By Aus-Boxing.com

JAYDE Mitchell has never backed away from a fight.

Since turning professional just over two years ago, the popular Peninsula product has consistently sought out the toughest challenges available. In just ten fights, Mitchell (9-1, 4 KOs) has fought only two fighters with losing records, while having fought three undefeated opponents and beaten a former world title challenger.

On Monday night, Mitchell will look to emulate the recent feats of fellow Australian’s Jack Brubaker and Dwight Ritchie when he challenges seasoned Japanese veteran Shintaro Matsumoto for his OPBF super middleweight title at the iconic Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Mitchell has long been one of the more refreshing interviews in the sport, and our latest instalment with the regional titleholder proved to be no different.

“It’s always a big ask to go into a champions backyard and beat him,” said Mitchell in an interview with Aus-Boxing. “I just think that it’s an honour as an Australian to head over there. Lionel Rose won a world title there against Fighting Harada. More recently we’ve seen Jack Brubaker and Dwight Ritchie go over there and do it too.”

Given Mitchell’s impressive run of opponents, Matsumoto’s record (13-4, 9 KOs) doesn’t look all too imposing. However, the Tokyo resident has shared the ring with notable opposition, including Kiwi mauler Robert Berridge and former world title challenger Yuzo Kiyota, the latter of whom he beat in his most recent outing in April.

Despite the odds being against him, Mitchell sees the stylistic matchup between himself and Matsumoto leaning in his favour, admitting that it was a fight that has been on his radar for some time.

“It’s actually a fight I feel stylistically matches up well with me,” he explained. “As soon as I heard about the fight I took it. I’ve been looking for an opponent that will take me to that next step. Matsumoto is world rated and I think he suits me as he is very forceful and very strong.”

“Mind you, he is a very big puncher so I don’t want to get caught. I just feel he is someone that matched up well with me.”

“He was actually someone I was looking at to fight and all of the sudden the phone rings, it’s a chance of a lifetime. This is a big stepping-stone in my career and it’s very big for me. Beating Matsumoto means a world ranking and it would really mean the world to me.”

“It’s been such a quick progression in my career. I think we’ve taken the right step-ups and the right fights as I have progressed.”

What makes Mitchell such an appealing fighter is his honesty when breaking down an opponent and his career progression. Although most see Mitchell’s shutout decision over Nader Hamdan in July as impressive, Mitchell has his own unique perspective on things.

“Look, I know I got that the win over Hamdan came at the right stage of his career, of course, but that guy is a legend,” he explained. “Fighting someone like him has put me in good stead to be able to confidently take on a fighter like this in his own backyard.”

Unlike many fighters who turn professional in Australian, Mitchell has been afforded the opportunity to pursue his trade full-time. This is something he isn’t taking for granted as he heads into the biggest fight of his professional career with an all-in mentality.

“I’m going to Japan to win – and I truly believe I can – I’m ready for this fight,” he said. “Boxing is my life now, it’s my job, and it’s what I do. If I’m not ready to take on someone like Matsumoto now, I never will be. I should go back to working a day job.”

“At the end of last year I was fighting injured. With working and trying to train at the same time and recover from an injury, it just took too much of a toll on the body. So I made my mind up, I’m not in this game to have fun. I want to make a career out of it. I made a choice; I wanted to give it my all and give it everything I possibly could.”

“With the support of my wife we decided to move into a smaller house, stop running my business and throw everything at this. Financially we’ve had to self-fund the start of my boxing career. It’s been very tough. It’s a huge sacrifice. If I didn’t think I could do it, I wouldn’t have done it.”

“I’m a boxer now, that’s what I do. You can’t get ready for a fight against world rated fighters if you are still shovelling concrete around all day then have to find time to train. It just doesn’t work.”

If Jayde Mitchell gets what he deserves, he will return home with an eventual world rating and the OPBF super middleweight title firmly affixed to his waist.

“My goal is to go as far as possible in this sport I love,” he concluded.
Right now, I’m truly getting to live out my dream.”

Photo: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images