Mitchell retired from boxing after that fight, but came out of retirement for two more victories in 1994 and 1995 before permanently retiring from the ring.
Mitchell says that retired pro boxer Mike Tyson turned his life around. He adds that Tyson’s acting career has done well, and he was inspired to pursue performing on stage. Mitchell says that he connected with the relevant people, and ultimately found himself on stage at Emperors Palace.
He finished his career with 45 wins, a solitary loss and three draws. His 12 successful defences of the junior lightweight title remain the record in that division to this day.
Many South Africans would consider him the country’s greatest ever pugilist. Mitchell is a legend in boxing, and an inspiration to many. Today, he is one of South Africa’s foremost boxing trainers.
Mitchell was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009. 702 online article 3 December 2017
39) Jim McDonnell Points 12: UK Fight Commentary TV -
v Jim McDonnell 2 November 1988 WBA Super-Featherweight London [r1] … Mitchell will find him a very difficult man to lay a glove on … he’s got a boxer on his hands … Mitchell looking quite dangerous … [r2] … [McDonnell] overshadowed by the exploits of Barry McGuigan … [r3] … Mitchell has been making the aggressive moves … good left jab by McDonnell … [r4] … A battle of wits … Mitchell threatening with a right hand over the top … [r5] … [Mitchell] wide swinging punches … slipped a lot of McDonnell’s punches … Neck and neck … [r6] … Mitchell plodding forward … Good solid jab again from McDonnell … very very hard to score these rounds … [r7] … Mitchell’s body punching is looking quite good … McDonnell still looks very strong … the fleeting white ghost … again the body punches come in from Mitchell … [r8] … He’s [Mitchell] moved into a higher gear … forcing his way through … He’s a good champion … [r9] … Mitchell never willing to back up … McDonnell most definitely slipping behind … Another hard fast round by Brian Mitchell … [r10] … McDonnell standing his ground … Another big effort by Mitchell … [r11] … The strength of the South African champion is going to be the decisive factor … McDonnell’s having a real go here … he’s got to come forward … McDonnell slinging everything into this … [r12] … Mitchell coming forward again … UK BBC fight commentary Harry Carpenter
[8.5] ALFREDO ESCALERA 70-53(31)-14-3: Boxing Insider online - The Ring online -
He turned professional in 1970, fighting in the clubs of New England, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. In his eighth pro contest he was trading shots with a fella named Edwin Viruet. He suffered his first pro defeat that night. No shame in that. Nor would there be any shame in his next setback two fights later to crafty Diego Alcala.
He reeled off three wins and then lost again to world rated Miguel Montilla but he was now fighting out of his home base of Puerto Rico. Five weeks later he lost a decision to Gino Febus. Three months after his loss to Febus he halted Montilla in a rematch. Five weeks later he stopped the highly respected Frankie Otero in five rounds.
Alfredo Escalera was on his way. Over the next few years the wins began to pile up. Jose Luis Lopez, Antonio Amaya, Sigfredo Rodriguez, Carlos Mendoza, Ricardo Arredondo and Oscar Pitton were victims. Then came a stunning KO loss to Mario Roman to end 1974.
Two months later Alfredo bounced back to halt Roman. He then drew with the talented Francisco Villegas. It was then off to Japan for a long waited for shot at the world’s crown. He would meet the WBC claimant Kuniaki Shibata, a pretty darn good fighter!
On July 5th, 1975 Alfredo began a very solid reign as a world champion by flattening Shibata in two rounds. For two and a half years Alfredo was to remain a champion and put together a rather impressive resume for Hall Of Fame status. During this time as champion Alfredo took on allcomers. He drew with tough Lionel Hernandez. He beat Gaetan Hart, Sven-Erik Paulsen, Jose Fernandez twice, Buzzsaw Yamabe twice and the dangerous Ray Lunny.
He then won a highly controversial verdict over the extremely talented Tyrone Everett. He then halted Ronnie McGarvey and Carlos Becerril. He then came from behind to squeak by Sigfredo Rodriguez.
On January 28th in Puerto Rico, Alfredo was to meet the legendary Alexis Arguello. In a memorable war, a bloodbath, Arguello captured Alfredo’s title in thirteen action packed rounds. Alfredo would receive a chance to regain the crown but would again lose to Alexis in another no holds barred bout. Alfredo would remain a formidable contender for a few years but eventually fade from scene. Still he should be recognized as one of the top fighters of the era.
A few years back in 1998 I believe, I ran into Arguello up in Canastota, New York. I point-blank asked him if he felt Escalera should be enshrined. The look in his eye upon his response told me what I wanted to hear. You could see and hear that Alexis had the utmost respect for his former foe. The answer from Alexis was YES. Alfredo Escalera deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. That was good enough for me. Boxing Insider online article 20th April 2008 Jim Amato, ‘Alfredo Escalera: A Champion Forgotten’
Alexis Arguello v Alfredo Escalera II: A Superb Second Act: As a rule, sequels seldom live up to their originals much less exceed them …
Thirty five years ago today, Alexis Arguello and Alfredo Escalera managed to exceed the lofty standards established by their first meeting on January 28 1978, a fight so ferocious that it was dubbed ‘The Bloody Battle of Bayamon.’ There, Arguello’s elegant fists literally cut Escalera’s face to ribbons and by the time the fight was stopped in round 13 the now ex-champion’s upper lip was nearly torn off. Through it all Escalera fought with a mixture of passion and desperation that won plenty of hearts but wasn’t enough to counteract Arguello’s clinical savagery …
Five months after losing the belt to Arguello, Escalera returned to the ring with a 10-round decision over Rogelio Castanena in San Juan and 53 days later – as the co-feature to Fernandez-Arguello – he scorched Larry Stanton in three rounds. But three months later the MSG upset bug bit Escalera as Julio ‘Diablito’ Valdez scored a surprising 10-round decision.
Despite the defeat, Arguello-Escalera II was set for February 4 1979 at the Pellazo dello Sport in Rimini, Italy. Why Italy? Here’s why: An available venue on relatively short notice, a favorable tax situation and the presence of heavyweight contender Alfio Righetti and Italian lightweight champion Giancarlo Usai on the undercard.
Arguello (60-4, 49 knockouts) strained to get his 5-foot-10 inch frame down to 129 while the 5-foot-8 Escalera (42-9-2, 27 KOs), who stuffed 10 title defenses in his two-and-a-half year reign before losing his crown to Arguello, scaled a more comfortable 129¾. Escalera, nicknamed ‘Salsero’ for his love of salsa and ‘The Snake Man’ for bringing his six-foot pet python Ali to weigh-ins and ring walks, went snake-less this night due to customs concerns. The claustrophobic 16-foot ring virtually guaranteed an action fight but little did anyone know how much action they were about to see.
Once the opening bell sounded it was clear Escalera had made several adjustments. First, he held his hands higher than in the first fight, surely remembering the effects of Arguello’s thunderous and razor-sharp fists. Second, he appeared to have kicked his habit of throwing back-handed punches, a violation for which he was cautioned several times in fight one. Third, he was less willing to brawl with Arguello, something he considered a major mistake in their earlier encounter. Finally, he did a better job of blocking and ducking under Arguello’s dangerous hooks. Conversely, Arguello was Arguello: Straight up stance, high guard, efficient punches, economical movement, sledgehammer power, Job’s patience and artistic craftsmanship.
By the midway point of a probing round one Arguello scored with a pinpoint four-punch combination while the advancing Escalera connected with a short hook to the jaw. In the final minute Arguello’s rapier jabs and heavier power shots penetrated Escalera’s guard more often than the challenger’s earnest but inaccurate efforts.
Escalera carried the first two minutes of round two by bulling Arguello to the ropes and pounding him with hooks, compact rights, sticky body shots and occasional uppercuts to the head and stomach. A heavy lead right spun Arguello’s head but the champ, as always, kept his cool. Arguello rebounded well in the round’s final 35 seconds with a hefty right to the chin, a potent hook to the face and a solid right-left that forced Escalera to give ground.