BoxingOpinions Interview: Mitchell Smith

We chat to highly-rated, up and coming super-featherweight Mitchell Smith. Currently 6-0, he is definitely one to look out for in Britain!

Interview with Mitchell Smith!

We chat to highly-rated British prospect...

Mitchell Smith!

AKA 'The Baby Faced Assassin'

(5-0, 2 KO's)

You're 5 fights into your professional career... How have you found the pro game so far? Is it what you expected?

I prefer the pro game to the amateur game. My style is a little more designed for the pro's, that's why I didn't get picked for the GB squad as an amateur. So yeah it was what I expected it to be. I like to hurt people when I fight and in the amateur game that's not so much, but in the pro game its a little bit more exciting and the crowd are starting to like me. I was expecting everything to go well and for it to be like this.

How have you seen your fan base grow over the past 8 or 9 months? Are you starting to get noticed more and more?

Yeah, I've started up a Twitter account and I'm surprised how many people are following me which is nice. And yeah I'm quite liked around my area, I've been boxing since I was 6 and everyone knows I've been boxing since I was young so everyone's been sort of following me around my way. I do like 450 tickets every time I fight, and I'm not even that high up in the pro ranks at the moment. Hopefully my fan base keeps growing and we can take a big crowd to Vegas one day.

Some people have called you the next Ricky Hatton... Is that because of the way you fight or how much support you are getting at such an early stage in your career?

To be likened to Ricky Hatton is amazing. He's done what so many fighters haven't. To be called the next Hatton is a big confidence booster for me. Don't get me wrong I'm an exciting fighter, but to be up where Ricky's standards are, there's a lot more learning to do, and you know, if I can get as good as what Ricky was I'll be more than happy. 

Juan Manuel Lopez to return in November!

Former super-bantamweight and featherweight world champion Juan Manuel Lopez is hoping to return to the ring and possibly at a higher weight. The Puerto Rican may be moving up to 130lb as he feels it may be easier for him to make the weight.

"My team and I are going to talk that over soon. It would be a lot easier to make weight at 130 but if the right fight presents itself then I definitely have to look at going back down to 126," said Lopez.

JuanMa's last fight was a loss to Mexican rival Orlando Salido in what many people believe was the Fight Of The Year. There was controversy surrounding him after the fight as he criticised the referee for stopping him in the 10th round, suggesting that he had gambling problems.

Even if you don't like Lopez, you will have to admit that he is one of the most exciting fighters in the sport today. He has a 'fight to the death' style and is sometimes to brave for his own good, as shown his only two losses which both came to Orlando Salido. He may never return to the top level of the sport, especially if he keeps taking as many punches as he sometimes does. But, one thing that is for sure is that the Puerto Rican will always provide entertainment for the fans.

A move up to 130lb may suit the former world champ as even he must realise that featherweight is one of the toughest divisions at this current time and he may not be able to compete with the top guys at the weight.

I am really looking forward to seeing in action again. I just hope that it is against a half-decent opponent so we get to see his usual fighting style that attracts so many fans.