Mitchell eyes redemption as he prepares for title bout with Burns

EXCLUSIVE: Mitchell eyes redemption as he prepares for title bout with Burns


Kevin Mitchell has warned Ricky Burns to be prepared for the toughest fight of his life after the pair were added to the David Haye-Dereck Chisora undercard on July 14.

The world lightweight championship announcement signals a return to Upton Park for Mitchell - home of the 27-year-old challenger's beloved West Ham United football club and scene of his only defeat from 34 bouts to date.

The Dagenham Destroyer admits he struggled to overcome some inner demons that night in May two years ago. But with a renewed sense of optimism, following two magnificent comeback wins over John Murray and, more recently in February, against Felix Lora, Mitchell is certain that there will be no repeat of his stoppage to Michael Katsidis.

'I can't wait to get back in the ring at Upton Park,' he told Sportsmail. 'There's definitely unfinished business but it's the chance for me to win the world title.

'I don't care what anyone says. Yes, I got beat last time but I'll be on form for my fans. I fancy it to be a hard gutsy fight... a tough 12 rounds. So, I'll prepare my body black and blue like I did for the John Murray fight and keep my mind straight.'

Despite his road to redemption, the decision to join the controversial 'Licensed to Thrill' bill in the East End was not one Mitchell took lightly following the British Boxing Board of Control's stern warning on Wednesday.

The commission issued a statement to say that anyone involved in the Luxembourg Boxing Federation sanctioned event would have their licence revoked.

But Mitchell, promoted by Frank ****** since he turned professional as a teenager in 2003, feels their stance is slightly harsh.

'It does concern me because I like the board of control and the people who run it,' he admitted. 'But it's only boxing. They [Haye and Chisora] both made a mistake outside the ring and have apologised for it. Now they should let them put their gloves on and sort it out inside the ring.

'It's making money, it's a big interest fight. The ticket sales are proof of that. Apparently, they've sold 18,000 tickets already and I reckon there will be 40,000 there on the night.

'If people didn't want to see this fight, then it wouldn't have sold that many tickets. It's going to be a massive event so I'm happy to be a part of it.

'Obviously there were doubts about it taking place because of everything that happened between them [in Munich]. But it's stupid. They made a mistake - they had a punch-up and had a tiff. They hate each other. End of.'

Mitchell won't allow himself to be distracted ahead of a world title fight against Scotland's Burns, however, which he concedes is 'all or nothing'.

He recently returned from a two-week training break in the Rocky Montains of Montana in the USA and has since returned to his gruelling body combat sessions at the TKO Gym in Canning Town under the guidance of renowned trainer Mark Tibbs.

He has fought just once since his 2011 Fight of the Year win in Liverpool against Manchester's then-unbeaten Murray, winning a points verdict at York Hall against tricky Spaniard Felix Lora.

Any fears of ring rust are promptly played down, with Mitchell insisting a long break from the ring is just what he needs to win his first-ever world championship this summer.

'I took a long time out before the Murray fight,' he explained. 'I took a longer time out before the [Breidis] Prescott fight. I'm not one of these guys who always needs to be in the ring,

'I've been doing it this way for a long time now so I know my game. I've been training very, very hard and I'll be all set for the fight.

'My training's started. I've been out in Montana where everybody there looked after me so well for two weeks, keeping my weight down. Now I've come back and I'm ready to step it up.

'I do a lot of body combat so I'll be prepared for any big body shots he can throw at me. I've got to approach this full on at 100 per cent and I can tell you, it ain't going to be easy. They'll be some hard times for me in the gym.'

Should Mitchell beat his 29-year-old rival for the WBO crown in his east London back garden, he has already promised Murray a first shot at his title.

'Whatever I have to do in there that night, I will win,' he vowed. 'And I think they know that because that's why, at first, they didn't want the fight.

'They tried to duck me, for which I don't blame them. It's not the sort of fight I'd want to take if I was world champion.

'It's going to be hard and they probably wanted a few fights with guys they could just walk round and beat, knowing they're definitely going to win. But against me they know they've got a good chance of getting beat.

'He's no idiot. He's a brave man, a very nice man. But I've said that when I win the title I'm going to give John Murray the first shot at it.

'I promise you, I'm not going there to get beat.'

Beware, Burns. Mitchell's certainly not playing games this time.


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