Kevin Mitchell Retires From Boxing

Kevin Mitchell has withdrawn from his European title bout and announced he is retiring from boxing with immediate effect.

Mitchell who has a record of 39-4-KO29 and won the British and Commonwealth titles as a super-featherweight in 2008 said “I've had a good think about it over the last week and I'm happily retired now. I was in the gym on Friday and I wasn't myself. I wasn't enjoying my bag work or my gym work. I came in to the gym on Monday and said to my trainer Tony Sims that I didn't fancy it and that I'm going to call it a day. I was on the punchbag and not enjoying it. Normally I love the punchbag but I really didn't have it in my heart any more to train and go at it. I've been doing this 22 years and it's time to call it a day and start a new chapter in my life. As a young man, I lived a bit of a party lifestyle. Partying and training don't work together. The last two or three years, I worked on my career but if I could go back, that's something I would have done differently. I like to think I was an exciting fighter that gave the fans value for money. I don't think they make fighters like me anymore; fighters that put it all on the line every time they fight”.

Mitchell said his retirement is only in the ring as he said his ambitions is to stay in the sport as a trainer. He said “I can't wait to get my hands dirty working with Tony. He is an amazing man to be around and a bit like me, he's been through his ups and downs and made a great life. The gym is buzzing with some top talent and I am going to be helping him out and looking to pass on my experience”.

After winning the 2003 ABA featherweight title as an amateur (with a record of 45-5), Mitchell turned professional that year at the age of 18. Earmarked by many as a future world champion, Mitchell breezed through his first 25 bouts to earn a shot at British super-featherweight champion Carl Johanneson, enhancing his reputation with a thrilling ninth-round stoppage. Four fights later, Mitchell stepped in with dangerous Colombian Breidis Prescott, who had shattered the unbeaten record of Amir Khan the previous year. Mitchell recorded a comfortable points victory to set him on the way to a clash with Michael Katsidis for the WBO interim world lightweight title.