By Lem Satterfield

Former world title contender Michael Grant of Chicago, Ill., journeyman Mike Mollo of Oak Lawn, Ill., and prospect Travis Kauffman of Reading, Pa., are among the top opponents being considered for the Aug. 27 return of unbeaten American heavyweight prospect Seth "Mayhem" Mitchell of Brandywine, MD., and the undercard of a main event featuring WBA interim junior welterweight king Marcos Rene Maidana against southpaw WBO and WBA interim lightweight champion Robert Guerrero at the HP Pavilion, San Jose, Calif.

Golden Boy Promotions' Eric Gomez informed BoxingScene.com of the fighters' status for the 29-year-old Mitchell (22-0-1, 16 knockouts), who will be after his eighth straight stoppage, his 10th knockout in his past 11 fights, and his 21st consecutive win as a precursor to the main event between the 27-year-old Maidana (30-2, 27 KOs) of Argentina and the 28-year-old Guerrero (29-1-1, 18 KOs) of Gilroy, Calif.

"I've had talks with a couple of those guys. Travis Kauffman is being considered and is not out of the picture. Believe it or not, there's Michael Grant, who is very intested," said Gomez.

"Now, Mike Mollo has a great style. He's a come-forward, head-first type of guy who is a brawler and that could make for a great fight," said Gomez. "There's a few people who are still sort of in the mix, but I'm waiting to get confirmation and approval from HBO. That's the short-list right there."

The 38-year-old Grant (47-4, 35 KOs) stands 6-foot7 and weighed 252 pounds for his last fight, a third-round knockout of 36-year-old Tye Fields (48-4, 43 KOs) in March.
 
In August, Grant weighed 262 pounds for a unanimous decision loss to Polish-born 34-year-old former light heavyweight and cruiser weight champion Tomasz Adamek (44-1, 28 KOs), of Jersey City, N.J.

The 25-year-old Kauffman (21-1, 16 KOs) has won three straight since being knockout in the fourth round by 30-year-old Tony Grano (18-2-1, 14 KOs) in September of 2009.

Kauffman is coming off of December's fourth-round disqualification victory over journeyman Ross Thompson, who was penalized for excessive holding.

The 31-year-old Mollo (20-3-1, 12 KOs) is 1-2-1 in his past four fights, and is coming off of October's eight-round draw with Gary Gomez.

Mollo was stopped once in the fourth round of a May, 2006 bout by DaVarryl Willson, and lost a unanimous 12-round decision to former contender, Andrew Golota.

Considered to be America's next-best chance at a heavyweight crown, Mitchell was the subject of a feature by The Washington Post Newspaper on Thursday.