The backdrop: Mitchell (22-0-1, 16 knockouts) is the latest heavyweight hopeful from America who made a late transition to boxing from another sport. Mitchell, a 29-year-old boxer-puncher from Brandywine, Md., was a football standout in high school and college. He?s been gradually brought along in boxing and just stepped up to the 10-round level last year. Ferreyro (21-10-2, 12 KOs) is another developmental fight for Mitchell. The 36-year-old Texan has fought the 12-round distance four times but he?s naturally smaller than Mitchell and he?s been stopped in seven of his 10 losses, so he?s a reasonably safe outing for the unbeaten prospect, who will fight on a wide cable TV platform and in front of more media than usual because his bout is in Las Vegas on the eve of the big Mayweather-Ortiz event. On the undercard, well-traveled Dominican prospect Felix Diaz (9-0, 6 KOs) takes on capable journeyman Larry Smith (10-5, 7 KOs).
Also fighting:Felix Diaz vs. Larry Smith, eight rounds, welterweights
Rating the card: B-. Mitchell is still learning his craft but he?s in pretty soft in the main event. The Diaz-Smith fight will probably deliver more excitement for those who tune in.
Prediction: Mitchell by mid-rounds TKO.
