Sharmba Mitchell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sharmba Mitchell |
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|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Sharmba David Mitchell |
| Nickname(s) | Little Big Man |
| Rated at |
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| Height | 5 ft 7 in |
| Reach | 72 in |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | August 27, 1970 Takoma Park, Maryland, U.S. |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 63 |
| Wins | 57 |
| Wins by KO | 30 |
| Losses | 6 |
Sharmba David Mitchell (born August 27, 1970) is an American former professional boxer. He competed from 1988 to 2006. He was a world champion, holding the WBA light welterweight title from 1998 to 2001. He also held the IBF interim light welterweight title in 2004.
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Sharmba Mitchell's Boxing Journey
Sharmba Mitchell started his professional boxing career on September 23, 1988. His first fight was in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he won by knockout in the third round.
Early Career Success
Sharmba had an amazing start, winning his first 14 fights without any losses. He even beat a former Olympic medalist, Aristides Acevedo. On March 8, 1990, he faced a famous former world champion, Rafael Limón. Sharmba won that fight in Atlantic City after eight rounds.
He continued his winning streak, reaching a record of 27 wins and no losses. This included a victory against former world title challenger Miguel Santana. In 1992, he fought another former world champion, Rocky Lockridge, and won after ten rounds.
First Challenges and Comeback
Sharmba's record grew to 31 wins without a loss. But in 1994, he faced his first defeats. He lost two fights in a row. However, he didn't let that stop him. He went on to win every fight for the next seven years!
After six more wins, including one against future world champion Terron Millett, Sharmba got a chance to fight for a major title. On April 11, 1996, in Dallas, Texas, he won the WBC Continental Americas light welterweight title. He won by knocking out his opponent in the second round.
On May 10, 1997, Sharmba won another important belt, the WBA Fedelatin title. After two more victories, he was ready for his first shot at a world championship.
Becoming a World Champion
On October 10, 1998, Sharmba Mitchell achieved his dream. He fought Khalid Rahilou in Paris, France, and won by a unanimous decision after twelve rounds. This made him the WBA light welterweight champion of the world!
Sharmba successfully defended his world title four times. His last successful defense was against Felix Flores on September 16, 2000, in Las Vegas. Sharmba was knocked down in the first round, but he bravely got back up and won the fight.
Big Fights and Rematches
After his successful title defenses, many fans wanted to see Sharmba fight Kostya Tszyu, who was another world champion. This was a highly anticipated match.
First Fight with Kostya Tszyu
The big fight between Sharmba and Kostya Tszyu happened in Las Vegas on February 3, 2001. The fight ended in a surprising way. Sharmba hurt his knee early in the fight and couldn't continue after the seventh round. Even though he wasn't knocked out in the usual way, it still counted as a knockout loss on his record.
After this, Sharmba won eight fights in a row. He beat former world champion Vince Phillips and won the IBF interim light welterweight title against Lovemore N'Dou. He even became the first person to knock down Ben Tackie.
Rematch with Kostya Tszyu
People wanted to see a rematch between Sharmba and Tszyu. The fight was delayed several times because Tszyu had health problems. Finally, the rematch took place on November 6, 2004, in Phoenix, Arizona. This time, Tszyu knocked Sharmba down four times in the second round. The fight was stopped in the third round, and Sharmba lost by knockout.
Later Career and Retirement
On November 19, 2005, Sharmba Mitchell fought against the famous boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Portland, Oregon. Mayweather knocked Sharmba down in the third round and again in the sixth round, which ended the fight.
Sharmba's last fight was on August 19, 2006, against Paul Williams in Reno, Nevada. Sharmba was knocked down multiple times in this fight. The referee stopped the fight in the fourth round because Sharmba was too wobbly to continue. Sharmba Mitchell decided to retire from boxing shortly after this fight.
Sharmba Mitchell finished his professional boxing career with a great record: 57 wins and only 6 losses. He won 30 of his fights by knockout.
Professional Boxing Record Summary
| 63 fights | 57 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 30 | 6 |
| By decision | 27 | 0 |
Awards and Recognition
- 2011: Washington D.C. Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2012: Maryland Sports Hall of Fame inductee
