Jayde Mitchell: “Three years ago I weighed 130 kilograms”

 
YES, you read the headline right.

 
Reigning Victorian super middleweight champion, Jayde “J-Mitch” Mitchell had pretty much given up hope of transitioning what was an outstanding amateur career into the professional ranks.

 
The 29-year-old from Rye on Victoria’s picturesque Mornington Peninsula sat down with Aus-Boxing to discuss his upcoming showdown with Paul Morrison, his battles with his weight and his trip to the US earlier in the year to spar with Puerto Rican superstar, Miguel Cotto.

 
There is no doubt that young Victorian super middleweight champion Jayde Mitchell is a real talent. A ring maturity and savviness that very few at his age possess.

 
Combine this with a fierce work ethic and a relentless drive to succeed, many pundits would agree that these essential ingredients are what separates a champion from a contender.

 
So your first thoughts might be, how does someone who, after a successful amateur career blow out to 130kgs and quit the sport altogether?

 
Mitchell, who held a credible 47-8 ledger as an amateur including a bout with Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist and world title challenger Jarrod Fletcher, explains.

 
“Yeah I sort of drifted from the sport and at the time,” he explained. “I was running a busy and successful concreting business which was taking up all of my time.”

 
“I wasn’t exactly hitting the gym or eating right so I blew out,”

 
“I did find myself missing the sport but like so many others, trying to keep in fighting shape while running a business and making a living is very hard.”

 
“My wife Tegan knew I missed the sport and she was the catalyst for convincing me that I had to chase my dream of turning professional,” “She was the motivation for me getting back in the gym and downsizing my business so I could accommodate both,”

 
“A lot of blood, sweat, and tears were put in to get me back into condition to the point where I could step between the ropes once again and give the pro ranks a real crack.”

 
What makes it more remarkable, is that Mitchell campaigns at super middleweight which is 76.2 kilograms. Whichever way you do the math, his weight loss is an amazing feat.

 
Three years on, and now a state champion after capturing the title last month an exciting fight with fellow Victorian knockout artist, Mitchell Middleton-Clark.

 
Mitchell (3-0, 1 KO) is looking to make it four wins in a row when he gloves up again on August 19th at Hisense Arena on the undercard of Danny Green vs Tomas Kovacs against unbeaten West Australian Paul Morrison.

 
The opportunity given to Mitchell to fight on his idol’s card is a dream come true for him.

 
“If someone had have walked up to me three and half years ago and whilst I was concreting and said Jayde, one day you’ll be a state champion and fight on a Danny Green undercard, I would’ve thought they were bonkers,”

 
“To be given this opportunity is just unreal. I have been sparring Danny as well which has been a really valuable experience,”

 
“All the hard work I have put in has been so worth it,” he added. “I am training the house down at the moment, I am stronger, fitter, hungrier and wiser than I have ever been. I can’t wait to get amongst it,”

 
Earlier this year, Mitchell travelled to the US with a touring party of fighters and support staff to visit famous gyms including Freddie Roach’s Wildcard Gym and the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy.

 
It was there that he started to really believe that he could start to achieve something special.

 
“Just being around those types of people and those gyms just makes you want to work harder and achieve great things, it is inspiring really,”

 
“I got to spar with Miguel Cotto and Glen Tapia,” Mitchell said. “Cotto is just unbelievable. Every second you’re in there, you are learning something from those guys,”

 
“His ability to make adjustments with distance is something special. He is a master thinker, I was blown away by him and also Tapia who is just so strong”

 
“Freddie and his team thought I did quite well sparring with Miguel so they asked me back the next day which again worked well,”

 
“His whole team are real professionals and I have been asked by his team to go back later this year for a few weeks to help him prepare for his next big challenge,”

 
Mitchell says he owes a lot of people who have believed in him to help get his professional career up and going, a career which has started to gain real momentum.

 
Behind a happy fighter is a happy team, and Mitchell is under no illusions that is the key to his early success.

 
“Obviously my father and trainer, Len Mitchell,” said Mitchell in closing. “He and my strength and conditioning trainer, Ron Picken have really pushed me and I am just really thankful to have them with me,”

 
“Brian Butler and the East End Boxing Gym have been great too, always opening their doors to us for sparring and training,”

 
“The friendships I have made there have meant the world to me.”

 
“My wife Tegan has just been a pillar of strength and without her I am not sure I would be where I am today,”

 
“She is amazing and I am very lucky to have her in my life.”

 
 
Words: Dan Smart (Follow Dan on Twitter @dansmart76)
Photo: Marty Camilleri/Marty’s Knockout Photography