By Terence Dooley
Although focussed on his own WBO interim lightweight title fight with Michael Katsidis this Saturday night, London’s Kevin Mitchell, 31-0 (23 early), will be keeping one-eye on events across the Atlantic ocean in order to keep tabs on Amir Khan, who defends his WBA light-welterweight title against Paulie Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden, New York in the early hours of Sunday morning [UK Time].
Kevin hopes to become a multi-weight world titleist; he believes that a fight between himself and Khan would be a UK blockbuster. Kevin, though, is afraid that Khan is embarking on a safety-first career path and points to Khan’s decision not to accommodate WBA mandatory challenger Marcos Maidana as proof of Amir’s reluctance to meet big punchers.
“I’d take that one down the line,” declared Mitchell when speaking to BoxingScene.com about the Khan rivalry. “Amir Khan is a big talent but everyone out there in the boxing world knows that he has to be protected, he is a brilliant fighter but the opponents he takes are perfect to protect his chin. I think he should do what champions do and take on the mandatory opponent [Maidana] instead of someone like [Paulie] Malignaggi, who can’t punch and has got hardly any knockouts on his record.
“He is meant to defend his belt against the best. If you are a world champion then why not take on the number mandatory for your title? Maidana is a lot stronger than Paulie and I don’t think that is a fight they want for Khan. You can’t be a world champion and be ducking a man who is in line for your title.”
Indeed, Mitchell has maximum respect for the 26-2 (21) Katsidis, who has promised to silence Mitchell’s rabid fans at Upton Park, London this Saturday night; Kevin feels that Michael’s no-nonsense approach begets its own brand of respect.
“I always have respect for all kinds of fighters, especially when they come to your backyard,” he stated before outlining exactly what type of champion, or champion elect, he hopes to be. “I’ll be ready to take on all challengers – I showed that by taking the [Breidis] Prescott fight. I want to stay busy and will take on the best,” admitted Mitchell.
Kevin Mitchell v Michael Katsidis is live on Sky Sports HD1 from 8pm on Saturday.
Tickets for 'Hammer Time', priced at £30, £40, £50, £80, £150, £200 and £250, are available from:
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Website: www.whufc.com
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