The long awaited return between unified Jr. Welter
champion Kostya Tszyu and challenger Sharmba Mitchell is now no more than a hop,
skip, jump away … and the November 6 battle for the IBF bauble is as much a
pugilistic puzzle as it gets.
Forget the usual pre-fite intangibles that normally shed light on who to go
with … toss them righty-lefty, boxer-puncher, younger-older, success-failures
against like opponents out the proverbial window.
Dust off that crystal ball in the attic for help and the result would be nothing
but cloudy images at best - you want help give your friendly orthopedic
specialist a shout - and there too the advice translates to nothing more than
guess work.
As we all know, the first meeting back on Feb. 2001, it was Tszyu ahead 68-65,
68-64, 66-66 when Sharmba had to retire after stanza seven due to injured knee.
However, Mitchell has since recovered to the tune of eight subsequent winning
outings. Most telling were hard fought decision battles with Ben Tackie and
Lovemore N’Dou. Thus, it appears Sharmba has completely healed after the surgery
to repair torn ligament and cartilage in left knee.
Injuries as well, have seen Tszyu on the DL, his last outing on Jan. 2003 a
knockout win over James Leija. Injured Achilles’ tendon followed by a torn
shoulder tendon delayed the Mitchell return.
So, there it is … suggestion is before wagering revisit them intangibles, the
more seasoned vet Mitchell at 55-3 with 30 by knockout … and his working from
the port side with better speed and combinations is hard to ignore.
Tszyu at 30-1 with 24 by knockout is the celebrated bigger puncher. Biggest
testament to the power was a right hand to the sensitive whiskers of
hot-dogging Zabba-Dabba-Judah. Beats the count, but then does a century 21
version of the 1950s "Hucklebuck." Enough said on that score.
But them intangibles are yesterday’s news … this one will likely be decided on
whose patch job holds up over the course of some busy banging, coupled with
respective "unnecessary roughness" on both parties.
Can hear the ringside pre-fite chat now with Albert and Bernstein at the
microphone.
Bernstein: "I think I’ll go with the southpaw with the wounded knee … but only
if it holds up and he keeps it on the outside of the orthodox guy’s left foot."
Albert: "Good point … but I like the bigger puncher to repeat … that is if the
tendons survive under the expected inside rough and tumble nastiness."
Either way, what we have on paper come the night of November six, is one dandy
of a junior welter title shootout … so flip a coin, heads I win, tails you lose.
