Mitchell vs Witherspoon: Media Roundtable Quotes

Seth Mitchell

"The only thing I really miss [about football] is the team camaraderie. Boxing is a lonely sport.

"I'm just focused, if you can't tell. I'm excited about the fight I'm ready to go out there and perform.

"If you take the Klitchko's out of the picture, right now, I think I'm right up there with the top heavyweights.

"I'm not a braggadocios person. There is no false bravado here. I handle my business when I get in the ring.

"I don't just want to be the NABO champion; I believe I can be the heavyweight [world] champion.

"Hopefully this time next year I will have the opportunity to fight for one of those titles.

"This is what I chose to do in order to support my family.

"Nothing spectacular sticks out in my mind about Chazz. He is a solid fighter but he has heart and he comes to fight.

"I think Chazz is a fundamentally sound fighter. He does a lot of things well. He throws a good jab and he stays busy. He throws punches in bunches.

"When I was a football player, I wasn't worried about making it in college. My mindset was the NFL. When I decided to box, I didn't want to be just the NABO champion. I set my goals high."

Chazz Witherspoon

"This is a fight that can move me to the Top 10, so this is very important to me too.

"There is a lot of room to grow, but there is enough Chazz Witherspoon to be victorious Saturday night.

"I have more experience than the person I am fighting. I believe I hold the experience edge over Seth, but we will see how the fight plays out Saturday night.

"I have four boys and another boy on the way. I don't encourage my kids to pay attention to my boxing, but rather I am not pushing them towards the sport. I want them to play other sports. My brother is a professional soccer player so I want them to consider soccer.

"My mother and father always supported everything I have done. I have people to support me, but not a lot of yes men.

"I started boxing to stay in shape when I was at St. Joe's on academic scholarship. They said don't do it, but once I get a challenge, I try harder. I made it to the Olympic Trials because of it and that is where I first met trainer Virgil (Hunter).

"I had Virgil on a list of people that I would work with and then it all came together, so I am really happy now as a fighter.

"This is my first real camp and seeing the level that that involves, I see that I had been missing something up until now. This is a whole new level for me and I am happy I did it. I think there will be a lot of opportunities that will open up for me.

"Virgil taught me a lot just in one camp. He is a great man. He is very wise, breaks it all down and makes it all make sense. I am going to keep getting that knowledge and I see great things to come.

"I am a fighter and I am going to fight. They call me the "Gentleman" but I am a fighter and am going to fight.

Virgil Hunter, Witherspoon's Trainer

"Without a doubt Chazz has an upside. When I watch both his fights and setbacks, I attribute to the right timing and preparation. His pride was fighting and he wasn't. He probably shouldn't have taken the Thompson fight because there really wasn't enough time to prepare for that fight.

"But when you look at his amateur and pro fight experience, he is only 30-years-old and just coming into his heavyweight experience. I am not just happy to be here, but also to make a statement.

"We are in it to climb the division. I am not out here blindly dreaming either. One moment can create a perception of a fighter. Saturday we plan to turn that around and show people they might have created the wrong perception about Chazz Witherspoon.

"If he comes out victorious, then Chazz could and should be called the next great American heavyweight, as that is what they are calling Seth Mitchell."