Photo courtesy of Raposo's Facebook page.
Mitch Raposo prepares for last amateur fight on October 13, looks forward to turning pro soon
On October 13, when he rematches David Durao for the AMMO Fight League flyweight title, Mitch Raposo plans to make his last walk to the cage as an amateur fighter. At only 19 years old, Raposo has gathered the hype on the local scene typically reserved for professionals who are about to make the jump to the big show. To help him take the next step, Raposo has signed with Top Game Management, led by Tyson Chartier who works with the likes of UFC fighters, Rob Font and Kyle Bochniak. Raposo. For Raposo, it’s been a long time coming and a great fit.
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“It’s insane,” said Raposo.
“Me being the first amateur even signed (by Top Game) usually if you have a manager you’re a pro and you’re established. We’ve been in talks managing me since like my third amateur fight, it definitely means a lot. I think its just all the hard work I’ve put in and I think Tyson realizes my talent and I think I realize how legit he is. Not even how legit he is as a manger but how good of a person he is too and how we just click. We wouldn’t be able to sign with him if he didn’t click with my coaches.”
His new manager Tyson Chartier, not only believes he is the best amateur fighting today but that he could fit in the UFC’s flyweight division right now.
“Simply enough, I’ve never seen a more skilled, complete amateur fighter than Mitch Raposo. When you consider his age, it’s even more amazing. Mitch has a huge amount of potential. I firmly believe he could compete in the UFC’s flyweight division right now; he just needs to get some pro fighting experience, and he’ll be representing New England in the UFC’s Octagon before you know it. What’s even better is Mitch is an awesome guy. It’s a pleasure working with him, and fans of MMA are going to love him.”
As Raposo previously said, the signing between the fighter and the manangement company has been talked about for a while now. But he believes now is the right time because he plans on making the jump to the professional level after his upcoming fight.
“I would say it’s the right time just based off that where it’s been going, after this one I’m going to make the jump to the pro level. It’s the perfect time for me to get this going and have him by my side and it carries all my momentum going into the pro level.”
But before he makes that jump, he has to take care of business at the amateur level. On October 13, Raposo will look for his second amateur title when he faces David Durao in a rematch from his pro debut. This matchup is coming a little over a month after Rapso defended his Cage Titans title in a rematch against William Graustuck, whom he defeated by unanimous decision once again.
During his “rematch tour,” Raposo is anxious to prove he is no longer tentative and going for the finish.
“Watch my first three amateur fights, I’m a lot more tentative, my ground game, I’m not really passing, I’m not letting go. My last couple fights, I’m going for the kill, I’m putting a relentless pace and just mauling on them. And I’m fighting the best dudes around, there is no doubt about that, I’m fighting everybody and anybody, I’m fighting skilled guys.”
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Though he is not tentative anymore he hasn’t been able to get a finish which made him not thrilled with his performances, especially in his last fight. However, he can live with it if that’s the only criticism of him.
“I was very upset about not finishing, but at the end of the day, I’m 5-0, I’m 19 years old, I haven’t lost a round, I’ve been hit once in five fights. If the only criticism about me is that I haven’t finished a fight, well, guess what, the finishes are gonna come.”
He expects the finishes will come not only in his next fight but as a pro as well.
“I think as soon as I go to the pro level I’m going to have much more weapons, I’m going to have longer rounds, it’s much easier to take a punch to the face than an elbow to the face.”
“I think I’m built for the pro level.”
Now though, his attention is fully on David Durao, who he had an exciting fight with the first time, but is looking for a more definitive victory in the rematch.
“The first fight was definitely exciting between me and David. He’s an aggressive dude and he pushed the action and forced me to counter and react, I wasn’t dominate but it was fight of the night. It’s known now that I get more comfortable. I think it’s just going to be the same thing.”
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The one difference in this fight from their last one Raposo says is his confidence.
“I was an 18-year-old kid, I was very gun shy, now I have all the confidence in the world going into these fights. I know have what it takes to beat all these guys. I’m a completely different animal, it’s going to be even more dominant.”
And if he the fight goes according to plan, don’t expect to wait long to see him back in the cage as a professional.
“I’m going right away, whenever I can go. I’m ready for it, I have an endless gas tank, I don’t think my coaches are worried about me going longer rounds, I think I’m built for that. At the end of the day, as soon as I can get a pro fight and the right matchup from my manager, he’ll let me know, I’ll be in there right away. I’m trying to get three fights by next spring.”
The 19-year-old is taking inspiration from other young fighters like Chase Hooper who fought on the Contender Series, Raposo believes he can do the same thing.
“Seeing people like that getting development deals, I’m right there, I know I’m right there.”
Now all Raposo has to do is win one more fight as an amateur and the next part of his career will begin.
