Pinky Mitchell was an American boxer who was the first champion in the light welterweight

Light welterweight

-Professional boxing:The light welterweight class is a weight division in professional boxing that has a limit of 63.5 kg or 140 pounds...

 division.

Early life

Born Myron Mitchell on January 1, 1899, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Mitchell was nicknamed Pinky because of his father's statement, on seeing Mitchell in his crib as a baby, that "he's like a little pink rascal." He was a highly-praised amateur boxer, and during his amateur days, former lightweight champion Battling Nelson

Battling Nelson

Oscar Mathæus Nielsen, also known as Battling Nelson, was a Danish boxer who held the world lightweight championship on two separate occasions...

 said he was the best-looking prospect he had seen.

Professional career

Mitchell began boxing professionally in 1917. His brother, Richie Mitchell, was also a boxer. Their two styles were quite different, however. Richie was known for all-action bouts while Pinky, according to a later historian, "became a pariah in Milwaukee rings" due to his "lethargic performances" in boxing matches.

In 1922 Mike Collins, the publisher of a Minneapolis weekly newspaper, the Boxing Blade, created the light welterweight category and asked his readers to vote for the man they felt was the best fighter at 140 pounds. Mitchell won the balloting and was recognized on November 15, 1922, as the first light welterweight champion. The National Boxing Association

World Boxing Association

The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...

 (NBA) followed suit and recognized Mitchell as champion.

Mitchell defended his title at least six times. One of those defenses, a 1925 fight against James "Red" Herring

James Red Herring

James Bryan Herring, also known as Red Herring, was a boxer and a champion in the light welterweight division.Herring was born on March 19, 1896, in Paducah, Kentucky, and began boxing in 1913 when he won a bout as a featherweight by KO, fighting on a benefit card for striking railroad workers in...

, was mired in controversy. Herring won by disqualification and claimed the light welterweight championship. The Wisconsin Commission and the NBA both declined to recognize Herring as champion, however.

His defense against Mushy Callahan

Mushy Callahan

Mushy Callahan was the ring name of Vincent Morris Scheer, a boxer and a champion in the light welterweight division.Callahan was born on November 3, 1904, in New York City. He took the ring name of Mushy Callahan and began boxing in 1924....

saw Mitchell lose his title in September 1926. After losing to Callahan, Mitchell never won another fight and retired in 1928.

After boxing

After he retired, Mitchell twice ran for sheriff of Milwaukee County, losing both times.

He died on March 11, 1976.