Eddie Hearn’s bumper triple world title card from the O2 finally lands this weekend – and arguably the best and most meaningful fight on the bill is Dagenham’s Kevin Mitchell (39-2, 29ko) hoping to finally get it right on the world stage, when he fights dangerous Venezuelan Jorge Linares (38-3, 25ko) who is promoted by Mexican-American legend Oscar De La Hoya – for the South American’s WBC lightweight title.
The fight may well represent something of a final chance for the affable Londoner, who on his day can mix it with the very best of them – yet on the 2 prior occasions he has stepped up to world level – Michael Katsidis (WBO interim – 2010) and Ricky Burns (WBO – 2012) he has been found wanting and ended up getting stopped both times.
Kevin Mitchell stormed into the mandatory position for Jorge Linares’ WBC lightweight title tonight with a sensational 8 round demolition of Daniel Estrada.
From the first punch until the last Mitchell, now 39-2 (29KO’s), was punch perfect as he completely dismantled a credible opponent in a career best showing.
Estrada, who now moves to 32-4 (24KO’s), looked surprised from the first exchange in the face of the superior speed of thought and movement from the Londoner who beat the Mexican to the punch on every occasion. Mitchell a standout victor of the first round accentuated the point landing flush with his lead left uppercut, the punch that would define the fight.
In the wake of Anthony Joshua’s unfortunate back injury, Kevin Mitchell takes centre stage as Capital Punishment rolls into London’s O2 Arena, this coming Saturday.
Dagenham-born Mitchell faces Mexican Daniel Estrada for the vacant WBC Silver lightweight and a guaranteed shot at Jorge Linares’ recently acquired WBC strap.
It promises to be a raucous occasion with a card stacked with local interest. Not least of all John Ryder’s defence of his recently acquired WBO Inter-Continental middleweight title against late replacement Billi Godoy.
Here we will take a look at what’s in store as we kick of a huge 2015 for British boxing.
Lightweight Kevin Mitchell (33-2, 24 KO’s) will be fighting this Saturday night against little known Sebastien Benito (10-6, 3 KO’s) in a scheduled 10 round bout at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, UK.
By JOHN WIGHT: After his most recent devastating performance against London’s Kevin Mitchell in front of 10,000 fans at the SECC in Glasgow, it would be a great disservice to Ricky Burns to continue to describe or refer to him as a great ‘Scottish’ fighter. He has now proved beyond doubt that he is a great fighter, period, deserving of being considered elite level and more than a match for any lightweight anywhere.
His fourth round stoppage of the hard punching Mitchell, who in the run up to the fight had appeared confident of taking Burns’ WBO title, would have come as a godsend to the bookmakers, what with the bulk of the smart money opting for a points win for the Coatbridge fighter, with perhaps a sneaky wager on Mitchell by KO. This writer asserts the right to boast of betting on the stoppage by Burns. However, this does not so much reflect any great talent to pick bets on my part as it does the fact that Burns is one of the few champions in the sport who improves year on year and relishes fighting the best that’s out there, rather than remain content to stay in any kind of comfort zone in order to hang on to his belt as long as possible.
By James Slater: Tonight, before a sold-out and very passionate Glasgow crowd, reigning WBO lightweight king Ricky Burns turned in what was arguably the finest performance thus far in his ever improving career. Halting a game Kevin Mitchell in the 4th-round, Burns made surprisingly easy-looking work of what was widely expected to be a tough battle.
Dropping Mitchell with a sweet left hook that landed flush on the Dagenham man’s jaw in the 4th, 29-year-old Burns proved that he can bang. Dropping a badly stunned but full of heart Mitchell for a second time when a series of rights clubbed the 27-year-old headfirst to the mat, Burns then poured it on as Mitchell, trying to fight back, was stuck on the ropes and in bad shape. The referee, Terry O’Connor, really was left with no choice but to dive in, halting the exciting rumble at the 2-minutes and 59-seconds mark of the 4th.
Now 35-2(10), Burns seemingly has the world at his feet. His right hand looking strong, accurate and powerful, the always immaculately conditioned Coatbridge warrior sure looked like one of the best 135-pounders in all of boxing tonight. Mitchell came to fight, and he won the opening session as the defending champ looked a little tense. There was also some thrilling trading in the 2nd and 3rd-rounds, temporarily letting fans believe they would get the classic war they had both anticipated and hoped for. In the end though, we were treated instead to a classic performance; possibly one that will allow Burns to win 2012’s FOTY award.
