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Kostya Brings the Thunder from Down Under…
Ringside Report by Isaac Barrio - 11/09/2004
It isn't supposed to work this way! Long layoffs bears ring rust. Top-level fighters should take warm up bouts before jumping into the ring of fire with the likes of a Sharmba Mitchell. Not so saith the boxing lord, as Kostya Tszyu brought down his thunder and continued the long layoff, come back in tip-top form, trend.
With the Glendale Arena as the alter and Sharmba Mitchell as the sacrificial lamb, Kostya Tszyu made his amends with the boxing gods as he took apart and destroyed Mitchell with his accurate power punching. It was three rounds of fire and brimstone, three rounds of fist and fury, three rounds of the unexpected. Two years gone at 2:48 of the third round.
It was to be Sharmba's Revenge.
All accounts report that Sharmba Mitchell ate, drank, and lived for the moment he got Kostya Tszyu back into the ring. For Mitchell it was a two-year journey of personal anguish over the realization of a missed opportunity. The "what ifs" and "could have beens" can weigh on you like a ton of bricks. Mitchell did his part and kept the victories coming in hope that someday he could get that rare instance of recapturing a "What If". Through persistence Sharmba got that second chance that alludes so many, a rematch bout with Kostya Tszyu.
Reports of Mitchell having a good training camp were abundant. Mitchell was poised and ready to finish what he had started. Feeling free and ready, Mitchell let lose with all the talk, calling Kostya "a bum" and "fat boy". But Mitchell should have known better, when things are quiet on the other side that is usually a sign anger building up. Kostya was content to let his fists do the talking.
Kostya had a two year wait as well...
Throughout the time it required for his injury to heel, Kostya had to endure talks of how he was done and that age had finally caught him. Boxing fans and media are fickle and they will abandon a sinking ship faster then the rats did on the Titanic. Sugar Shane Mosley can attest to the "what have you done for me lately" attitude prevalent throughout the boxing world. Undaunted by the bickering media, Kostya Tszyu knew what he was capable of when he announced to the astonishment of the boxing world that his comeback bout would be Sharmba Mitchell. The grand stage was now set.
Kostya Brings the Thunder…
As Referee Raul Caiz was giving instructions in the center of the ring moments before the first bell, I felt a rush excitement as I looked around the raucous crowd of 8,100 and told myself, this is what Boxing is about. I also felt an uncertainty about my prediction, which was Kostya Tszyu by late TKO.
Ding! Round 1
As expected, Sharmba Mitchell comes out fast and is using the ring to feel out Kostya Tszyu. Kostya is showing some ring rust but not much as he tries to track down the elusive Mitchell. Sharmba is having a good round and is winning it on my card, he is moving, jabbing and landing the harder-cleaner shots. However, Kostya is closing the distance and landing some nice hooks as they inch together. Sharmba seems content to trade inside. Kostya's late action makes the round close but I give it to Sharmba.
10-9 for Sharmba.
Ding! Round 2
Kostya Tszyu has closed the distance and Sharmba Mitchell is content to let it go inside. Mitchell holding and both Kostya and Sharmba are starting to rough it up. Kostya catches Sharmba with a big punch and he is stunned! Two more hard shots upstairs and then one to the body and Sharmba goes down! The crowd is going wild. Esteemed press members are jumping up in excitement. Can it really end in the second round!! Sharmba beats the count. Sharmba fights back showing he has some heart but Kostya wins the round big.
19-18 for Kostya.
Ding! Round 3
Kostya Tszyu is after Sharmba Mitchell and Sharmba is still content on letting it turn into an inside brawl. Kostya is landing some vicious short hooks as Mitchell tries to tie him up. It is definitely Kostya's fight. Kostya lands a big right hand and Mitchell goes down for the 2nd time. I don't think Sharmba is going to beat the count up, he seems really hurt. Sharmba beats the count! He is showing some great heart. The crowd is really going nuts as they sense the end is near. Kostya lands a left hook and Sharmba goes down again. Sharmba is hurt and might not make it out of the round. Kostya lands big again and Sharmba goes down in a heap near the ropes. Caiz jumps in and waves the fight off.
The End comes sudden. 2:48 of the Third Round. Kostya Tszyu wins by 3rd round TKO.
Stay tuned for pictures, press conference notes, and more from fight night at Glendale.
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