Kevin Mitchell retires

Announced today the Kevin Mitchell has retired with immediate effect. What are people's lasting thoughts/memories?

For me he was a talented guy who lacked some dedication early in his career and never quite cut it at the highest levels. Had he lived cleaner and trained harder when younger then maybe things could have been different.

The linares fight seemed to take a lot out of him so this isn't much of a shock.

Good decision....I think it's the right time........Always seemed like a good honest kid..

Unfortunately the kid missed out.....Katsidis should have been made for him and he blew it....Should have beaten Linares had his corner been more clued up...

The kid wants to take my Old man's advice that if there isn't anything you can do about something don't think about it...

However my guess is in alphabet times he should have had a belt and he knows it...Like old Herol Graham..

But a good wife and family is more precious than any belt.....and we all have regrets..

Good luck to him.....

I liked Kevin Mitchell, rarely in a dull fight, agree with the sentiments of the OP, seemed to lack the dedication to make it to the elite level.

Brave individual, who never ducked a fight.

Enjoy your retirement Kevin, and I'm sure you'd make a top coach and/or pundit!

What are people's lasting thoughts/memories?

His Mum at ringside...............

Insightful.....

I attended the Katsidis fight - man against boy that night. Strange evening. Stacey (girl with the big teeth) singing the anthem, a solitary Danny Williams fan in attendance (complete with huge placard), Tony Bellew running away from the ring girls in case TV picked him up (as he'd get bollocked off the wife) and Mitchell fans calling Katsidis a "sick c*&%" for knocking Mitchell out!!

Still....no-one got stabbed.

Kareem61 wrote:Insightful.....

You can probably still hear the echo of her voice

Wow, that sounds quite an evening! Always liked Katsidis, think he was a little underrated.

I always regarded Mitchell as a fan favourite who was never going to quite reach the top step. I think his demons outside the ring played more of a part in his defeats than his talent though.

He was always in a good scrap - "never in a dull fight" was a phrase made for a Mitchell.

Good European and British fighter, just wasn't good enough at world level.

Think he'll feel aggrieved that just about every other half decent lightweight in the UK seems to have been awarded an 'honorary' World title, whereas he always seemed to go the untraditional route and have to fight decent opposition for his chance.

My lasting thought of him was always the bridesmaid never the bride. Always come up short when it mattered and I did invest alot of time in him as he was my hometown fighter and a die hard hammer like myself. However like said by many he took on all comers and never was in a dull fight. The issues outside the ring were often cited and gonna be controversial now but it just always seems like an excuse. Good British/Euro level fighter but couldn't cut it at world level and yes maybe lacked the dedication.

Watching him get his head knocked off by Katsidis in front of all those 'Ammers fans was my favourite Mitchell moment. His mother wasn't so loud then was she. Happy retirement though Kev

Steffan wrote:Watching him get his head knocked off by Katsidis in front of all those 'Ammers fans was my favourite Mitchell moment. His mother wasn't so loud then was she. Happy retirement though Kev

He was definitely a bit too English for you.

djlovesyou wrote:

Steffan wrote:Watching him get his head knocked off by Katsidis in front of all those 'Ammers fans was my favourite Mitchell moment. His mother wasn't so loud then was she. Happy retirement though Kev

He was definitely a bit too English for you.

That he was. I picked him to beat John Murray mind when no one gave him a chance. Was quite weird how no one backed him when prior to Katsidis he was going to "destroy Khan"

Good fighter though was Kevin. I wish him happy retirement