World title hopeful Kevin Mitchell says a WBO World Super-Featherweight title victory for best friend Nicky Cook will not put his own ambitions on hold. Mitchell’s stablemate challenges for Alex Arthur’s world crown on September 6 at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester..
And it’s a fight that Mitchell would dearly love to have himself, having pursued the Scotsman for the last 18 months.
But although victory for Cook will probably shut the door on Mitchell’s WBO dream as they share the same trainer, the Dagenham Destroyer insists it won’t halt his global charge.
Instead he says he’ll go after IBF champion Cassius Baloyi.
“I’m highly rated with the IBF as well as the WBO, so I’ve got two options,” said Mitchell. “
Baloyi is getting on a bit now and I’d really fancy my chances of beating him.
“When I turned professional as an 18-year-old, I told everyone that I would be a world champion when I was 24.
“I’m 24 in October, so the next 12 months are going to be big for me, but I feel ready for the world stage now.”
Many believed that Mitchell’s would be challenging Arthur next, but instead Cook got the opportunity – and Mitchell is delighted he got the nod…and is backing him for glory.
“Fighting Arthur is a big ask for Nicky, but I really believe he can do it,” said Mitchell.
“He’s got to be positive but not reckless, but Steve Foster Jnr showed that if you hang in there with Alex, you’ve always got a chance.
“He’s a massive super-featherweight and I don’t think it’s a secret that it’s hard for him to make the weight.
“Nicky might be coming up, but he’s going to be more comfortable at super-featherweight than he was at featherweight. And he’s looked really sharp in the gym in the last couple of months.”
IBF number four and WBO number two Mitchell, who is unbeaten in 27 fights, captured the British title against Carl Johanneson in February to add to his Commonwealth crown.
He last fought in America when he defeated former World title challenger Walter Estrada in Atlantic City, and will be back in action later this year after a knuckle operation scheduled for August.
Alex Arthur’s WBO World Super-Featherweight title defence against Nicky Cook headlines the show and also features Amir Khan’s Commonwealth Lightweight title defence plus an action packed undercard.
Tickets for 2 Hot 2 Handle, priced at £30, £40, £50, £100, £150 and £200, are available from www.frankwarren.tv and the following outlets:
M.E.N Ticketmaster
0870 190 8000
www.men-arena.com
See Tickets
0871 220 0260
www.seetickets.com
Ticket Factory
0871 945 6000
www.ticketfactory.co.uk
BWFC
0871 871 2932
khantickets@bwfc.co.uk
Khan Boxing
01204 535 332
www.amirkhan-boxing.com