Interview: Byron Mitchell

Interview: Byron Mitchell

10.10.01 - On the Hopkins-Trinidad undercard at the Garden, New York City, WBA Super
Middleweight Champion "the Hammer from Bama" Byron Mitchell improved his record to (24-1-1) 17 knockouts by winning a 12 round unanmious decision to Puerto Rican Manuel Sacia in their second meeting.

Mitchell is a true champion who holds an outstanding professional record of (24-1-1) with 17KO's. He started his professional career on June 25, 1996 in Indianpolis, IN destroying Tyrone Bledsoe in two to make a successful pro debut. He won his first world title three years after his pro on June 12, 1999, when he exterminated Frank Liles in 11th round to capture the WBA-168 pounds championship before loosing the title on April 2000 to Bruno Girard in France. Mitchell-Bruno's first meeting December 1999 in Tuncia ended in draw.

On March 3, at Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas on Holyfield-Ruiz II undercard this year a new king was crown as Mitchell crushed Manuel Siaca in eleventh round to score a TKO. Mitchell-Siaca rematch took place last Saturday (Sept 29) on Hopkins-Trinidad card at Madison Square Garden, New York City. Here's what the WBA 168 pounds champion had to say....................

It was great watching your fight last week at the Garden against Manuel Siaca. How would you describe your rematch him?
I think it was an excellent performance though Manuel came to get my title but I beat him again. I'm a true warrior, I went down at round 12 but got back up to win the fight. I was doing good from the beginning. I think I performed well, no fight that can't be critized. There will always be something new you can work on after each fight.

How hurt were you when you took a knee in round 12?
He really hurt me on the 12th round, he fights very dirty, he pulled my head down and hit me on my temple. I was out of it thereafter so I tried to stay away from him. Tim Austin and I are the only champ Carl King got. So Carl told me in the locker room before the fight that we know that Manuel is a guy that can make you look bad because of his style. He 's a 175 pounder who moved down in weight to fight me and he certainly wasn't an easy fight.

How did you feel that your fight wasn't televised?
I wasn't too happy about that. They wanted to pay tribute to fire fighters, Police officers and others who risk their lives in the Sept 11 terrorist attack. I thought they should have shown my fight because I'm an interesting fighter who people need to watch more.

What was your thoughts on Hopkins-Trinidad bout?
I knew you can't take Hopkins for granted or sleep on him, he's got experience and remember he went 12 rounds with Roy Jones jr. Roy couldn't demolish him. Hopkins is the kind of fighters you have to give some respect. I'm very happy for Bernard, I know he'll take care of Business.

Manuel Siaca is a Puerto Rican. When I spoke to Hopkins few days before the fight, he told me not to allow these Puerto Ricans come over here (USA) and take away anything from us. After I thought of it I really fought very harder to win my fight. I didn't get to watch Hopkins-Trinidad fight live but I watched the tape after I got home. Hopkins-Trinidad was just a classic and lovely fight. I was just jumping up and down. It was so funny, Trinidad is the Puerto Rican hero, his fans were there watching their hero getting beaten in front of their face. I think it was the funniest thing ever.

Have you ever thought that Hopkins may move up to 168 to face you?
We got similar styles. I was in New York for a while, you wouldn't believe people kept sayingm to me, I look like Bernard Hopkins. I know we know how to fight. Well, never really thought of fighting Hopkins but if we have to it's business.

What do you remember most from you amateur days?
I remember I started as a light heavy. I only had about four fight at that level and I remember winning the National Golden Gloves in 1996.

What other amateur title did you win ?
The National Golden Gloves is the only major thing I won as an amateur.

Why did you decide you want to become a boxer?
I decided at the age of 16, because I use to get into a lot of street fights so when I heard about a community center called Wolf Park in Alabama I just went there to learn more.

What can you remember from your professional debut?
I remember the guy I fought was tall but wasn't as experienced as I was. I knock him out in 2.

So what's your current true weight?
I'm a 168 pounder and world champ. Super middle is my weight,I'll stay here and hopefully unify the division if the other guys want to fight. I want to fight Eric Lucas so bad and I know Sve Ottke is not willing to leave Germany to fight. I don't mind meeting him in a neutral ground maybe in Canada.

What's next for you now?
I have nobody yet Don King and Carl will checkout what's out there for me. I want to unify the 168 division if I can next next. They will negotiate what's good for.

What's your impression of IBF super middle champ, Sven Ottke?
If you can get them out of Europe, they can be beaten. I would love to fight him in a neutral ground definitely not in Germany. They have a different style and the judges are different too.

Please, tell us what happened last time you sparred with WBO light heavy
champ Dariusz Mich...
Personally, I don't like him, he's so arrogant. He's a dirty fighter, I was there in Germany to help him prepare for his fight but he kept hitting me behind my head. Why does he want to hurt someone helping him get ready for his fight? This is why I don't really care about that guy. I gave him a good workout maybe he got mad.

Have you ever thought of a possiblity of fighting David Reid?
I like Reid, he's a really nice guy and never had any problem with him. He's a good friend and we went to same school under the same trainer Al Mitchell. They was a lot of respect on both sides.

Compare your two fights with Bruno Girard?
I tremendously underestimated him first time and I said to myself Bruno hasn't been tested yet, he can't stand my power but Oh' Boy he proved me wrong. I tried to Knock him out but couldn't because I didn't train as I should have. I took it easy because I thought I would knock him out. I wore myself out so I ran out of stamina. They said they found Steriod in my system, if anyone was to be checked out it would be Bruno
he was just coming back stronger as the rounds progressed. My Doctor gives me that for me astima.

What do you recall from your fight with Frank Liles?
It was the most nervous time I've ever been. But I tried to put him in my level. If you ever put them higher then it will be hard to reach them. I looked at him as an average man with average abilities.

Thank you very much for your time.
You're welcome Ike. Keep up the good work!