Byron Mitchell on Zach Walters, and Other Tidbits

• In an interview published by eastsideboxing.com, former middleweight champion Byron Mitchell has this to say about his next opponent, Zach Walters of Duluth: “I’ve done a little research…He’s tall and he has a good 23-3 record.  I’m not overlooking him by any means.  But at the same time, I don’t think he’s on my level.”  Catch the rest of that interview at http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=18616&more=1  The two are set to meet on February 20 in Buffalo, New York.
• Brad Patraw has told the Fistic Mystic that he’s confident he will defeat Antwan Robertson in the clash of undefeated small men (both 4-0 with 3 kayos) at Hinckley on March 28.  “I like Antwan and I like John Hoffman [Robertson’s trainer and manager], but it’s time to fight,” says Patraw.  Catch the full interview at http://www.minnesotaboxing.com/Interviews/fistic_mystic/brad_patraw_feb2009.html starting Monday.
• Joey Abell’s opponent for the February 13 “Valentine’s Day Massacre” event in Minneapolis has changed again.  Now Abell is scheduled to face Marcus Rhode in a 6-rounder.  Rhode, a 36 year old slugger, has won 34 of 72 career bouts, 29 of them by knockout.  Rhode was most recently seen getting knocked out in the fifth round of a December 20th fight by 29-5 John Sargent of Naytahwaush.
• Caleb Truax, whose currently named opponent for the same card is JJ Corn, had this to say about his last fight, a TKO defeat of Jonny Hayes on January 24: “Hayes was all goofy movement and goofy angles and he was holding like a son of a gun.  But I was patient and wore him down.”  Hayes, it will be remembered, was a brave warrior until Truax knocked him through the ropes in the second round.  After that Hayes was just trying to stay alive, and the fight was stopped by referee Mark Nelson in the fifth round when Truax cornered Hayes and nailed him with three consecutive right hooks.
• An event has been tentatively scheduled for April 4th in Rochester.  It would include a mix of boxing and MMA, and the names of boxers Raphael Butler, Drew Peterson, Andrew Greeley, and Mike Howell are being tossed around.  It is said that MMA participants could include Travis Wiuff and Tommy Speers, but nothing is definite.