08.02.04 – By Marc Abrams: Sharmba Mitchell’s emotions of the last 2 weeks must have been like a roller coaster, many up’s and downs over the last 2 weeks. He originally was going to fight his nemesis Kostya Tszyu for a chance of history and greatness, in Moscow Russia. Not wanting to spoil the work he put into training and a chance of an “interim” title belt Omar Weis was going to be Mitchell’s dance partner, but when Weis couldn’t be ready in time, Australian resident Lovemore N’Dou was brought in as a last minute replacement.
N’Dou proved to a lot more then way to capture a belt as Mitchell won a highly diputed unanimous decision victory in Atlantic City.
The 33 year old Mitchell. Came in at a ready 139 pounds, was pushed to the limit by the suprising skills the N’dou, 32, 137 lbs brought into the ring. Michell showed good defensive skills as he ducked a lot of punches but he got hit by a lot of counter and straight right hands by N’Dou, who came to fight on this night. Mitchell displayed a flicking jab throughout the fight and there was a lot of good in fighting by both men, which lead to a small cut over the right eye of Mitchell in the 4th round. N’dou controlled some of the early rounds with some smacking right hands and some good body work. In the afore mentioned 4th round N’Dou went southpaw and surprised some of the ring sider with how well he was able to use the different punches from that stance. Mitchell began to settle down and work better in the middle rounds, including a big 9th where he drove N’Dou into the ropes with a nice body combo.
In round 10 N’Dou landed some nice right hands to eek out that round. The 11th was probably the best round of the fight as there was great back and forth action right up to the bell. The 12th really did not amount to much as Mitchell boxed more and N’Dou tried to stalk.
This observer scored it a draw, but the scores the counted had it 115-113; 117-112(?); and 118-110(no way) in favor of The Takoma Park. Md. Native Mitchell; as he upped his record to 53-3(29 ko’s). N’Dou, unfortunately 36-6-1(22).
Mitchell will be on to bigger fights especially the long waited rematch with Tszyu which now has a little more significance as Mitchell has his interim belt. Lost in shuffle was N’dou’s gusty effort, which was similar to what was put forth by Gianluca Branco when he fought a clse decision to Arturo Gatti, and if he shall chose to fight some of the up an coming 140 pounders and would be a great gage for the likes of Miguel Cotto and Ponchito Bojado.