Linares (38-3-0,25 KOs) defended his title for the first time after knocking out Javier Prieto last year at the Metropolitan Gym in Tokyo, Japan, where he is currently based.
The 29-year-old Venezuela native, who is now based in Tokyo, Japan served as sparring partner of Manny Pacquiao during his training in Baguio City, Philippines a few years ago.
After an action-packed four rounds, Mitchell floored Linares in the fifth round with a quick right-left combo but the defending champion stood his ground and was back on his fighting form in the next four rounds.
Noting that Mitchell was having a hard time with his bloody face stemming from an earlier exchange of heavy punches, Linares stepped up by throwing power shots and by the 10th round Mitchell was clearly battered with his eyes almost shut from severe beating.
In the same round, Linares unloaded a series of punches that dropped Mitchell to his knees. With his swollen face and continued flow of blood from his nose and face, the referee stopped the fight.
“At the time of the stoppage, Mitchell was up on two of the judges scorecards and even on the third card,” Fytehype’s Ben Thomson writes.
Obviously, the loss was a huge blow to Mitchell’s promising career after having fought some of big name fighters that include Michael Katsides, Michael Murray,Ricky Burns and Daniel Estrada, among others.
With the win, Linares improved to 39-3-0,26 KOs while Mitchell dropped to 39-3-0,29 KOs.
