Mitchell on rise after dominating Ferreyro

Seth Mitchell isn't quite ready to take on one of the Klitschko brothers, but the 29-year-old heavyweight from Brandywine, Md., continues to make significant progress in the ring.

The former Michigan State linebacker was impressive Friday at Texas Station, overwhelming and outclassing veteran Hector Ferreyro and scoring a third-round technical knockout to improve to 23-0-1.

"I feel like I'm getting better," Mitchell said. "I've been staying with the jab and coming from behind the jab with my combinations and using my speed."

Mitchell looked so impressive that there's a good chance he will be part of the Dec. 10 Golden Boy fight card in Washington, D.C., where WBA and IBF junior welterweight champion Amir Khan puts his titles on the line against Washington native Lamont Peterson. With Mitchell residing less than an hour from the nation's capital, he is expected to bring a lot of fans down the Beltway from the Baltimore area.

"I hadn't heard that, but it makes sense to me," Mitchell said. "I would love to have that kind of opportunity to fight on a big card close to home and on HBO. That would be very exciting."

Mitchell endured seven knee surgeries during his college football career. He chose boxing as a way to remain in sports, and his knees have held up well.

"Getting into boxing was the smartest thing I ever did," he said. "My knees are fine. No trouble at all."

Mitchell moved around the ring easily Friday, dominating the 36-year-old Ferreyro (21-11-2) and hurting him early and often in the first round. It was more of the same in the third round, as he almost knocked out Ferreyro in the first minute. Eventually, referee Robert Byrd stopped the fight at the 2:17 mark.

"The only time he gave me trouble was in the second round, when he showed me a lot of movement, and it got me off my jab a little," Mitchell said. "He was tougher than I expected. He had a pretty good chin."

Mitchell admits he's not ready for a world title shot. But an NABF belt?

"I'm definitely ready for that," he said. "I'd like to get one of those."

■ OFF TO AZERBAIJAN -- Las Vegas heavyweight Michael Hunter has arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan, where he will compete in the World Boxing Championships from Sept. 28 to Oct. 8.

At stake is a spot in the 2012 London Olympics. Hunter must finish in the top six to qualify.

This is Hunter's his second attempt at making the Olympics. In 2007, fighting as a super heavyweight, he came up short of going to Beijing, losing at the worlds.

Hunter, 24, has had an outstanding year. He is the reigning national Golden Gloves heavyweight champion and U.S. Olympic Trials champion. He has been training for the past month in Colorado Springs, Colo.

A record 716 boxers from 216 countries have registered for the competition. Team USA is coached by Joe Zanders, with trainer Freddie Roach serving as a special adviser.

■ PREPPING FOR RETURN -- Nonito Donaire is training for his return to the ring Oct. 22 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Donaire (26-1, 18 knockouts) will defend his WBC and WBO bantamweight belts against Omar Narvaez (35-0-2, 25 KOs) in a 12-round main event that will be televised by HBO.

Donaire last fought Feb. 19, stopping Fernando Montiel in the second round at Mandalay Bay to win the titles. He will be fighting in New York for the first time.

Narvaez is the WBO super flyweight champ and will move up in weight to face Donaire.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@review
journal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.