TalkingBoxing Interviews
Talking Boxing with CHRIS SMITH
FRI June 10, RICHARD THOMAS - NABA welterweight champion Chris ‘The Mechanic" Smith will be in action on June 11th on the undercard of the Mike Tyson vs. Kevin McBride Showtime Pay-Per-View event at the MCI center as he takes on former junior welterweight world champion Sharmba ‘Little Big Man’ Mitchell in Mitchell’s hometown of Washington, DC.
Smith, 19-1-1, 12 KO’s, is coming off of the first loss of his career, and he will be trying to rebound by defeating the former world champion Mitchell who will be making his debut at welterweight.
Coming into the fight Mitchell, 55-4, 30 KO’s, has the experience, but Smith is the natural welterweight. But there is something in common that both fighters share. Both fighters lost in their last bouts, and those fighters that defeated them faced defeat some time after. Smith was TKO’d in the 11th round back in January by David Estrada. And then Estrada was defeated by former 3-division world champion Shane Mosley in April.
In a similar situation, Mitchell was TKO’d in the 3rd round in his last bout against Kostya Tszyu back in November, and then Tszyu lost to Ricky Hatton last weekend.
So there will not be any shame on the part of Smith or Mitchell coming into this fight since losing their last bouts, because those that defeated them, both felt what they felt. And both Smith and Mitchell will be trying to prove that they are a threat in the star-studded 147-pound division, which includes the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosly, Zab Judah, Antonio Margarito, and others. Smith had a lot to say about his upcoming fight and the welterweight division:
Richard Thomas: How do you see the fight going?
Chris Smith: It’s going to be exciting. I don’t know what Sharmba’s going to do. Will he press the action or will I do the pressing? I will have to see what he brings in that first round.
Richard Thomas: How long have you been training for this fight?
Chris Smith: About a month.
Richard Thomas: How did you feel when you got the news that that you were going to fight Sharmba?
Chris Smith: Great, It’s just what I’ve been asking for, to continue fighting top fighters out there.
Richard Thomas: Is your fight going to be before Laila Ali’s fight or Tyson’s?
Chris Smith: They said Ali but I heard differently other times. I’m not sure but all three fights will be televised.
Richard Thomas: How does it feel to be fighting on a Tyson undercard, and being part of one of the feature fights?
Chris Smith: It’s great! I grew up watching Tyson. And it’s an honor and blessing to be fighting in a feature fight on a Tyson card.
Richard Thomas: What do you believe that Sharmba is thinking about you?
Chris Smith: I have no idea. Confident I think. I think that he believes that he’ll walk all over me.
Richard Thomas: Do you have anything to say about the Hatton/Tszyu fight?
Chris Smith: It was an incredible fight. I tip my hat off to Ricky Hatton.
Richard Thomas: Winning this fight will put you in what type of position?
Chris Smith: I t will put me up there with the top light fighters. Sharmba is a credible and excellent fighter.
Richard Thomas: How many more fights will you think that you would need to fight for a title?
Chris Smith: I believe that I could fight for a title now. But how many actual fights, I don’t know. I believe a few more.
Richard Thomas: Is there anything that you would like to say about your last fight with David Estrada?
Chris Smith: Nah.
Richard Thomas: Would you like to fight him again?
Chris Smith: I would love to fight him again.
Richard Thomas: What can you say about Sharmba coming up to the 147-pound division?
Chris Smith: It’s a different world, he’s been around for a long time but can he adjust? It’s a whole different world.
Richard Thomas: Who do you think is currently at the top of the welterweights?
Chris Smith: Definitely Zab Judah, he’s undisputed.
Richard Thomas: So do you believe that Zab Judah can defeat WBO welterweight champion Antonio Margarito?
Chris Smith: I really don’t know about that fight, you’ll have to see what happens, when it happens. I can’t pick. I don’t know if Zab can beat Shane [Mosley] or Oscar [De la Hoya]. You just have to see those fights to find out.
Richard Thomas: Is there anything else that you would like to say?
Chris Smith: It’s going to be an exciting fight come June 11th. Just tune in and watch.
Smith vs. Mitchell will be one of the three Showtime Pay-Per-View televised bouts, which also includes Mike Tyson vs. Kevin McBride in the main event and Laila Ali vs. Erin Toughill, so tune in on June 11th at 9PM EST, and get a load of these three exciting matches.
PHOTO CREDIT: Richie Maldonado
