Wars to Be Made in 2012—Part 4
In facing the nearly 6’7” and 240-lb. Helenius, Mitchell would be facing a fighter equivalent in size to either Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko…
(This is the fourth of a five-part series)
Seth Mitchell (24-0, 18 KOs) vs. Robert Helenius (17-0, 11 KOs)
While watching Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell deconstruct former Olympian Timur Ibragimov in DC last month, I couldn’t help but be excited at the prospect of Mitchell facing a super heavyweight-sized contender and wondered just how promising a potential Klitschko-Mitchell bout might be. It’s a bit premature to call for Mitchell to test the Klitschkos, who remain supreme champions reigning far above the rest of the fray. But Mitchell’s performance against Ibragimov—a thoroughly experienced and skilled boxer—was sufficiently dynamic to warrant contemplation of how he’d fare against the two giants of the division.
Mitchell’s powerful display of thundering left hooks and looping overhand rights was so exciting to watch that the usually pessimistic and unimpressed Larry Merchant even exclaimed with bright-eyed excitement that he wanted to watch Seth Mitchell “over and over again!”
For Finland’s Robert “Nordic Nightmare” Helenius, 2011 did not conclude as his team had hoped. After an unimpressive performance against England’s Derek Chisora last month, Helenius was awarded a controversial split decision victory in a fight that most experts thought Chisora won. That decision momentarily halted the considerable momentum Helenius had created by thoroughly exciting boxing fans with dynamic knockout performances against former world titleholders Lamon Brewster, Samuel Peter, and Sergei Liakhovich. Helenius deserves credit for being unafraid to test his mettle en route to an eventual showdown with one of the Klitschkos. Had he dominated Chisora, it would have made sense to make a match rather quickly. Instead, with doubt over his performance against Chisora still persisting, followed by shoulder surgery this week in Heidelberg, Germany to correct a long-standing injury that failed to heal itself, Helenius will have to work his way back to title contention.
The potential matchup between Mitchell and Helenius is intriguing for several reasons. For Helenius, it would be a legitimate test to see if he is still the same thrilling combination puncher after his shoulder surgery. If Helenius could defeat Mitchell—the top American prospect—it would further solidify his status as an imminent threat to the Klitschkos. For Mitchell, a win against Helenius would be another step up in competition that would help determine just how good he is and can be. While Mitchell has been managed brilliantly thus far—gradually stepping up his competition to mirror his rapid development in a sport he has only been mastering for a half-decade—a fight against Helenius would be his first test against a fighter the super-sized heavyweight division. In facing the nearly 6’7” and 240-lb. Nordic Nightmare, Mitchell would be facing a fighter equivalent in size to either Klitschko. While Mitchell was able to impose his size and strength surprisingly easily against Ibragimov, it remains to be seen he can do the same against the two stars of the division. If he can defeat Helenius, there is even more reason to ramp up the excitement level that Mitchell has deservedly attracted amongst fight fans.
Beyond all the logistics, this fight would definitely appeal to fans who have been waiting far too long to see a legitimate slugfest in the heavyweight division. While both Helenius and Mitchell possess considerable technical skills, enabling them to box strategically when necessary, it’s clear when you watch their fights that what makes them special is their ability to shift into an extra gear and put together thundering combinations that wobble their opponents. While Helenius and Mitchell might elect to box the first few rounds, jaw-dropping exchanges are inevitable when you consider that both guys, with their stalking, come-forward mentality, have a demonstrated proficiency at clinically finishing off hurt opponents.
I recently spoke with Mitchell, who stated that he plans to fight four times in 2012 and is getting ready for a fight in March against an opponent to be named. Having had the privilege to spend some time with Mitchell to get some firsthand insight into his personality and character, there’s no doubt that he will put his talent to the test, committing himself to elite level conditioning and preparation as he continues his journey deeper into the sweet science. This is a welcome and refreshing change for American boxing fans that seem to have lost hope with American prospects who consistently disappoint because of a lack of commitment to conditioning and/or a lack of willingness to put it all on the line once they’ve been given the opportunity. Mitchell is an intriguing mix of God-fearing humility and warrior-grade bravado that speaks volumes in the ring. He’s somebody you can’t help but root for, and it looks like 2012 is the year we may find out just how good the top American heavyweight of the moment really is.
