LightWeight

It’s unclear if Luke Campbell reads a lot of Friedrich Nietzsche’s work, but he would be wise to bear in mind one of the philosopher’s most famous lines: "That which does not kill us makes us stronger."

Nietzsche didn’t have a boxer’s career in mind with the quote (well, at least I don’t think he did).

But, after a first career defeat, Campbell has to prove he is ready to come back stronger.

The lightweight was making serene progress in the paid ranks, reeling off 12 straight victories, until he ran into a tough Frenchman by the name of Yvan Mendy on Dec. 12, 2015.

What was set up to be a steppingstone on the path to bigger and better things turned out to be a major bump in the road. Looking like a pale imitation of the fighter we had seen previously, Campbell suffered a split-decision points loss at the O2 Arena in London.

Mendy (32-4-1, 17 KOs) was always meant to be a test—it's just that no one expected Campbell to fail it.

He even had to pick himself up off the canvas in Round 5:

https://twitter.com/KOKINGS4/status/675753684316332032

As pointed out by Kevin Mitchell in the Guardian, the Olympic gold medallist has issues to contend with outside of the ring: "Campbell may have been distracted, as his father is battling cancer, and he certainly was not as sharp as he has been in most of his 12 professional fights, all victories."

The Campbell who took on Mendy was not the same one who had made such a positive start to life as a pro.

He lacked head movement, was too often beaten to the punch and seemed unable to produce the type of rapid combinations that had served him so well during his highly successful amateur career.

The 28-year-old (yes, he really is 28, despite looking like he could still be asked for ID when buying a lottery ticket) accepted he had not been good enough on the night, per the Hull Daily Mail: "I'll get back in the gym with my team and work hard. It was my first time fighting 12 rounds and I'll learn from this."

However, Campbell didn’t go back to the gym. At least not the same one he had been going to previously.

The end of his perfect record led to changes—the boy from Hull, England, headed out to Miami (now there’s a case of going from one extreme to the other) to team up with trainer Jorge Rubio.

Excited to spend my camp for my upcoming fight training out in Miami with highly respected Cuban trainer Jorge Rubio pic.twitter.com/WIJjS5Fga7

— Luke Campbell MBE (@luke11campbell) January 28, 2016

The pair had previously worked together, as confirmed by Sky Sports. This time it was different, however, as he based himself in the United States for his training camp.

The decision—one that cannot have been taken lightly, considering the fighter had to leave behind his young family—shows Campbell's commitment to the cause.

According to James Smailes of the Hull Daily Mail, Campbell believes the alterations were required to help him progress: "I just felt like I wasn't getting what I needed. It wasn't because of the loss I made the change, more a feeling I wasn't getting what I needed."

In the same interview, Campbell—who is opening his own gym back in Hull—confirms he should never have gone through with the Mendy fight, admitting he wasn't "mentally or physically right."

Promoter Eddie Hearn is confident one of his rising stars will come back strongly from the surprise loss, per John Dennen of Boxing News: "As a salesman, when you’re selling an executive car and all of a sudden someone realises there’s a little scratch on it. You need to get that fixed up and that’s what we’re doing at the moment. Soon again we’ll be on the forecourt looking sensational."

Now, though, the time has come for the talking to stop. Campbell has said all the right things, but the proof of the pudding will be in the eating.

He is back in action on Saturday, fighting on the undercard to welterweight Kell Brook's IBF world-title defence against Kevin Bizier in Sheffield, England. Gary Sykes is his opponent in a 12-rounder that sees the vacant Commonwealth belt up for grabs.

Sykes (28-4, 6 KOs) is an ideal opponent for the situation. The experienced Yorkshireman is a former British champion at super featherweight, so forget any idea he's just turning up to help pad Campbell's record.

Take a look at Sykes' CV, courtesy of BoxRec, and you spot two things—his durability and his lack of knockouts.

The situation looks perfect for Campbell to impress against a domestic rival. If he wants to get back on the world-title trail, only a win will do.

Just don't expect to suddenly see major modifications to his technique. If it ain't broke, don't fix it (I'm pretty sure Nietzsche didn't come up with that line).

But, he is determined to dazzle again after making mistakes against Mendy, telling Nick Parkinson of ESPN.co.uk: "It's not like you are going to see a new me already against Gary Sykes, but you will see a lot more of what I'm capable of. I'm not even scratching the surface and I've got a lot more to come and Jorge is bringing it out of me."

With Rubio—known for his work with another southpaw, Guillermo Rigondeaux—in his corner, Campbell can become Commonwealth champion. However, he has his sights set on a much bigger prize.

Heavyweight Anthony Joshua, who, like Campbell, won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, gets his chance to win a world title against Charles Martin on April 9—in what will be just his 16th professional outing.

Don't be surprised if Campbell follows his old Team GB colleague's lead and challenges for a major belt before the end of 2016.

Hearn's executive car is ready to go on the road again.

Follow @RobLancs79

There were few better boxing stories in 2015 than the journey Anthony Crolla made from hospital bed to world champion.

The fighter from Manchester, England—who defends his WBA lightweight title against Ismael Barroso on May 7—had been due to challenge Richar Abril, the holder of the belt at the time, on Jan. 23, 2015.

However, that plan was ruined when Crolla’s attempts to prevent a burglary left him with a fractured skull and a broken right ankle. Forget about fighting Abril—there were concerns over whether he would even be able to fight again.

Crolla (30-4-3, 12 KOs), though, was not going to see his dream dashed outside of the ring. 

He had worked too hard for that to happen, battling back from a tough loss to compatriot Derry Mathews in 2012 to stand on the brink of a major belt.

His recovery was "remarkable," according to his doctor. Consultant trauma surgeon Sabeen Akhtar told Gareth A Davies of the Telegraph: "He was so close to his world title opportunity in January, such a psychological knock back could really have affected him significantly, but he had such a positive, compliant attitude as a patient, he willed himself to do well. He really pushed himself to the limit."

There was still to be one further setback in his world title bid.

On his return to the ring in July, Crolla produced an impressive performance against Colombian Darleys Perez, who had been promoted from interim champion to replace Abril, but didn’t quite do enough to impress the judges.

A majority draw meant Million Dollar was short-changed at the Manchester Arena.

Journalist Jeff Powell opened his fight report for the Daily Mail: "The boxing hero who risked his life to have a go at his neighbour's burglars was the victim of an outrageous late-night robbery in Manchester."

In the rematch, staged at the same venue in November, Crolla made sure there would be no more debates about scorecards. A left hook to the body in Round 5 ended Perez’s reign.

"I've dreamed this dream since I was 10. I didn't know it was going to be this good. It is better than I ever dreamed it would be," Crolla said in the aftermath, per BBC Sport. The local lad had completed his journey to the top in style, becoming a world champion in his backyard. It was a feel-good story that left a lump in the throat.

Now, though, he begins a new chapter in his story.

Winning a world title is one thing. Defending it is a whole new proposition. The hunter has become the hunted. Crolla—who is trained by Joe Gallagher—has a sizeable first hurdle to clear, too.

When Barroso (19-0-2, 18 KOs) arrived in Britain to take on Kevin Mitchell in Dec. 2015, he was an unknown quantity.

His 20-fight unbeaten record was impressive, but he had not met a fighter of any real note.

He was also 32 at the time, raising doubts over his quality: Had he been avoided by the big names or just been padding his record against weak opposition?

It didn't take long to find out the answer.

Mitchell had previously lost to another Venezuelan, former WBC champion Jorge Linares, on a night when he came agonisingly close to winning a world title. However, his second bout against an opponent from the former Spanish colony was just agonisingly painful.

If there had been the suggestion beforehand that Barroso was nothing more than a big-hitting southpaw who lacked any real skill, it soon became clear that wasn't the case.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URNoYxiN-LY

From the outset, the southpaw looked calculated, not crude. There was a method to the way he worked against Mitchell, all while he waited to detonate a big left hand at some stage.

But it ended up being a right jab that led to the beginning of the end. Mitchell was knocked down in the final minute of Round 5, and while he climbed off the canvas, he was stopped soon after.

Crolla was ringside at the O2 Arena in London to see the action unfold. His hopes of a domestic showdown with Mitchell—who has since retired—disappeared, and instead he was left with the prospect of facing the WBA's dangerous new interim champion, Barroso.

He is full of praise for his first challenger, telling Matchroom Boxing:

The suggestion that I would duck him got my back up a bit. When you are champion you fight the best challengers out there and that’s what I see in Barroso. I am looking forward to us both putting on a fantastic fight. We know he can bang and that is why everyone avoids him, but I believe I have got the tools to beat him and he’s not taking my belt.

A fight with WBO champion Terry Flanagan—his fellow Mancunian who just so happened to attend the same school as Crolla, as Flanagan confirmed to Nick Parkinson of ESPN.co.uk—was a lucrative alternative option.

Per David Anderson of the Mirror, promoter Frank Warren made a £500,000 offer for Crolla to face the winner of the bout between Flanagan and Derry Mathews that took place on March 12.

Flanagan came out on top by unanimous decision, and in the post-match press conference, Turbo confirmed his desire to settle the argument over who is the best at 135 pounds in his home city:

Terry Flanagan on the Crolla fight: "I think it should happen." pic.twitter.com/ivPHurQ6wg

— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) March 12, 2016

Warren even suggested Crolla should vacate his title to challenge for the WBO version instead, according to Kevin Mitchell of the Guardian.

However, having been through tough times, both in and out of the ring, the 29-year-old had no interest in relinquishing the WBA belt. Per Boxing News 24, he said: "When you work for something so hard and so long, the last thing you want to do is give it up."

Flanagan will have to wait, for now.

Barroso can throw a spanner in the works of a potential all-Manchester fight, but if Crolla didn’t back down from confronting burglars in the street, he isn’t going to duck opponents in the ring.

Follow @RobLancs79

Terry "Turbo" Flanagan retained his WBO lightweight title on Saturday with a unanimous points win over Derry Mathews in Liverpool, England.

While it turned out to be more of an absorbing fight than a thrilling one, Turbo (30-0, 12 KOs) triumphed to defend his belt for a second time. The Mancunian did enough to get the nod from all three judges.

British Boxing News confirmed the final scores on Twitter:

Brave effort from the veteran fighter. The scorecards had Flanagan at 117-110, 115-112 and 117-110 for a UD to retain WBO lightweight title

— British Boxing News 🇬🇧 (@BritishBoxNews) March 12, 2016

Here, Bleacher Report reviews the action (and the one that got away) from the Echo Arena.

Champion Prevails

Flanagan may not have dazzled in victory, but he did show just why he is a world champion.

Entering his opponent's backyard, and after being booed on his ring walk, Turbo surprisingly set the pace for the first four rounds. Then, when Mathews tried to be the aggressor, Flanagan looked just as comfortable working on the counter.

Throwing straight punches, particularly left hands to the body (when he landed them on the right side of Mathews' belt), Flanagan always seemed to be in control.

Kevin Mitchell of the Guardian pointed out how the visiting boxer took charge as the contest wore on: "Flanagan’s strength began to tell in the ninth and 10th as his attacks grew more frequent and more damaging, to body and head. While Mathews has often proved dangerous towards the end of big fights, his punch rate dropped and he struggled to find openings."

The southpaw did walk a tightrope with some of his tactics, though. He had a point deducted for using his forearm to try to remove Mathews' head from his body in Round 8.

He had already received several warnings for low blows, too. Against a man nicknamed Dirty Derry, Flanagan ran the risk of giving up his title by disqualification.

However, as Bad Left Hook pointed out on Twitter, he was better off focusing on his boxing than trying to get an edge through illegal methods:

Flanagan has been the dirtier fighter, without question. He’s also just been the better fighter so far.

— Bad Left Hook (@badlefthook) March 12, 2016

Through fair means, and the occasional foul, Flanagan found a way to keep his belt. He displayed his talent, and also his toughness, to extend his perfect record and show why it will take a seriously good lightweight to dethrone him.

Derry Disappointing

Mathews (38-10-2, 20 KOs) promised in the buildup to drag Flanagan into the trenches, per George Gigney of Boxing News:

I want a war with Terry and I don’t want him to run. I want to put a proper fight on for the crowd and the paying public. I’ve got my fingers crossed that he stands toe-to-toe with me when we get it on. He’s come out again saying this fight won’t be going the distance but he still won’t name the round he’s going to stop me in. All the pressure is on him now and after the fight he’s going to realise he picked the wrong man to defend his title against.

However, he was never able to start a war in the ring. Instead, a tactical battle unfolded—and Mathews failed to come up with the required answers to the questions being posed by his opponent.

Flanagan didn't run, yet the challenger never managed to pin his rival down.

There were fleeting moments of success with his right hand, particularly on the counter, yet Mathews could not string enough combinations together.

He had managed to turn around difficult situations before in his career, most notably knocking out Tommy Coyle in July 2013 when behind. That sensational stoppage clinched him the Commonwealth title, too.

But, he never threatened to repeat the trick in the closing stages against Flanagan, which means he failed to mark the landmark occasion of his 50th fight by becoming a world champion.

Maybe the 32-year-old will look back at a later date and question some of his methods. More likely, however, he just came up against a younger, more gifted fighter who had his number.

The former British champion did not lack for effort throughout the 12 rounds. He had waited a long time for such an opportunity, and per BoxNation on Twitter, the defeat hit Mathews hard:

"The better man won tonight." - a clearly distraught Derry Mathews in the post fight presser #FlanaganMathews pic.twitter.com/B1in6y96f7

— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) March 12, 2016

What Next?

For Flanagan, the future looks bright.

The obvious option is to face fellow Mancunian Anthony Crolla—who is due to defend his WBA strap against Ismael Barroso on May 7, according to BoxRec—in a unification clash.

In the post-fight press conference, promoter Frank Warren made it clear he's willing to pay to make it happen, per James Robson of the Manchester Evening News: "What we are saying is if the WBA say you’ve got to defend against Barroso—we’re saying vacate that title. Just fight for the WBO title and we’ll pay you the same money as coming in without any belt.

"We will pay exactly the same money."

Before Crolla goes all Rod Tidwell in the movie Jerry Maguire, his promoter, Eddie Hearn, is adamant the bout would only happen if the price is right. When asked on Twitter about the chances of seeing the two city rivals square off, Hearn replied: "For sure...for proper money, though."

If a battle between Manchester's two world champions doesn't look likely to happen in the near future, Turbo's team will target WBC champion Jorge Linares instead:

"If Crolla don't want it - we'll go after Linares! I would love to see him in the ring with Linares" - Frank Warren pic.twitter.com/XDlX6URcPL

— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) March 12, 2016

As for Mathews, he hinted afterward that the loss could signal the end of what has been a long and winding road in the paid ranks:

Thanks to liverpool fans for getting behind me tonight you was brilliant sorry for letting you down , could be the end of the journey x

— derry mathews (@derrymathews23) March 13, 2016

Such a reaction is understandable. While Dirty Derry is only 32, he has been a pro for over 13 years and has had a half-century of fights. He looked destined to walk away from the sport in 2009, but he has enjoyed a renaissance at lightweight.

He has a gym in his home city of Liverpool, and with no immediate route to allow him to challenge for any of the other major belts around, retirement may be the next move.

If Saturday was his final outing as a pro, thanks for the memories, Derry.

The Missing Man

Guillermo Rigondeaux should have been the chief support act on Saturday. The addition of the Cuban—a two-time Olympic gold medalist—was a real bonus for the event.

It was also a huge opportunity for his opponent, James "Jazza" Dickens.

The Liverpudlian—the reigning British champion at super bantamweight—admitted it was an offer too good to refuse, per Micheal McKenna of the Liverpool Echo: "It is like a Rocky story, one day I’m just training waiting for my next fight and then I get call, do I want to fight Guillermo Rigondeaux? Are you mad, one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world wants to fight me? Not half, I’ll definitely have some of that!"

However, the Hollywood storyline never made it to our screens because of Rigondeaux's issues obtaining a visa to enter Britain.

After completing his preparations in Russia, the 35-year-old decided not to hang around in the hope of being able to cut through the red tape. Instead, he flew back to Miami, effectively cancelling the fight.

An official announcement was made on Thursday to confirm the bad news. In a statement, Queensbury Promotions said, per BBC Sport: "We are all extremely disappointed by the situation."

But, it turns out that wasn't the end of the story. Steve Bunce in the Independent revealed: "An attempt to get him from Miami to Liverpool was eventually cancelled on Wednesday and his fight with the British super-bantamweight champion Jazza Dickens called off. All the paperwork, not inconsiderable considering Rigondeaux’s complicated status, had been completed; he was free to enter Britain and fight."

Now, the dust has settled, and no one comes out of the situation with any credit.

Rigondeaux missed the chance to impress a British audience, Dickens missed the chance to face a major star, and Queensbury Promotions missed out on having a huge name on the card.

Best of the Rest

Paul Butler picked up the vacant WBO International super flyweight title by stopping Mexican Sebastian Sanchez with a beautiful right-left hook combination to the body in Round 9.

However, he also picked up injuries to both hands. Butler told Alex Steedman of BoxNation after the win (h/t Elliot Foster of BoxingScene.com): "My left [hand] started going in the fourth and then my right [hand] went in round six, but went badly in round eight."

A spell on the sidelines would be a blow for the Baby Faced Assassin. A fight against either Jamie Conlan or Kal Yafai would be good to watch later in 2016, particularly if it happened to be a world-title eliminator.

Meanwhile, Zolani Tete—the man who took the IBF super flyweight belt from Butler in 2015—marked his move up to bantamweight by beating Jose Santos Gonzalez.

https://twitter.com/Lewistaylor90/status/708937189283991552

Middleweights Tommy Langford and Lewis Taylor served up the fight of the night, with the former prevailing on points to become the new Commonwealth champion.

Langford is now 16-0 (5 KOs), and as WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders is also in Warren's stable of fighters, he has an obvious target to aim for.

Terry Flanagan retained his WBO lightweight title on Saturday, beating the experienced Derry Mathews on points in Liverpool, England.

The unbeaten champion, who hails from Manchester, England, improved his record to 30-0 (12 KOs) after coming out on the right end of a unanimous decision.

Mathews (38-10-2, 20 KOs), who was fighting in his own back yard at the Echo Arena, battled bravely but came up short in what was the 50th fight of his professional career.

Recap the action by reading through our live blog:

Just over 48 hours after Liverpool host Manchester United in the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League, the two cities will be sporting rivals again when Terry Flanagan faces Derry Mathews.

Despite being the reigning WBO lightweight champion, Flanagan will be the visiting fighter at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England.

The Manchester-born boxer—who is not only defending a title but also his perfect 29-0 (12 knockouts) record—had initially been due to face local lad Mathews (38-9-2, 20 KOs) on Feb. 13, only for a foot injury to rule him out of the first date, according to Sheldan Keay of the Manchester Evening News.

Now the pair will finally face each other in the main event of a card that has been hit by the late withdrawal of Guillermo Rigondeaux.

The Cuban was due to face Liverpool's James "Jazza" Dickens. However, Rigondeaux's issues obtaining a visa put paid to the bout, as confirmed by Queensberry Promotions in a statement on FrankWarren.com.

When: Saturday, March 12, 10 p.m. GMT (5 p.m. ET)

Where: Echo Arena, Liverpool

TV: BoxNation (UK—subscription required), beIN Sports (U.S.—delayed coverage)

Live stream: BoxNation (UK—subscription required)

Tougher Challenge

After dismantling the decidedly reckless Diego Magdaleno inside two rounds in his first defence, Flanagan should expect a tougher challenge against Mathews.

Turbo became the WBO champion in rather odd circumstances, as opponent Jose Zepeda was forced to retire from their fight in July 2015 due to a serious shoulder injury suffered in Round 2.

While it was not quite the coronation the new titleholder may have hoped for on home turf, the 26-year-old still entered the record books as the first Englishman to win a world title at the 135-pound limit. He confirmed his status with a rapid stoppage of Magdaleno, who lasted less than six minutes in October 2015.

Flanagan—a tricky southpaw who remains grounded, despite his recent successes in the ring—wants the chance to fight for another belt in the near future.

Per Nick Parkinson of ESPN.co.uk, he hopes a win over Mathews can lead to a unification clash against an opponent he knows plenty about—WBA champion and fellow Mancunian, Anthony Crolla:

Crolla is the one I want. Anthony and I are friends, we're from the same area, went to the same school and are world champions in the same weight division. It's unheard of.

I knew him at school, he was a few years ahead of me, and he's a nice kid. But we will put our friendship aside for the fight, boxing is a business after all, and after the fight we can be mates again.

According to David Anderson of the Mirror, promoter Frank Warren has already made a lucrative offer to Million Dollar Crolla to face the winner of Saturday's fight.

If Flanagan wants it to be him, he must make sure he doesn't look beyond Mathews, an experienced pro who has taken the long road to the top.

The visiting fighter isn't likely to have to look too far to find his challenger, but if Dirty Derry dashes in too quickly, he could find himself in trouble, as American Magdaleno can testify:

BIG KO! Re-live the moment @terryflanagan5 ironed out Diego Magdaleno to defend his WBO Title for the first time!https://t.co/ZUvey2u0h9

— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) March 10, 2016

Game of Patience

Considering he has been a pro for over 13 years now, Mathews shouldn't mind having to wait an extra month for his chance to become a full world champion.

The 32-year-old—who will bring up the milestone of 50 fights in the paid ranks on Saturday—questioned the legitimacy of Flanagan's foot injury that led to the initial delay, per Micheal McKenna of the Liverpool Echo: "I don't believe he's injured; I think he's took me lightly at first and now he's realised he's in deep trouble."

At the final press conference ahead of the rescheduled date, the challenger felt the extra time had actually played into his hands, as tweeted by Frank Warren:

Mathews: Terry's injury has given me an advantage, it's given me more time to work on my speed and sparring

— Frank Warren (@FrankWarren) March 10, 2016

Mathews was last seen in the ring in April 2014, becoming the WBA's interim champion by beating late stand-in Tony Luis on points.

He had been due to fight for the full belt on that night, only for Richar Abril to pull out through illness, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com.

Abril has since been stripped of his crown, with Crolla beating Darleys Perez at the second attempt (their first fight ended in a controversial draw) to become Manchester's second world champion at the weight.

Mathews intends on cutting that number in half by dragging Flanagan into the trenches, telling George Gigney of Boxing News:

I want a war with Terry and I don’t want him to run. I want to put a proper fight on for the crowd and the paying public. I’ve got my fingers crossed that he stands toe-to-toe with me when we get it on. He’s come out again saying this fight won’t be going the distance but he still won’t name the round he’s going to stop me in. All the pressure is on him now and after the fight he’s going to realise he picked the wrong man to defend his title against.

The challenger is not simply talking a good game—he is experienced enough to know that his best chance of victory is to force his rival into a battle, rather than take him on from long range.

Having waited patiently for his opportunity during a career that has been full of ups and downs, expect Mathews to leave it all in the ring.

Prediction

Flanagan defeated Dirty Derry in their previous meeting in a semi-final clash at a Prizefighter tournament staged in Liverpool back in 2012.

That win, however, was in a three-round contest in a knockout event. The pair could now produce a domestic classic over 12 rounds in the same city, particularly as a world title is on the line.

Mathews will go on the offensive from the outset, and don't be surprised if the referee has to get involved at times.

However, Flanagan's ability to box off the back foot will prove crucial in deciding the bout. The champion will weather an early storm and eventually prevail, either by late stoppage or, as seems more likely, on points.

In boxing, timing is everything. The sport is all about sensing the moment when in the ring and then reacting appropriately to it. In announcing his retirement, Kevin Mitchell showed timing is just as important when it comes to leaving the ring too.

On Wednesday, via a press release from his promoter, Matchroom Boxing, Mitchell (39-4, 29 KOs) revealed he was hanging up his gloves after 43 professional fights.

Training to face European lightweight champion Edis Tatli on March 19, he had a moment of clarity, per Sky Sports News HQ (h/t Isaac Robinson of Sky Sports): "I was on the punchbag and not enjoying it. Normally I love the punchbag but I really didn't have it in my heart any more to train and go at it."

Rather than keep on going, Mitchell made the decision to walk away from a sport that has been part of his life for more than two decades.

For the vast majority of us, retirement cannot come soon enough.

After the grind of working for years, there is a chance to relax and make the most of life. Free from the constraints of building your schedule around a job, time is no longer your enemy.

For sportsmen and women, however, retirement means accepting they are not what they once were—and that there is no chance of ever getting back to the level they once reached.

Boxing isn't a job for a pro fighter—it is a way of life. Some find the adjustment away from the gym tough to cope with.

In announcing his decision to make a comeback in 2012, Ricky Hatton, a former world champion, said, per BBC Sport: "People say nice things about me but they don't know what's been going on in between my ears."

Like the end of a relationship, a retired boxer is left with lingering memories and a series of questions that are set to remain unanswered. Those thoughts can eat away at the toughest of men. Muhammad Ali couldn't walk away in time to save his health. The 47-year-old Roy Jones Jr. is still refusing to give in.

In calling it a day, Mitchell had to face up to the realisation he would never win a world title.

He was a British and Commonwealth champion at super featherweight, but for a plethora of different reasons, he fell short at the highest level.

When challenging Michael Katsidis for the interim WBO lightweight title in 2010, he was not in good shape physically or mentally. Issues at home and a lack of dedication to the cause cost him, as he later revealed to the Express: "I was living the life of half party boy, half pro boxer."

When challenging Ricky Burns, who held the full WBO belt in 2012, he quickly found out he had bitten off more than he could possibly chew. Burns was bigger and stronger, which led to a stoppage win in Round 4.

When challenging WBC champion Jorge Linares in May 2015, however, the stars seemed to be aligning for Mitchell.

With a commitment to his career that had been previously lacking, he reeled off six successive wins in response to the Burns defeat. He, along with promoter Eddie Hearn, also managed to persuade his Venezuelan opponent to travel to London for the fight.

For the vast majority of the bout, it looked set to be third time lucky for Mitchell.

He knocked down his rival in Round 5 while displaying the kind of skills that had marked him out as a future star when, as an amateur, he won an ABA title at the age of 18.

But Linares found a way to spoil the coronation of King Kevin in the English capital.

He nailed The Hammer repeatedly. Mitchell's face became a bloody mess, yet the most painful blow of them all came when the referee waved the contest off in Round 10 with the challenger in no fit state to continue.

Mitchell's chance, his final chance, had gone. He was heroic in defeat, with Hearn telling Riath Al-Samarrai of the MailOnline: "What he did in there should never be forgotten because he proved he has the heart of a lion and that he is one of the best lightweights in the world."

Mitchell did return to the ring one more time, against Ismael Barroso for the vacant WBA interim lightweight title on Dec. 12, 2015, yet he looked a shadow of the fighter who had pushed Linares to the limit just less than seven months earlier.

Stopped in Round 5, his world title hopes were in tatters. Instead of preparing for a clash with newly crowned WBA champion Anthony Crolla, he was left considering his future.

He admitted in an exclusive interview with George Gigney of Boxing News in January 2016 that retirement had crossed his mind after the defeat. However, he added: "Everyone’s got their right to comment on things, but they don’t live my life."

The fighter's spirit within him wanted to carry on and prove people wrong.

But just a month later, Mitchell was done. That fighter's spirit had disappeared. Rather than go through the motions and risk tarnishing his achievements, he made the tough but correct call.

The official press release included the following quote from Mitchell: "I’ve been fighting for 22 years, it is a long time to be putting your body through all you have to do to get right for a fight and my body has said ‘enough is enough.’"

He showed great heart in losing that epic war with Linares, but it takes just as much bravery to turn your back on the chance to fulfil a boyhood dream. Mitchell will never be a world champion.

The sheer volume of messages on Twitter from those within the boxing industry showed not only Mitchell’s popularity but also how highly his peers regard him:

Been a TRUE Warrior inside a boxing ring an a gentleman away from it has my mate @KevinMitchell6 I wish you the very best in retirement mate

— Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) February 10, 2016

It's a short lived career that's why we should enjoy UK talent whilst it's there! Happy retirement @KevinMitchell6 😎 pic.twitter.com/9TPJCsFkM5

— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) February 10, 2016

@KevinMitchell6 good luck in the future always gave it your all in the ring. #champ #warrior

— Amir Khan (@amirkingkhan) February 11, 2016

Just spoke to @KevinMitchell6 he said if he knew he was this popular then he wouldn't have retired! 😂

— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) February 10, 2016

Mitchell will remain in the sport he loves and has already been working alongside trainer Tony Sims.

He has a great deal of knowledge to pass on. Considering what he has been through in the boxing business, young, hungry fighters should be queuing up to work with him.

American pastor Harry Emerson Fosdick once said: "Don't simply retire from something; have something to retire to." Mitchell has something to do in retirement other than drag out the golf clubs, meaning his mind should not drift back too often to those heartbreaking defeats, those might-have-been moments.

While he didn’t quite manage to get his hands on a world title, The Hammer did leave a lasting impression on British boxing. Hopefully, he can continue to have an impact in his new role.

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A battle of highly regarded lightweight prospects will headline the next Premier Boxing Champions event on Fox Sports 1.

Undefeated former Olympian Jamel Herring (14-0, 8 KO) will put his unblemished record on the line against Colombian veteran Luis Eduardo Flores (21-2, 17 KO) on Tuesday night in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Here are the viewing details:

When: Tuesday, February 9 at 11 p.m. ET

Where: Sands Bethlehem Event Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

TV: Fox Sports 1 and Fox Deportes

The 30-year-old Herring hails from Coram, New York, but calls Cincinnati, Ohio home. He's been fighting professionally since 2012 and turned pro shortly after he competed in the London 2012 Olympics.

Because of his advanced age and proportionately limited experience, Herring was busy in 2015. Over a span of seven months, he fought four times and boxed a total of 29 rounds.

He scored one stoppage victory and accumulated valuable experience along the way. While Herring has been active, he hasn't faced a truly formidable opponent up to this point. In his last fight, he won a 10-round unanimous decision over Yakubu Amidu in front of his hometown Cincinnati fans.

The going could be tougher against Flores, and Herring seems aware of that. Per Matt Jacob of Premier Boxing Champions, Herring said: “I know my opponent is tall and rangy (no official height listed) and has a good punch. I am preparing myself to make adjustments and be ready for anything. I’m looking to get the win by any means necessary.”

Herring's assessment of Flores' power is accurate. The 28-year-old has a 74 percent KO rate and he's won five of his last eight bouts by stoppage. He fought just twice in 2015, but last time out he handled Gustavo Sandoval in an eight-round bout in April 2015.

Tuesday's bout will be Flores' first in the United States. He'll have to deal with potential ring rust and the challenges of fighting stateside for the first time. Even with those potential impediments, Flores sounds confident and undeterred.

"I am 100 percent positive I will win this fight," Flores said. "The only thing I know about Herring is that he likes to run a lot. I am coming to get a knockout and take away Herring's ‘0’.” 

Flores is no stranger to "taking away '0s.'" Back in March 2014, he scored a first-round KO victory over Miguel Berchelt, a power-punching Mexican prospect who was 21-0 with 17 KOs when the two met. Here's a look at Flores' stunning defeat of Berchelt:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_VHweqFUkI

Herring will be doing his best to avoid a similar fate.

Herring has designs on becoming a world champion, but he'll have to prove he can rise to the occasion when the spotlight is on and the level of competition has been raised. The journey continues on Tuesday.

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Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter.