by James Slater: Last night, at The Boardwalk in Atlantic City, unbeaten 23-year-old British super-featherweight prospect Kevin Mitchell successfully made his U.S debut as he stopped tough 33-year-old Colombian southpaw Walter Estrada right at the end of the 5th round. A right hand body shot that almost looked as though it landed on the lower chest of the older man did the damage, and although Estrada beat the count at about nine the referee stopped the fight. Mitchell improved to 27-0(20). Estrada fell to 34-6(23)..
Mitchell far from had things his own way, however. Caught far too many times for comfort – once again – the exciting prospect showed hardly any effective head movement. Caught again and again by the southpaw’s straight left to the face, the 23-year-old was hurt at times. Never in a bad or an easy fight, Mitchell once again made it clear how much work there is to be done on his defence. Mitchell later said it was the southpaw stance that gave him his biggest problems in last night’s fight.
Estrada, with his still fast hands, caused Mitchell another problem in the 2nd round. A good left hook to the head wobbled Mitchell and it was now abundantly clear the youngster was in for yet another testing fight. Mitchell always came back when he got caught, usually with his good right hand, and the fight was warming up as a good one to watch. There was yet more trouble for the 23-year-old in the 4th round. As the two men were trading at close quarters, with Mitchell going to the body well, a big swelling and a small cut suddenly appeared under the prospect’s left eye. Immediately going to work on the damage at the end of the round, Mitchell’s corner did their best to fix the eye.
Now in a fight he was no way certain to win, Mitchell suddenly pulled out the victory in the 5th round. After getting caught yet again by more head shots, Mitchell fired out two good right hands to the head. Then, mere seconds from the bell to end the 5th, Estrada suddenly crumpled to the mat. The shot was a hard one to see at first, but in relay a sharp right to the 33-year-old’s upper body could be seen. Estrada was badly hurt, and though he just beat the count the fight was stopped. The time was 3 minutes of the 5th round.
Mitchell won once again, he overcame a tough man in his U.S debut and he gave the fans yet another thrilling fight. The 23-year-old must pay more attention to the subtleties of defence if he’s to fulfil all his promise, however. For the record, Mitchell made the second successful defence of his WBO Inter-Continental 130 pound title.