[By Pattee Mak on May 18, 2013].
On June 22, 2013, heavyweight Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell (25-1-1, 19 KOs) from Brandywine, Maryland, will be fighting 12 rounds in the co-main event on the undercard of Paulie Malignaggi vs. Adrien Broner in a rematch against Johnathon Banks (29-1-1, 19 KOs) of Detroit, Michigan at the Barclays Center, located in Brooklyn, New York. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and K2 Promotions.
Banks and Mitchell first met up face-to-face on November 17, 2012, at the Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Banks won the first fight by TKO, at 2:37 in round 2 of 12. Banks won the vacant WBC International heavyweight title and Mitchell’s WBO NABO heavyweight title.
Pattee Mak: What did you learn from your last fight against Banks?
Mitchell: I don’t give a lot of details about what we’ve been doing. I’m bringing a lot more to the table. I made a ton of mistakes. I honestly cannot get into details with what we’ve been working on without giving everything away. Coming out with my God given talents and be a smarter fighter. I’m very aggressive. I’ll try and be a smarter and better man.
Pattee Mak: You’ve seen what he can do. You felt his punches. What will be your arsenal when you meet him once again?
Mitchell: I don’t want to give away my game plan. You’ll see on June 22 when it all comes together.
Pattee Mak: Take me back to the first fight, round 1, you looked awesome, you landed more punches, you were busy and I believe you won the first round. Now round two, I believe you were knocked down twice. Bring me back in your own words about this upset?
Mitchell: I was knocked down 3 times. I was winning the first and the beginning of the second round. 1st round I clearly won. I was fundamentally wrong. Not judging my balance and distance and it’s a no no in the ring but definitely a no no when fighting a counter puncher. He was waiting to capitalize on it but not in the first but second. That’s just how I look at the fight. I know I couldn’t lunge or reach especially with a counter puncher. It cost me but made me a better fighter. I saw I was doing some of those same things in previous fights and I got away with it but not that time.
Pattee Mak: That’s what separates you from the rest. You take the time to learn from your mistakes.
Mitchell: Absolutely. I wish the referee didn’t stop the fight. But maybe I wouldn’t have learned from it. But now I can overcome it. I learned from something that things have to happen. I look at it as a blessing in disguise.
Pattee Mak: Last time we spoke Andre Hunter was training you? Is he still in your camp?
Mitchell: Absolutely. He’s not going anywhere.
Pattee Mak: Did Hunter switch any of your training in preparation of this fight?
Mitchell: Yes. A lot of reporters ask me if I’m training harder. I can say we’re training smarter. The light is on. My techniques… I’m paying more attention to the finer details. I know you aren’t suppose to lunge or reach. I’m training smarter.
Pattee Mak: It seems to me that you can take the truth and learn from your mistakes.
Mitchell: Absolutely. I believe if I’m doing something wrong, I want to know why, and I try to improve it. That’s how I go about things in life. People don’t tell me what I want to hear. I want the truth. If I value someone, I say the truth. I’m a man of my word. Don’t tell me what I want to hear.
Pattee Mak: That takes a strong person on the inside to accept the truth.
Pattee Mak: What would you like to say to Banks?
Mitchell: Nothing, he’ll be ready to fight. I know he’s coming prepared to fight. I definitely expect to be victorious. He’s gonna be ready. Whatever is going to happen is already written.
Pattee Mak: A true man of God right here. Any predictions for this fight?
Mitchell: I predict the victory to be by decision or KO. My main focus is to do better. I’m confident of my victory. A unanimous decision. I’m well prepared for this fight. I feel good about this fight.
Pattee Mak: What are your thoughts on the Malignaggi vs. Broner match up?
Mitchell: I think it’s a good fight, a very intriguing fight. Broner will win the fight. I know Adrien personally. Paulie is a tough kid. Adrien is coming up two weight classes. Broner is a strong kid and hits hard. I think Adrien will win. It’s a good test for him.
Pattee Mak: What would you like to say to your fans out there?
Mitchell: I have great fans with great support. I hope they can make it to Brooklyn, NY on June 22, or if not, definitely tune in. It’ll be on Showtime. I’m working extremely hard. Pray for me and I’ll do the same. Your boy will be ready. Follow me on Twitter at @SethMayhem48.
Pattee Mak: Faith. All you need is faith and God will do everything. Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me. A special thanks to Lorin Chvotkin for making this interview possible.
Mitchell: Thank you for giving me a voice and I appreciate it. I hope that we can do a post-fight interview.
Pattee Mak: Absolutely. You got it. It’ll either be in face to face or via the phone. Again, I wish you the best. Remember God always has a plan.
Please feel free to comment below or find me on twitter or on facebook under “Pattee Mak
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
