28.09.05 – Unbeaten super-featherweight star Kevin Mitchell has been nominated the Boxing Writers’ Young Boxer of the Year. The 20-year-old fight sensation from Dagenham will be presented with the prestigious award at a glittering ceremony at London’s Savoy Hotel on Monday 17 October..
Mitchell is the latest addition to a long and distinguished list of British greats including Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Naseem Hamed, Nigel Benn, Frank Bruno and Barry McGuigan. The first ever winner was Randolph Turpin in 1951.
“It is truly an honour for me to be awarded the Young Boxer of the Year award by the Boxing Writers Club,” said Mitchell.
“I’m following in the footsteps of some the best British fighters ever and I will emulate them by going on to win a world title,”
“When I turned professional I said my aim was to win three world titles at one weight and then move up in weight and do the same there and finally retire a legend – that is still my aim and I will achieve it.”
Mighty Mitchell talents were recognised early when he became one the youngest ever to win an ABA Senior crown at 18 and on his first attempt.
He notched up win number 15 last Friday at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane with a punch-perfect performance to stop tough Bulgarian Wladimir Borov in the second round.
Next up for Mitchell is an eight-round contest at the Braehead Arena on Saturday 5th November on the undercard of Scott Harrison – himself a former winner of the award – who makes the eighth defence of his WBO World Featherweight Crown against Nedal Hussein
For promoter Frank Warren this is the eighth year in a row that one of his young protégés under the Sports Network banner has picked up the award.
Warren said, “I am delighted that Kevin’s talents have been recognised by the Boxing Writers Club,”
“He is an exciting young fighter and one of the best that I have worked with and I am sure he can go on to win world a title.”
“This is a great coup for Sports Network who not only promote Britain’s most prominent world champions but also the best in outstanding young talent,”