Word has come through today that a great servant to British boxing has called time on his career.
Kevin Mitchell, the popular former British and Commonwealth super-featherweight champion has, after forty-three fights, decided to call it a day and retire.
The 31-year-old has been fighting at lightweight in recent times but has lost two world title fights, leaving the Dagenham man with a fight record that reads 39 wins from 43 fights.
Mitchel had been due to fight on March 18th against the Finnish fighter Edis Tatli, but it appears going into training for the fight he realised that his time up in the profession was over with Mitchell remarking,
‘I was in the gym training for the Edis Tatli fight and I just didn’t really feel that I have enough to go through the training once again.
‘I’ve been fighting for 22 years. It is a long time to be putting your body through all you have to do to get right for a fight and my body has said enough is enough.’
Amongst the first to offer thoughts on Mitchell?s retirement was the promoter Eddie Hearn who has remarked about Mitchell,
?It?s been an absolute pleasure working with Kevin Mitchell over the past few years.
‘Kevin is one the biggest and brightest characters in the gym and has already played a huge part in the education and motivation of some of our younger fighters.
‘He has a wonderful boxing brain and he can go on to be a great coach if that?s the path he wishes to take. He has been a wonderful servant to British boxing and I?m sure all fight fans will join me in wishing him the best and happiness in his retirement.?
Thanks for the memories Kevin, it has been, mostly, an enjoyable journey.
Mitchell Announces Retirement
