On Saturday night in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center Seth Mitchell will face Jonathan Banks in a highly anticipated rematch. Mitchell lost in a devastating TKO to Banks on November 17 of last year after Banks proclaimed he was, “Going to shock the world” and then did just that. Tha Boxing Voice caught up with Seth Mitchell this week leading up to the rematch that has been seven months in the making. Postponed due to an injury on Banks’ behalf. Mitchell, who has never had a layoff this long, is “feeling great…I’m ready to show I have improved.” Since he has not had to deal with the stops and starts that postponement can cause some would expect it to be quite the challenge, but Mitchell takes it all with stride “you have to stay in shape, delays are part of the business…. I am always in the gym, I ‘m a gym rat.”
Mitchell had never lost before his defeat to Jonathan Banks, and it was a surprise to him, however he is completely aware of what went wrong. “I made basic mistakes, especially against a counterpuncher like Banks,” he continues, “Jonathan Banks capitalized on those mistakes…. I had to go back to the drawing board…I’ve gotten better but I cant just say I’ve gotten better I’ve got to show it.” And he is confident that he will.
“I believe in myself more than anyone else believes in me. If Jonathan Banks out boxed me for five or six rounds than we wouldn’t have this immediate rematch but Nov. 17th wasn’t the best Seth Mitchell. On the 22nd I’m going to show that you can lose but you can also come back strong.” Mitchell is confident that he will come away victorious this time against Banks, but he is certainly aware of the chances in boxing. “Tt only takes one shot, you can train hard as you want, be in tip top shape, but in this sport it only takes one shot.”
As for the critics who claim that Mitchell, who has showed weakness against Chazz Witherspoon before the loss to Banks, he stays positive, “You are always going to have critics, but this fight is BIG in the heavyweight division.”
