TRUE champions are defined by that something special that cannot be touched or seen with the naked eye.
They are not necessarily supremely talented in what they do, but one thing is certain, once they knuckle down to serious business, natural potential suddenly comes to the fore and they rise against all odds to become superheroes.
A typical example is Lucas Radebe, my football hero.
In boxing you have Brian Mitchell, who was an average boxer in terms of skills. Like Radebe, he was dedicated, composed and always super-fit.
Mitchell fought 15 rounds with ease and that is why today Mitchell is described as the best South African boxer of all time.
The international world recognised his qualities after 12 defences of his WBA title outside South Africa by inducting him into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009. He also has five State President's awards.
Talented fighter Jacob "Dancing Shoes" Morake beat Mitchell in their first fight in 1982 but Mitchell avenged that defeat by winning against Morake in their following three fights.
Sadly, Morake died the day after he had been stopped in the 12th round by Mitchell in their fourth fight at Sun City on November 2 1985. May his soul rest in peace.
Mitchell chalked up 45 wins (21 KOs), drew three times and lost once to Morake.
Sowetan salutes the boy from Kensington, a former WBA and IBF junior lightweight undefeated champion, who was nicknamed "Mean Machine", "Raging Bull" or "Road Warrior", while he is still alive.
Who are you exactly?
Brian Cecil Mitchell, who comes from a broken home. My mom and dad divorced when I was five years old.
When did the boxing bug bite you?
When I was nine years old. I turned professional at the age of 19 in 1981. I had six wins and tasted defeat against Morake. I won the SA title in 1983 and I beat Alfredo Layne for the WBA title at Sun City in 1986 when I was 25 years old.
You could not defend at home due to apartheid policies and had to fight away from home. How did it feel?
Terrible! Sometimes I had to cover my head with my boxing gown (to shield myself) from abusive fans who pelted me with everything they could lay their hands on. They accused me of being an apartheid agent. Sadly, I did not enjoy the support back home when I flew back - I mean, being welcomed like a hero.
Do you think your fighting outside South Africa made it easier to win over those people who vote for fighters to be inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame?
I think so, yes. Retiring undefeated as two-times world champion and also my good looks helped (laughter).
Who else from South Africa do you think should have been inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame?
Vuyani "The Beast" Bungu, who made 13 defences of his IBF junior featherweight title - and possibly Vicky Toweel for being the first world champion from South Africa.
You retired just when the big money looked set to roll in. Why?
Money was not everything. I had 14 world title fights, nine SA title fights - all in all 23 tough championship fights from 49 fights. It was enough for me to quit. Some fighters overstayed their welcome in boxing and that, for me, is bad.
Was boxing your first love?
Yes. It's funny, because I was an average amateur boxer. I played rugby at school and I was also a good runner.
Did Morake's death make you think about quitting?
I quit for about four months. I was very unhappy because Morake and myself had become best friends. We sparred together and attended functions together. He was a gentleman. Morake's mom spoke to me about going ahead. I was only 24 years old. I came back and a year later I became a world champion.
You fought in every township and beat all the black boxers South Africa had. Why is it that you never fought against a whiteSouth African? Were you some kind of a racist or what (joke)?
(Big laughter) There were no white boxers in the top 10 in my division those years. To be honest, fighting black guys in townships made me who I later became. They were tough and beating them gave me recognition.
Your toughest opponent and how did you outsmart him?
Jose Rivera. He was No1 contender when I beat him over 15 rounds in my first defence of the WBA title in Puerto Rico on March 27 1987. He knocked me down in the fourth round. I fought him again in my fifth defence in Spain in 1988. He knocked me down in the second round, again I got up and beat him on points. Tony Lopez was also very tough.
You were always super-fit, a busy fighter who relentlessly came forward, throwing volumesof punches. Did you use some performance enhancer or something?
(Laughter) I worked hard in the gym. I believed in a high work rate. You don't have to be the best fighter on the planet to achieve greatness but if you work hard in the gym, then that will help you in the fight and fitness also helps to be able to take a good punch.
Your opinion on the current state of South African boxing.
It is not in a bad state at all. You have promoter Rodney Berman who is always doing his best to lift the standard. It's just that we do not really have great fighters like those from the 80s.
Women boxing?
A big no, no, no.
How did it feel when your charge Cassius Baloyi stopped Manuel Medina in the 11th round for the IBF junior lightweight belt in 2006 - that your charge won the title you once held?
It was brilliant. It reminded me of my victory for that title in my second fight against Tony Lopez. Remember our first fight was a draw.
Would you have beaten Thobela if that fight had happened?
Dingaan was brilliant, a super puncher but he lacked discipline and that was my strength. I will say yes, I would have beaten him and he will say he would have beaten me, so ja, it's one of those situations. But it would have been the best ever local superfight, as long as Dingaan made the weight.
- Mitchell manages fighters, works as a fight publicist and comments for SuperSport.
Legends Corner: Brian Mitchell a special champion
TRUE champions are defined by that something special that cannot be touched or seen with the naked eye.
They are not necessarily supremely talented in what they do, but one thing is certain, once they knuckle down to serious business, natural potential suddenly comes to the fore and they rise against all odds to become superheroes.
A typical example is Lucas Radebe, my football hero.
In boxing you have Brian Mitchell, who was an average boxer in terms of skills. Like Radebe, he was dedicated, composed and always super-fit.
Mitchell fought 15 rounds with ease and that is why today Mitchell is described as the best South African boxer of all time.
The international world recognised his qualities after 12 defences of his WBA title outside South Africa by inducting him into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009. He also has five State President's awards.
Talented fighter Jacob "Dancing Shoes" Morake beat Mitchell in their first fight in 1982 but Mitchell avenged that defeat by winning against Morake in their following three fights.
Sadly, Morake died the day after he had been stopped in the 12th round by Mitchell in their fourth fight at Sun City on November 2 1985. May his soul rest in peace.
Mitchell chalked up 45 wins (21 KOs), drew three times and lost once to Morake.
Sowetan salutes the boy from Kensington, a former WBA and IBF junior lightweight undefeated champion, who was nicknamed "Mean Machine", "Raging Bull" or "Road Warrior", while he is still alive.
Who are you exactly?
Brian Cecil Mitchell, who comes from a broken home. My mom and dad divorced when I was five years old.
When did the boxing bug bite you?
When I was nine years old. I turned professional at the age of 19 in 1981. I had six wins and tasted defeat against Morake. I won the SA title in 1983 and I beat Alfredo Layne for the WBA title at Sun City in 1986 when I was 25 years old.
You could not defend at home due to apartheid policies and had to fight away from home. How did it feel?
Terrible! Sometimes I had to cover my head with my boxing gown (to shield myself) from abusive fans who pelted me with everything they could lay their hands on. They accused me of being an apartheid agent. Sadly, I did not enjoy the support back home when I flew back - I mean, being welcomed like a hero.
Do you think your fighting outside South Africa made it easier to win over those people who vote for fighters to be inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame?
I think so, yes. Retiring undefeated as two-times world champion and also my good looks helped (laughter).
Who else from South Africa do you think should have been inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame?
Vuyani "The Beast" Bungu, who made 13 defences of his IBF junior featherweight title - and possibly Vicky Toweel for being the first world champion from South Africa.
You retired just when the big money looked set to roll in. Why?
Money was not everything. I had 14 world title fights, nine SA title fights - all in all 23 tough championship fights from 49 fights. It was enough for me to quit. Some fighters overstayed their welcome in boxing and that, for me, is bad.
Was boxing your first love?
Yes. It's funny, because I was an average amateur boxer. I played rugby at school and I was also a good runner.
Did Morake's death make you think about quitting?
I quit for about four months. I was very unhappy because Morake and myself had become best friends. We sparred together and attended functions together. He was a gentleman. Morake's mom spoke to me about going ahead. I was only 24 years old. I came back and a year later I became a world champion.
You fought in every township and beat all the black boxers South Africa had. Why is it that you never fought against a whiteSouth African? Were you some kind of a racist or what (joke)?
(Big laughter) There were no white boxers in the top 10 in my division those years. To be honest, fighting black guys in townships made me who I later became. They were tough and beating them gave me recognition.
Your toughest opponent and how did you outsmart him?
Jose Rivera. He was No1 contender when I beat him over 15 rounds in my first defence of the WBA title in Puerto Rico on March 27 1987. He knocked me down in the fourth round. I fought him again in my fifth defence in Spain in 1988. He knocked me down in the second round, again I got up and beat him on points. Tony Lopez was also very tough.
You were always super-fit, a busy fighter who relentlessly came forward, throwing volumesof punches. Did you use some performance enhancer or something?
(Laughter) I worked hard in the gym. I believed in a high work rate. You don't have to be the best fighter on the planet to achieve greatness but if you work hard in the gym, then that will help you in the fight and fitness also helps to be able to take a good punch.
Your opinion on the current state of South African boxing.
It is not in a bad state at all. You have promoter Rodney Berman who is always doing his best to lift the standard. It's just that we do not really have great fighters like those from the 80s.
Women boxing?
A big no, no, no.
How did it feel when your charge Cassius Baloyi stopped Manuel Medina in the 11th round for the IBF junior lightweight belt in 2006 - that your charge won the title you once held?
It was brilliant. It reminded me of my victory for that title in my second fight against Tony Lopez. Remember our first fight was a draw.
Would you have beaten Thobela if that fight had happened?
Dingaan was brilliant, a super puncher but he lacked discipline and that was my strength. I will say yes, I would have beaten him and he will say he would have beaten me, so ja, it's one of those situations. But it would have been the best ever local superfight, as long as Dingaan made the weight.
This article was first published in the printed newspaper and eEdition on 10 October 2012. Click on this link to view the eEdition
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