****Ricky Burns vs Kevin Mitchell: Build Up Thread****

Predictions from WBN. Isn't full article so shouldn't be a problem.

Very interesting read.

John Breen (Belfast trainer): It should be a really good fight for the fans to watch. I take Ricky Burns to get on top in the later rounds and stop Mitchell. Ricky’s a consummate professional who does nothing special but does everything right, inside and outside the ring.

On his day, Kevin Mitchell is capable of beating anybody but his life style doesn’t appear best suited to professional boxing and he has good days and bad. He’s not as consistent as Burns who lives the life 110%.

Frank Buglioni (London super-middle prospect): Kevin Mitchell, 100%. It’s going to be a proper battle and Ricky Burns is a very formidable fighter, so strong. I love the effort he puts in.

But I’ve been in the gym alongside Mitchell and seen how hard he’s been training. His mind’s right and he looks in really good form.

Kev’s a really sharp puncher and he’s got great timing. I see him walking Ricky Burns onto something and forcing a late stoppage. I see a few little holes in Burns and I expect Kevin to find them.

Liam Walsh (Commonwealth super-feather champion): I go Burns on points in a very close fight. I expect it to be more technical than most seem to be anticipating. Kevin was one of the youngest ever to win a senior ABA title and he’s a very good boxer himself.

I don’t think the location will be an issue. I saw Kevin fight John Murray in the north-west and he just swaggered out. Also Mitchell’s certainly got more one punch power.

Burns might not have anything that makes you go ‘Wow!’ but he’s extremely fit, extremely hard to break down and, when he puts those long forearms up, it’s very difficult to nail him with anything flush. It’ll be a good ‘un.

Johnny Nelson (ex world cruiserweight champion): I’d say Kevin’s the more talented and if he turns up on best form, he wins it on points, even up in Scotland.

It’ll be a cracking fight. Burns has a great Cinderella story and trains too hard to be beat by one punch so I think it’ll go to the cards. But Kevin will be really hungry, wanting to prove a point. If he doesn’t pull this one out of the bag, where does he go?

Kevin showed when he beat John Murray up in Liverpool that the venue means little to him. Even though it’s on Ricky’s turf, for me, Mitchell’s both the better warmonger and the better boxer, and I expect him to pull it off.

Anthony Crolla (Manchester lightweight): I expect it will be a great fight and I’m really looking forward to it as a fan. They’ve proved themselves the best two lightweights in Britain. I think it might be more tactical than some expect. People forget, Kevin’s really well schooled himself.

I actually sparred Ricky about three years ago but I think he’s improved a lot since then. He’s certainly got stronger inside and now he can really bring that left hook through to the body.

Mitchell’s a very good finisher and can certainly punch so Ricky might have to come through some rocky moments, possibly even get off the floor, to win. But Ricky’s really hard to hit on the ropes and I think he probably wins on points. He’s in great form at the minute. He’s got a very underrated jab and I think he can control the fight with that.

Jim McDonnell (Essex trainer): Gonna be a good one and it certainly ain’t an easy one to call. It’ll be really tight either way. At a push, I’ll go with Burns to edge it in Scotland on a close, possibly controversial call.

If it was in London or even Manchester, I might edge to Kevin but the momentum and home advantage favour Burns. On his night, Mitchell can compete with the best of them. When he performs, he’s top quality and very, very heavy handed. He’ll be striving to be a world champion and I really expect him to bring it, to refuse to lose. If it’s going to happen for him at world level, it has to be this one.

But it’ll take a very special performance to take the title off Ricky in Scotland and I’ve a sneaky feeling that Ricky will retain. Just.