut ties with Golden Boy Promotions, which works closely with Haymon, after superstar Floyd Mayweather bolted the network for Showtime.
A self-proclaimed “Golden Boy fighter,” that means Mitchell will likely be taking his act to Showtime in the near future, but he didn’t seem overly concerned.
“We’ve just got to see where the chips fall. I’m not privy to what’s happening” behind the scenes, Mitchell said.
Regardless of what network airs his next fight, Mitchell promised they would get his best. In the meantime, he plans to enjoy next three weeks with his family before gearing up for training camp once again. That means cheering for his beloved Michigan State Spartans, who find themselves in the Sweet 16 for the fifth time in six years.
“75 percent [of the time], Michigan State is in the Sweet 16,” Mitchell boasted. “I’ve got them winning it all. There’s no bias. They could do it.”
Mitchell has the Spartans beating Florida in the national championship game. He also offered one more prediction: he likes Brandon Rios in a close fight over Mike Alvarado this Saturday night in the other rematch everyone will be watching this year.