By Pattee Mak | August 26, 2013]
Heavyweight Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell (26-1-1, 19 KO’s) of Brandywine, Maryland is putting his WBO NABO Heavyweight title and his WBC International heavyweight title on the line Saturday, September 7, 2013 in a 12 round main event against Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (35-3-0, 30 KO’s). Originally the fight card was scheduled for Friday, September 6, 2013. Their reach, height, stance and age are pretty much the same. Wondering what their weight will be the day of the fight. Hmmmmm. SHOWTIME will be broadcasting this fight at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California. It is being promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions.
Pattee Mak: First off, congrats on your recent victory against Johnathon Banks (29-2-1, 19 KO’s) back on June 22, 2013, at the Barclays Center. Although you didn’t get the KO victory, you still won a UD. Tell me your thoughts after this fight?
Mitchell: I was happy to get the victory. I stuck to my game plan by staying on the outside and boxing him. While it would have been great to win by a stoppage, my main objective was to get the win. I did just that.
Pattee Mak: I was present at this fight, you got the job done and you were victorious. Unfortunately, the majority of the fans around me thought the fight wasn’t as action packed as they would have liked it to be. Your thoughts?
Mitchell: I’m not going to be able to please everybody. Styles make fights. I did what I needed to do that night to clearly win the fight. It wasn’t my most exciting performance, but I will try to do better next time. All I can say is that I will keep working hard and try to get better in this sport.
Pattee Mak: Has your trainer, Andre Hunter, made any adjustments since your last fight with Banks for your upcoming fight against Arreola?
Mitchell: Andre Hunter makes adjustments all the time, depending on the opponent we are facing. We are continuing to do that for this fight. Even in the fight, he can make adjustments. He is a very good trainer and he prepares me well to fight on this level.
Pattee Mak: Your bout on September 7, 2013 is coming up fast. During your pro career this is the first time the two of you will be meeting up. What do you know about Arreola’s strengths?
Mitchell: He has a lot of power and he is a pressure fighter. He punches in combinations well and he has lots of experience. He has been in big fights before. He can take a punch and keep coming.
Pattee Mak: What about his weaknesses?
Mitchell: I plan to show what those weaknesses are on September 7, so make sure you tune in.
Pattee Mak: Arreola is coming off of a loss against Bermane Stiverne (23-1-1, 20 KO’s) so with that said, I’m assuming he’ll be doing everything in his power to not have another loss added to his record. What will be your game plan on the 7th?
Mitchell: I can’t reveal the game plan for the fight. Know that I will be ready though.
Pattee Mak: Some would say that Arreola had fought tougher opponents during his pro career and the betting odds on this fight are for Arreola’s camp. Would you consider this fight to be your toughest?
Mitchell: Yes. This is my toughest fight. He is the biggest name. He has fought a lot of quality competition, like Stiverne, Adamek, and Vitali Klitschko. I am looking forward to this challenge. The betting odds in the last fight were against me as well. I proved them wrong.
Pattee Mak: As you know anything can happen in boxing.
Pattee Mak: Predictions? All out slugfest or a technical fight?
Mitchell: I’m not sure how it will turn out. I will fight my fight, and be ready for whatever Arreola brings to the table. Andre Hunter prepares me for anything and everything that Arreola might do in the fight.
Pattee Mak: Will there be a clause in the contract stating that if you lose you will have first dibs to a re-match with Arreola?
Mitchell: I don’t plan on losing. My team handles the rematch options and things of that nature.
Pattee Mak: The last time we spoke you stated that you are a man of God. Do you usually prepare yourself spiritually prior to any fight?
Mitchell: I pray before the fight that I’m successful. I pray for the health of myself, and my opponent, and that neither of us get seriously injured in the fight.
Pattee Mak: Amen.
Pattee Mak: Before ending this interview I always like to ask if there is there anything you’d like to say to Arreola prior to the fight?
Mitchell: I don’t really have anything to say to Arreola other than I will be ready to fight on September 7.
Pattee Mak: Thank you for allowing me to interview you, Seth. Everyone go follow Seth Mitchell on Twitter at @SethMayhem48. Anything else in closing?
Mitchell: Thank you very much for having me. Please tune in on September 7 on Showtime. The fight will be at Fantasy Springs in Indio, CA. Thank you to everyone that has been a loyal supporter of Seth Mitchell. I appreciate all the kind words I have received. It helps motivate me to get better in that ring. Thanks again Pattee.
Pattee Mak: You are so welcome.
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.
