Mitchell-Witherspoon conference call quotes

APRIL 28th will bring a night of boxing that will hopefully give an answer to the Bernard Hopkins 52-5-2 (32) +Chad Dawson 30-1 (17) equation. One that wasn’t answered when the pair squared off at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California this past October. The bout came to a dull & abrupt conclusion when Hopkins was thrown to the canvas by Dawson in the 2nd round of their WBC light heavyweight title fight. The co-main event to their rematch is an intriguing matchup between two heavyweights from the Mid-Atlantic region who come to fight, Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell 24-0-1 (18) & “The Gentleman” Chazz Witherspoon 30-2 (22) The fight is a must win for both fighters despite being at different points in their respective careers. This bout also marks the first time two African American, college graduates will meet in the ring as heavyweights. Both fighters took time out from their busy training schedule to participate in a Q&A session with the media earlier today…

It’s my first time being scheduled to go 12 rounds. I know a lot of people are thinking how is he gonna do when he gets taken into deep waters, but this is what I do to provide for my family so I am not worried about going the distance at all. I know this is a nail in the coffin fight for him if he lose, but I feel the same way, I’m not done reaching my goals. If I lose this fight, then my casket will be in production, & I’m not ready for my coffin to be in production.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wanna win impressively, but at the same time I’m not going to be reckless. I think if I stay behind my jab & put my punches together that I could get him outta there. I don’t want my knockout streak to end, but I will be prepared to go a hard 12 rounds. The main thing is to get the W.

To be honest, it’s not that hard for me because I have to keep winning. If I don’t win then all that talk is for nothing. I do think about it but I have to take it one step at a time & keep things in perspective. I have a good team around me & I know that all my plans are contingent on me continuing to win.

I definitely welcome the challenge (from Witherspoon), but I think when people get in the ring with me, they underestimate my boxing IQ, my intestinal fortitude, & my quickness. It surprises them, & then when I start to touch them they kinda get outta there. I respect Chazz, I’ve watched his fights & I’ve studied him. Like he said, he comes to fight. He said his heart don’t pump Kool-Aid, neither does mine. If you slice me up you won’t find no female dog in me.

The way I look at it, people have yet to see me at my best, so my plan is just to go out here & give my best performance. Everything just came together out of nowhere for this fight. This is the first time I’ve been in a training camp, getting good sleep, & eating correct, & training all the time. I’m humble but I don’t fear any man, & anybody that knows me knows I come to fight. Not to say that his other opponents were scared of him, but when you watch the fights they’re throwing punches just to keep him off of them, & not really committing to their punches. But I’m not gonna come in there like that. My heat doesn’t pump any Kool-Aid.

Wade Hinnant will still be in the corner, we just added Virgil as the #1, & that came about because I got with a new management company called Jawbreaker Management, with Scott Russo & Ken Norton. Ken Norton actually recommended I get with a new trainer & he mentioned Virgil. It’s funny because I had a list of 3 trainers that  would wanna work with if I ever chose to work with anybody else. The list was Virgil Hunter, Barry Hunter, & Nazim Richardson. I met Virgil during the 2004 Olympics when me & Andre Ward were roommates. So when they mentioned him, I got on the phone with him, & it all came together. We’re doing like a 5-week camp, he’s a brilliant man & things are going pretty good.

I actually look at it the opposite way. Being as though Seth has the little experience that he has, & has been able to do what he’s done, it speaks volumes for him. So I don’t get into it when people bring up the fact that he hasn’t been tested, & this, that, & the other, when all the people who are saying it haven’t been in the ring with him. Everybody that got in the ring with him tried to test him but they came up short, so obviously there’s something there. I do know that this is one of the few times where I have more experience than the other guy, but to think that he doesn’t have what it takes to be here is dumb, because he’s here. I’m actually the underdog, I’m not expected to win this fight. The one thing I do look at is there’s no pressure on me & that I like.