Kevin Mitchell will live like a monk for the final two weeks of his training camp ahead of his massive clash with John Murray.
The Dagenham Destroyer takes on his Mancunian rival on July 9 at London’s ExCeL Arena, live on Sky Sports 1HD.
And his preparations are about to get a whole lot tougher with a fortnight at a secret location in the sticks.
Before his clash last May with Michael Katsidis, distractions outside the ring proved his undoing.
This time Mitchell is going back to basics as he prepares for the most important fight of his career.
“What happened before the Katsidis fight will never happen again,” said Mitchell.
“This time I am going away with Jimmy Tibbs to some place in the country, they haven’t even told me where it will be yet, where nothing but John Murray will be on my mind
“It will be a spartan two weeks, and I won’t even have my mobile phone with me.
“All there will be is videos and DVDs of John Murray’s fights.
“He will be the only person I will be thinking about, and I’ll be thinking about is knocking him spark out.
“I feel like I did before the Breidis Prescott fight when I was in great shape mentally and physically.
“I knew then that one mistake would be fatal, and it’s the same for the Murray fight.
“I respect him because I know how dangerous he is and that will make me a much better fighter on the night.
“I know I have to go in that ring and be horrible and vicious and fight fire with fire, but I have to be smart with him as well.
“I won’t be reckless but I won’t run from him and I will match him punch for punch until I stop him.”
Tickets for North ‘n South are available now, priced at £40, £50, £75, £100, £150 and £200, from 0844 844 0444 or ticketmaster.co.uk
Miranda vs. Despaigne & Casamayor vs. Teron on 7/29
LAS VEGAS (June 16, 2011) – On July 29, “Fight Nights at The Cosmopolitan” returns to The Chelsea Ballroom featuring matchups between four of professional boxing’s toughest and hardest hitting warriors and airing live on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights.”
In conjunction with Warriors Boxing Promotions and Blue Wave Group, “Fight Nights at The Cosmopolitan” combines the mystique and excitement of legendary Las Vegas boxing matches with a new and socially dynamic experience. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 17 at 10 a.m. and are priced at $250 for VIP tables, $150 for ringside seats, $100 for floor seats, $50 for grandstand seating and $20 for general admission tickets and are available for purchase by calling 877-551-7778 or at www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com.
In the fight’s main event, former world title challenger and universally feared power puncher Edison “Pantera” Miranda (34-5, 29 KOs) of Colombia will face former Cuban Olympian Yordanis Despaigne (8-1, 4 KOs) in a guaranteed thriller of a 10-round light heavyweight showdown. In a 10-round super lightweight battle where sparks are sure to fly, former three-time world champion Joel Casamayor (38-5-1, 22 KOs) will face Bronx, New York’s Jorge Luis Teron (25-2-1, 17 KOs).
A fan favorite the world over for his brilliant mix of amazing punching power and a unique flair for showmanship, 30-year-old Miranda will have just his second fight in the light heavyweight division after having challenged for world titles in the middleweight and super middleweight divisions.
Despite having just nine professional fights, 31-year-old Despaigne can rely on the wealth of experience he gained during his impressive 300-fight amateur, with victories over several future world champions including Andre Dirrell, Jean Pascal and Károly Balzsay.
Given both fighters aggressive styles of fighting, this exciting battle will almost surely end with a 10 count for one of the contestants.
Heading into his showdown with Teron, 39-year-old former three-time world champion Joel “El Cepillo” Casamayor knows that every fight is a “do-or-die” affair and his sensational career will be over should he lose again.
For New Yorker Teron, a third loss would put a major damper on his plans to someday challenge for a world title. Teron began his professional boxing career on a tear and was undefeated in 23 contests before losing two of his last five to strong opposition.
Casamayor will not have to look hard to find Teron, as both fighters are known for their love of trading leather.
“This is another sensational show at the most dazzling location in all of Vegas,” said promoter Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing. “Both of the main televised fights are certain to be all-out conflicts between men who have never given an inch of ground up easily. It’s an honor to be bringing this show to such a world-class resort as The Cosmopolitan.”
Undercard bouts will be announced shortly.
Weights And Quotes From London: Choi-Asiku and Hamilton-Ryan
London – Friday, 17th June 2011. The weigh in for former WBU/WBF Featherweight World Champion Choi Tseveenpürev versus former International Boxing Organization (IBO) Featherweight World Champion ‘Action’ Jackson Asiku and Southern Area Light Welterweight Champion Darren ‘Mr R&B’ Hamilton versus Midlands Area Light Welterweight Champion Dave Ryan, for the British Masters Light Welterweight title, took place today at The Real Fight Club in Shoreditch.
The two bouts headline Spencer Fearon’s Hard Knocks Boxing Promotions ‘Summer Smash’ event at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London
on Saturday 18th June 2011.
Choi Tseveenpürev – 9st 1 1/2lbs
“In training I’m very, very sharp. It’ll be a very, very good fight.
Asiku is a tough kid and no one wants to fight him. I fight anyone and tomorrow I’ll stop him.”
Jackson Asiku – 8st 13lbs
“The fight is going to go like a boxer, that’s what we do, we’re mechanics we work with our tools you know.
We do the real thing, we’ve come to do it, I’ve got my tools
I’ve come a long way and I’m going to win this”
Darren Hamilton – 9st 13 1/4lbs
“They way I see things tomorrow, I see it being skills versus effort. I reckon he’s going to be coming forward and I’m just going to be picking him off with the jab.
I reckon the first round could be a bit of a fight, it’ll be up close and personal. It’s gonna be very tense the first round.
After three or four rounds it’s gonna be a very interesting fight, he’s gonna get frustrated and after three or four rounds that’s when it’s going to be a proper fight. We’re gonna be picking shots and stuff and it’ll be a really good fight.
I honestly believe that I will stop him inside eight rounds, yeah cool.”
Dave Ryan – 9st 13 1/2lbs
“I see it going my way to be fair, I’m fit and strong and I don’t think he’ll be able to cope with me to be fair.”
Tickets, priced £35 (Standard seated) and SOLD OUT (Ringside) for the ‘Summer Smash’ event are still available on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com, in person at The TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA or The Real Fight Club, 2-6 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NQ or from any boxer appearing on the show. For further information call: 07960 850645