When Brian Mitchell became the WBA and linear junior lightweight champion of the world, stopping Alfredo Layne in ten rounds on a memorable night at Sun City in 1986, he was also recognised as world champion by The Ring.
However, the authoritative magazine, known as “The Bible of Boxing,” had gone through various ownerships since its inception in 1922, each with different championship policies. At the time of Mitchell’s victory, the magazine no longer awarded belts to their champions, a practice that was resumed in 2000.
He turned pro in 1981 at the age of 20 and won the South African junior lightweight title in 1983, stopping Chris Whiteboy in nine rounds. He made eight successful defenses, winning two Old Buck Belts outright.
Mitchell had a distinguished world championship reign which lasted five years and included 12 successful title defenses, a division record for which he received the Eder Joffre belt from the WBA. He also captured the IBF world title in his 14th world title fight.
During this time, he won the King Korn “South African Boxer of the Year” award four times, was The Rand Sports Writers’ Society, as well as Sportsman’s Illustrated “Sportsman of the Year” and won the State President’s Award for six consecutive years.
He finally retired in 1995, after a brief comeback, with a record of 45-1-3 including 21 knockouts. Having thrice avenged his only defeat against Jacob Morake, as well as the draws against Frank Khonkobe, Jose Rivera and Tony Lopez, all of whom he beat in rematches, he defeated every man he has ever faced.
He was inducted into The International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York in 2009. He is still one of only two South Africans in The Hall of Fame, the other being official, Stan Christodoulou.
It is therefore only fitting that The Ring has decided to retroactively award Mitchell their prestigious championship belt at a ceremony to be broadcast on Supersport on the 8th of December. Along with Vic Toweel and Hekkie Budler, he is one of only three South Africans to be awarded the belt.
Mitchell also holds the unusual distinction of having made all his world title defenses on the road. A remarkable achievement compared to today’s champions, who seldom venture out of their own backyards. The challenge of travelling, hostile crowds and biased judging often prove too much but Mitchell had no choice. Shortly after beating Layne, the sports boycott of South Africa in protest to the country's Apartheid policies came into full effect. A compromise solution was reached where he was allowed to keep his title, but all his future world title fights had to take place outside the country.
It was a long journey that took him to far flung corners of the world, from Panama to Spain, from Italy to the UK and eventually to the United States of America, always defending in the challengers' backyard. Among those he defeated were future WBO champion, Daniel Londas, European champions Salvatore Curcetti and Jim McDonnell, as well as US Olympic team member, Jackie Beard. McDonnell would later halt the comeback of Barry McGuigan and give the great Azumah Nelson all he could handle.
However, it was his two fights with IBF world champion, Tony “The Tiger” Lopez that defined his career and elevated him to the elite level of the sport. Lopez was a big star in his native Sacramento where he regularly filled the Arco Arena. During two title reigns he defeated the likes of Rocky Lockridge, Jorge Paez and Jon Jon Molina, who were considered better than Mitchell’s opponents. When he walked to the ring to face Lopez in the Arco Arena in March of 1991 in a world title unification bout, it was no surprise that the international experts did not give him much of a chance. Little did they know.
In a highly competitive fight, Lopez started well but Mitchell in typical fashion, clawed his way back into the fight and ended in control. The South African camp and many ringsiders thought he did enough to win but the judges weren’t in agreement. One judge had it for Mitchell by the score of 115-113, the second favoured Lopez by 115-114 and the third judge had it even by a score of 115-115. The result was a split draw with both champions retaining their belts.
The fight was so good that HBO wanted to run it back and a rematch was signed for September that year. Forced to vacate the WBA title, which was due for a mandatory defence, Mitchell entered the ring as the challenger. That, combined with the decision in the first fight, robbed him from becoming South Africa’s first unified world champion, but in the end, it was academic. As competitive as their initial encounter was, so one-sided was the rematch. Mitchell had Lopez figured out and put on a boxing clinic. This time he silenced the Arco Arena and was awarded a unanimous decision, as well the IBF belt he left behind in March.
It was a fairy tale ending and Mitchell bid the fight game farewell.
The last South African to have competed in 15 round fights, he was a throwback to a bygone era when fighters lived in the gym. Always in shape, he never once failed to make weight and left all of himself in the ring, every time. His longevity at the top is matched by few. He was the ultimate road warrior and his victory over Lopez remains one of the most impressive performances by a South African fighter on foreign soil.
A consummate craftsman, who always adjusted to every challenge an opponent presented, he was South Africa’s most complete fighter. The words of former opponent, Jim McDonnell perhaps said it best: “He doesn’t do anything great, but he does everything really well.”
Considered by many experts to be the greatest South African fighter of all time, there could not be a more worthy recipient of The Ring belt than Brian Mitchell.