15.01.07 – The Mitchell brothers are back to terrorise London’s East End only this time it’s not Grant and Phil. Kevin and Vinny are the new hardmen of the square – ring that is. Kevin is already established as one of the hottest young talents in British boxing with a sparkling 22 fight unbeaten record and holds the IBF Intercontinental and Commonwealth Super-Featherweight titles and is on the verge of challenging for world honours..
He will be joined in the professional ranks by his younger brother Vinny who makes his highly anticipated professional debut on Saturday 17th February at the Wembley Arena on the undercard of Michael Sprott v Audley Harrison.
And Vinny is looking to outshine his older brother in the pro-game.
“I’ve told Kevin that he’s knocking on a bit now and that it’s time for him to hang up his gloves and let me do the fighting for the family from now on!” joked Vinny.
“Ever since we were kids me and Kevin have had some right tear ups with each other. In fact, I can’t remember a time when we haven’t been fighting and it drove our mum up the wall,”
“Kevin was the naughty kid of the family whereas I was quite well behaved. I remember grassing Kevin up quite a few times to my mum and watching him get a slap round the head but then he’d dish it back out to me later when mum wasn’t about!”
“I first got into boxing when my sisters boyfriend at the time took Kevin down to the boxing gym because of the amount of fights he was getting into in the street and it would be a good way to get rid of all the aggression he had. I just kind of followed Kevin into the gym about a year later and took to it straight away,”
After a 38 fight amateur career winning four national, two schoolboys and two NABC titles, Mitchell decided to turn over and pursue glory in the paid ranks.
He continued, “| had quite a bad accident on my scrambler a few years ago that put my boxing career on hold and while I was out of action I realised just how much I loved boxing and wanted to make a living out of it,”
“I’m now in the gym everyday with Kevin and we run, spar and train together, we’ve also got the same trainer in Paul Cook who’s working us both hard,”
“There’s loads of pressure on me because of Kevin and the success he’s had so there’s a lot to live up to and there aren’t a lot of younger brothers who are better than the older brother but I want to show people that I’m just as good if not better,”
“Kevin is a great brother to have and is a great inspiration to me. I know he’s always there for help and advice as he’s been through what I’m about to go through.”
Kevin is backing his little brother to reach the top and will be working in his corner as a second when he makes his pro-debut.
“Vinny is a vicious little sod, a lot more vicious than me!” said Kevin.
“He’s got a high pressure, come forward, swarming style with plenty of hurtful punches and he likes to work on plenty of crippling body punches,”
“It’s going to be hard for him but he’s got the right attitude to succeed and has plenty of talent to take him to the top and I’ll be there to help whenever he needs it,”
“But he knows not to give his older brother any lip because he will get a slap!”
The first time the brothers feature on the same bill will be on Saturday 17th March at the York Hall which is topped by Kevin’s defence of his Commonwealth title.
Tickets for England Expects, featuring Vinny Mitchell’s pro-debut, are available from See Tickets on 0870 060 3794