During his sophomore year of high school, the hoop dreams flew out the window and Mitchell got serious about football, before he eventually developed into a standout linebacker for MSU. And then there were the injuries.

“(Mitchell was) a remarkable competitor, and the sad thing of it is he had all the tools and ability to play in the National Football League — no question about it,” Associate Athletics Director John Lewandowski said.

After recording the second-most tackles on the team with 103 as a sophomore, Mitchell was forced to retire prior to the next season in 2005, due to recurring injuries.

Mitchell was constantly hampered by articular cartilage under his knee that would flake off, become inflamed and require drainage from time to time. It took seven surgeries to attempt to heal Mitchell’s knee, but the procedures were more of a stopgap than a permanent solution, he said.

“It wasn’t a real pretty situation, but I did everything in my power that I thought I needed to do to continue to play football; but at the end of the day, I had to walk away from the game, and I was at peace with myself,” Mitchell said.

An injury that derailed a once promising career didn’t discourage Mitchell, however. He went on to graduate from MSU and was circulating résumés and hoping to join the workforce when he saw former Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski boxing professionally and become infatuated instantly.
That night, “Mayhem” was born.

“Once I saw that it just inspired me, I was like, ‘Man, I want to box,’ and it was just that simple,” Mitchell said.

Today, Mitchell is signed with boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and regarded as one of the best American heavyweight boxers in the business, sporting a 25-0-1 career record with 19 knockouts.

Mitchell fears no one and said he absolutely embodies the nickname given to him by former Spartan running back Jason Teague in the ring.

“You should be expecting … that I’m coming to fight,” he said. “You know that I’m going to be in shape and that you better be in tiptop shape.”

Lewandowski said when he’s not fighting, Mitchell is extremely personable and loyal — he even still wears MSU colors and his former football number 48 while warming up before fights.

“He’s got that type of engaging personality that when you meet him, you immediately become a fan of his,” Lewandowski said. “He’s a galvanizing figure, and the greatest thing about him (is that) he’s the same guy today as he was when he was recruited out of high school.”

Lorin Chvotkin, a member of Team Mitchell, said Mitchell is unlike many other high-profile athletes and is someone whom children should look up to.

“He’s a really solid guy,” Chvotkin said. “He’s respectful, he’s got manners — he’s a role model.”

Mitchell had a fight scheduled for July 14, but had to cancel after he sprained a knuckle in his hand in his last fight in April, when he knocked out Chazz Witherspoon in the third round. He’s scheduled to return to the ring sometime this September, he said.

“Health, financial security for my family and then hopefully I can become heavyweight champion of the world. But in that order; that’s what’s most important to me,” Mitchell said.