A portrait of ‘The Road Warrior’ Brian Mitchell

THE pugilists will always point out their boxer of a certain era and convincingly prove this on a mathematical scale of wins/losses and who he should have faced in the four corners of the ring or not.

Having said that, over and over again, Brian Mitchell’s name will appear. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest sportsmen that South Africa has produced and, yes, he comes from the South.

A record like no other

Mitchell has made the code of boxing proud, starting with his career in 1981, capturing the WBA and Lineal junior lightweight title in 1986 with a 10-round KO over Alfredo Layne.

He went on to defend the title a record 12 times, never losing a fight. In early 1991 he fought for the IBF junior lightweight belt and unanimously won the title against Tony Lopez. Previously they had fought to a draw. Mitchell returned to his native country in 1994 for two bouts and then hung up his gloves in 1995.

His record reads a total of 49 fights, including 45 wins, 21 by KO, one loss and three draws.

Mitchell, who was known as ‘the man who beat the man’, was rated as the best junior lightweight boxer from 1986 up until his retirement.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009 for his efforts, ranking with the best in the world, including Muhammad Ali. Mitchell was also inducted into the Hall of Fame at Sun City. He was presented the State President Sportsman of the Year Award six times, becoming one of the most decorated sportsmen in South Africa.

His story on stage

The 56-year-old boxer’s record speaks for itself – including his decision as a young boxer to fight in the backyards of his challengers and not on home soil.

“I decided that I wanted the world title so bad that I was prepared to go abroad and fight in their backyards. It wasn’t easy and I had to travel a lot those days to retain my title,” said Mitchell.

“We have decided to do something else and author Tim (Plewman) put to pencil my history as a boxer and personal life. The story entails a wide spectrum of how I started as a boxer in the Mayfair gymnasium and then went abroad to win my world titles and the reason behind it.”

“But I am not going to give a lot away, come and watch the show. There’s humour, facts and, yes, my life brought to you by myself.”

This telling story will be brought to the public by the legend himself – a portrait of his own life: The Road Warrior – The Life of Brian Mitchell. It is a one-man show that will take the audience on a tour from his childhood boxing heydays to the well-equipped businessman that he is today, working for the well-known Golden Gloves Promotions and running his own business.

The show was written and directed by Tim Plewman and will be staged for four nights only from October 26 to 29 at 8pm at the Theatre of Marcellus, Emperors Palace.

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