NAMBUCCA Heads excitement machine Mitchell 'the White Lion' Whitelaw will go into battle for the Australian light heavyweight boxing title on Saturday night - a heavy underdog, but there's no doubting the size of the fight in our pup.
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The talented and determined 23-year-old will go toe-to-toe with Brisbane's Reagan Dessaix for the national title left vacant after holder Josh Fredrickson broke his hand for the second time and has decided to sit out the rest of 2019.
Reagan - nicknamed 'The President' after the late American actor who ascended to the Oval Office in the 1980s - is heavily favoured in the bout with Mitchell at the Seagulls club at Tweed Heads which will be broadcast on tv live worldwide through Fox Sports and ESPN.
"On paper they aren't giving Mitchell much of a chance, but we don't read that paper," Mitchell's trainer Ian 'Sparra' Stapleton told the Guardian.
"We've had the best preparation, sparring at the Gold Coast, though mainly in Sydney."
Mitchell, the NSW title holder, will face the more experienced Reagan over what is set down for 10 three-minute rounds.
"It's been a top notch preparation and we're prepared for it to go the distance," Sparra said.
Since turning pro, Mitchell's record stands at five wins, a loss and a draw to Reagan's 16 wins and two losses - giving the Queenslander a decided edge in experience.
But the heart of the White Lion can never be questioned - nor his water-tight defence and the ability to throw six and eight punch combos working a bewildered opponent from navel to eyebrows.
Meanwhile, Sparra's amateur boxers toiling from his Nambucca Heads gym continue to impress.
Bellingen blaster Peter Conroy rolls on with his impressive rap sheet after winning a split points decision over Jack Gregory at Tweed Heads on Saturday night.
Pete is a strapping 14-year-old at 81kg but he gave away 7kg to Jack - who is the same age - in a stoush of giants in young bodies.
"The other fella was trying to take him (Pete) out, but he boxed smart, moved well and was just too good for him," Sparra said.
Also in action was the talented onetime Nambucca Rooster footballer Jay Melrose, who was "too smart and found the scoring shots" on the same card to add to his record.