Sharmba Mitchell


Sharmba David Mitchell is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2006. He held the WBA light welterweight title from 1998 to 2001, and the IBF interim light welterweight title in 2004.

Professional career

Mitchell began his professional boxing career on September 23, 1988, knocking out Eddie Colón in three rounds at Atlantic City, New Jersey.
He had a mark of 14 wins and no losses with seven knockouts - including victories over former Olympic Games bronze medalist Aristides Acevedo and over Dana Roston - when he met a former or future world champion for the first time inside a ring. On March 8, 1990, he beat the famed former world champion Rafael Limón in Atlantic City by an eight-round unanimous decision.
Mitchell kept on winning, running his record up to 27-0 with sixteen knockouts, including a victory against former world title challenger Miguel Santana. He then fought former world champion Rocky Lockridge on April 22, 1992, winning a ten-round unanimous decision.
Mitchell had recorded a 31-0 record until he lost two fights in a row to begin 1994: one against future world champion Leavander Johnson in eight rounds, then to future two-time world lightweight champion Stevie Johnston in nine rounds. He did not lose another fight in the next seven years.
After six more wins in a row, including one over future world champion Terron Millett, Mitchell fought for the WBC continental Americas light welterweight title in Dallas, Texas on April 11, 1996. He won the title by knocking out Gilberto Floes in the second round.
On May 10, 1997, Mitchell defeated Jose Rafael Barboza by a twelve-round decision in Miami, Florida to win the WBA's Fedelatin belt in the same weight division. After two more victories, he got his first chance at winning a world title.

WBA light welterweight champion

On October 10, 1998, he beat Moroccan Khalid Rahilou by a twelve-round unanimous decision in Paris, France, becoming the WBA light welterweight champion.
Mitchell retained his world title four times, his last successful defense being against Puerto Rican Felix Flores on September 16, 2000, at Las Vegas. Mitchell was dropped in the first round, but he recovered and edged the challenger by two scores of 116-111 and one of 116-113.

First fight with Tszyu

After that fight, demand rose for a unification title bout between Mitchell and Kostya Tszyu of Australia, the WBC light welterweight champion.
The highly anticipated match took place in Las Vegas on February 3, 2001. The outcome was controversial, as Mitchell broke his knee early in the fight and he could not continue after round seven. Although Mitchell was not knocked out in a conventional way, this nevertheless counted as a knockout loss in his record.
Mitchell then fought eight bouts, winning each of them, including victories over former world champion Vince Phillips and winning the IBF super lightweight title against Lovemore N'Dou in Atlantic City New Jersey. Defending that title ounce in Manchester England. He also beat and became and the first person to have knocked down Ben Tackie.

Rematch with Tszyu

Negotiations for a rematch with Tszyu had been taking place long before the fights with the aforementioned rivals. Tszyu, however, had his own health problems, and the fight kept being cancelled. First scheduled for Australia and then for Moscow, the rematch finally took place on November 6, 2004, in Phoenix, Arizona. Mitchell was floored four times in the second bout with Tszyu before being stopped in round three, losing by knockout.

Losses to Mayweather and Williams

On November 19, 2005, Mitchell was defeated by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their 147-lbs. non-title bout in Portland, Oregon. Mayweather dropped Mitchell in the third round with a straight right hand to the head, and again dropped him in the sixth with a hook to the body, ending the fight. During his most recent bout - against Paul Williams in Reno, Nevada, on August 19, 2006 - Mitchell was knocked down in the third round, and three times in the fourth round. Referee Richard Steele stopped the bout at 2:57 when Mitchell arose wobbly from the final knockdown. Mitchell retired for good shortly there after.
Mitchell finished his professional boxing career of 57 wins and 6 losses, with 30 knockout wins.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
63Loss57–6Paul WilliamsKO4, 2:57Aug 19, 2006Events Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S.For WBC–USNBC and WBO–NABO welterweight titles
62Win57–5Jose Luis CruzUD10May 3, 2006Big League Dreams, Cathedral City, California, U.S.
61Loss56–5Floyd Mayweather Jr.TKO6, 2:06Nov 19, 2005Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon, U.S.
60Win56–4Chris Smith5, 0:16Jun 11, 2005MCI Center, Washington, D.C., U.S.Won WBA–NABA welterweight title;
Unanimous TD after Mitchell was cut from an accidental head clash
59Loss55–4Kostya TszyuTKO3, 2:48Nov 6, 2004Glendale Arena, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.For IBF, The Ring, and lineal light welterweight titles
58Win55–3Moises PedrozaKO2, 2:55Aug 7, 2004Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.
57Win54–3Michael StewartUD12Apr 3, 2004MEN Arena, Manchester, EnglandRetained IBF interim light welterweight title
56Win53–3Lovemore N'douUD12Feb 7, 2004Bally's, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Won vacant IBF interim light welterweight title
55Win52–3Ben TackieUD12May 17, 2003City Center Pavilion, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
54Win51–3Carlos VilchesTKO4, 2:58Jan 25, 2003Bally's, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
53Win50–3Vince PhillipsMD10Nov 9, 2002Coca-Cola Bricktown Events Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
52Win49–3Frank HoughtalingUD10Jul 2, 2002Lincoln Theatre, Washington, D.C., U.S.
51Win48–3Bernard HarrisUD10Mar 28, 2002DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C., U.S.
50Loss47–3Kostya TszyuRTD7, 3:00Feb 3, 2001Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBA light welterweight title;
For WBC light welterweight title
49Win47–2Felix FloresUD12Sep 16, 2000MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBA light welterweight title
48Win46–2Elio OrtizUD12Nov 13, 1999Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBA light welterweight title
47Win45–2Reggie Green12Apr 24, 1999MCI Center, Washington, D.C., U.S.Retained WBA light welterweight title
46Win44–2Pedro SaizUD12Feb 6, 1999Convention Center, Washington, D.C., U.S.Retained WBA light welterweight title
45Win43–2Khalid RahilouUD12Oct 10, 1998Palais Omnisports, Paris, FranceWon WBA light welterweight title
44Win42–2Bobby ElkinsTKO1, 2:10Feb 21, 1998Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.
43Win41–2Dezi FordKO5Jul 15, 1997Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
42Win40–2Jose Rafael BarbozaPTS12May 10, 1997Coconut Grove Convention Center, Miami, Florida, U.S.Won vacant WBA Fedelatin light welterweight title
41Win39–2John StewartKO1Oct 19, 1996Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, U.S.
40Win38–2Gilberto FloresKO2, 1:06Apr 11, 1996Dallas, Texas, U.S.Won vacant WBC Continental Americas light welterweight title
39Win37–2Harold BennettTKO1, 1:40Feb 10, 1996MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
38Win36–2Allen OsborneTKO2Dec 7, 1995Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, U.S.
37Win35–2James GatlinTKO5Nov 21, 1995Convention Center, Washington, D.C., U.S.
36Win34–2Terron MillettTKO1, 2:38Sep 16, 1995The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
35Win33–2Wayne BoudreauxTKO5Mar 23, 1995The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.
34Win32–2Lyndon WalkerKO2Oct 22, 1994Convention Center, Washington, D.C., U.S.
33Loss31–2Stevie JohnstonTKO9, 1:02Jun 21, 1994MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
32Loss31–1Leavander JohnsonKO8, 1:33Mar 18, 1994MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Lost NABF lightweight title
31Win31–0Chad BroussardTKO1, 2:25Nov 6, 1993Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant NABF lightweight title
30Win30–0Kenny BaysmoreKO1, 1:44May 22, 1993Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C., U.S.
29Win29–0Eric WhitfieldTKO2, 2:55Nov 29, 1992Convention Center, Washington, D.C., U.S.
28Win28–0Rocky LockridgeUD10Apr 22, 1992Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.
27Win27–0Gilberto FloresTKO5, 1:46Feb 15, 1992The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
26Win26–0Leo MartinezTKO1Jan 14, 1992Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
25Win25–0Keeley ThompsonTKO10, 0:38Oct 29, 1991Convention Center, Washington, D.C., U.S.
24Win24–0Miguel SantanaTKO3Jul 23, 1991Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
23Win23–0Darryl RichardsonKO2, 2:10Apr 10, 1991La Fontaine Bleue, Lanham, Maryland, U.S.
22Win22–0Felix GonzalesTKO5, 2:36Mar 19, 1991High School, Woodbridge, New Jersey, U.S.
21Win21–0Kevin MarstonUD10Jan 16, 1991La Fontaine Bleue, Lanham, Maryland, U.S.
20Win20–0Robert ByrdRTD7, 3:00Nov 1, 1990Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
19Win19–0Rodney FennellPTS6Sep 7, 1990UDC Physical Activities Center, Washington, D.C., U.S.
18Win18–0Freddie SevillaTKO5 Jul 20, 1990The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
17Win17–0Eric PodolakTKO5 Jul 3, 1990Convention Center, Washington, D.C., U.S.
16Win16–0Nigel WentonUD8Apr 29, 1990Circus Maximus Showroom, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
15Win15–0Billy YoungUD10Apr 3, 1990The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
14Win14–0Rafael LimónUD8Mar 3, 1990Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
13Win13–0Bobby BrewerUD8Feb 1, 1990Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
12Win12–0Dana RostonTKO1, 1:10Jan 11, 1990Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
11Win11–0Joseph AlexanderUD8Nov 16, 1989Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
10Win10–0Juan TorresTKO3Oct 26, 1989Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
9Win9–0Aristides AcevedoUD8Sep 21, 1989Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
8Win8–0Perry McQueen1Aug 16, 1989Washington, D.C., U.S.
7Win7–0Javier Chavez2, 3:00May 23, 1989Showboat Hotel Casino and Bowling Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
6Win6–0Verrol Liverpool6Apr 27, 1989D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S.
5Win5–0Thomas BakerUD6Mar 23, 1989National Guard Armory, Glen Burnie, Maryland, U.S.
4Win4–0Craig WillsUD4Jan 15, 1989Circus Maximus Showroom, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
3Win3–0Willie Rivera4Nov 22, 1988Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
2Win2–0Randy KearseTKO2Oct 11, 1988Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
1Win1–0Eddie Colon3Sep 23, 1988Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Professional debut

Awards