The former
Michigan State linebacker was thoughts about life after college. A returning knee injury ended his
NFL aspiration. He had a degree in illegal justice, but he certainly wasn't ready for a desk job.
Then he saw former
Notre Dame Safety Tom Zbikowski, whom he compete next to on the gridiron, fight in a televised boxing match.
"It's that easy," says Mitchell, 29. "I was a casual fan, but I never consideration about boxing before that. My last fight was in eighth grade."
Mitchell (23-0-1, 17 KOs) hope to show Saturday how far he's come since middle school. He takes on Timur Ibragimov (30-3-1, 16 KOs) of Uzbekistan in a 10-round co-main event of the Capital Showdown at the
Washington Convention Center (HBO, 9:45 p.m. ET).
It's another step in his trip toward becoming "the savior of
American boxing," as he has been call by former champion
Oscar De La Hoya and others.
American boxers under enemy control the heavyweight division for much of the 20th century with stars such as Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis,
Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The sport's reputation peaked for
U.S. fans when their countrymen lined the division.
But American heavyweights have hardly ever kept the belt for more than a year since the 1990s, after Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield flamed out. As Eastern Europeans, led by Ukrainian brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, took manager of the four major belts, boxing's relevance in the USA has waned.
Mitchell, nickname "
Mayhem," thinks he can do amazing about that. "Everybody wants to have someone they can relate to," he says. "I'm ready to put that on my shoulders. Confidently, I can be the one to bring the heavyweight title back to the
U.S."
If his past history is any signal, it's not difficult to think he can achieve it. Mitchell was a standout linebacker at Gwynn Park High in Brandywine, Md., and as a senior was named the top suspicious player in the Washington area by The
Washington Post. He had a multitude of scholarship offers but chose Michigan State because of the playing style and his rapport with the coaching staff.
Mitchell was a key donor and ultimate starter as a redshirt freshman for the Spartans. His sights were set on playing professionally, but damage to particular cartilage in his knee derail those dreams.
As one door stopped up, another opened. Mitchell came back to Maryland in 2006, soon after graduate, to pursue a career in boxing. He admits to having little technical skill in the beginning, but he picked up the sport quickly by watching film and expenditure time in the gym.
Manager
Sharif Salim thinks the easy change can be recognized to his football background.
"It takes outstanding athleticism to play college football," Salim says. "He's shown the capability to take contact and is quick on his feet from chasing down running backs. Big Ten football has helped him in dealing with coverage, considerate drills and maintaining the discipline needed in a sport like this."
Mitchell enters the ring for the main fight of his career Saturday. Ibragimov is bigger, stronger and more knowledgeable than anyone he's faced.
Mitchell will try to stand for the Washington area in front of hometown fans, friends and family, as well as his wife and two children. But the sculpt 6-2; 240-pounder is aiming much higher than being a local hero.
"The fan support is great and I'm keyed up about the chance," he says. "At the same time, I can't let that overwhelm me because I want to be back on this platform again.
"I'm not saying I'm the rescuer or the heavyweight hope, but I believe I possess the tools and aptitude to become
heavyweight champion of the world."
