By Scott Gilfoid: In a highly controversial stoppage, Kevin Mitchell (38-2, 28 KO’s) defeated Ghislain Maduma (16-1, 10 KO’s) by an 11th round TKO tonight in an IBF lightweight eliminator at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Mitchell was behind in the fight going into the 11th. He hurt Maduma, knocking him into the ropes.
The referee Phil Edwards ruled a knockdown. Second later, Mitchell knocked Maduma down with a right hand to the head. After Maduma got back up, the referee halted the fight despite the fact that Maduma was bouncing on his feet and ready to continue fighting but the referee halted it anyway.
Mitchell was getting dominated the entire fight by the much faster and stronger Maduma. I had Maduma up 10 rounds to 0 going into the 11th. You’ve got to give Mitchell credit for being able to take a beating and come back to get the controversial stoppage. There’s a chance that he would have legitimately stopped Maduma had the referee Phil Edwards not taken the matters in his own hands to ruin Mitchell’s chance of looking good.
Mitchell’s promoter Eddie Hearn said “I believe I can make a fight with [IBF lightweight champion Miguel] Vazquez anyway. He [Mitchell] kept his career alive tonight.”
It’s unclear right now whether or not Mitchell is the IBF lightweight mandatory challenger or not, as he came in over the weight limit at the secondary check weigh-in this morning. Unless the IBF ignores their own rules, then Mitchell won’t be getting the fight. But Hearn believes he can still make the fight with Vazquez even if Mitchell’s not made the IBF mandatory challenger and he’s probably right if Hearn waves enough money under the snoot of Vazquez to lure him to the UK to take the fight. Vazquez is a whole new kettle of fish compared to Maduma, and I can’t see Mitchell being able to much against Vazquez no matter how far behind in the fight he falls behind.
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