Kevin Mitchell eyes up Amir Khan and a big plate of pie and mash

Kevin Mitchell is fast becoming a name on the tip of people’s tongues and with his win over Bredis Prescott last time out, is heading in the direction of the world’s best lightweights as well as WBA light-welterweight champion and fellow British boxer Amir Khan.

The pie and mash loving Londoner Mitchell, 25, is still waiting to see who he will fight for the title but in the meantime takes a warm up fight when he faces another Colombian Ignacio Mendoza at Wembley Arena on Saturday night.

The undefeated Eastender had been said to be considering the options of taking on Michael Katsidis, for the Australian’s WBO lightweight interim crown.

Mitchell fights his second Colombian in succession in Mendoza, who has lost on British canvas in the past. The 26-year-old was defeated inside the eighth by British lightweight champion, Manchester’s uncompromising John Murray.

But it is a fight with Khan that Mitchell see’s as his ultimate destiny, and the marker he seems to have set himself.

Khan, 23, was stopped in 54 seconds by Prescott in 2008 but the Bolton boxer quickly revived his career and last year won the WBA world welterweight title after stepping up from lightweight, something Mitchell says he would be willing to do, to get a fight with Khan.

He said: ‘Everyone knows I’ve always fancied Amir Khan. Now I’ve beaten Prescott people are saying I would demolish Khan.

‘It could be a fight that could happen in a couple of years definitely. But first I want to win the world lightweight title and I need to win this fight on Saturday to stay on track.

‘If Amir Khan can get a world title fight two fights after a loss, and I’m unbeaten at 25 years of age, I’m more than ready for a world title fight.

‘I’ve proved I can take a shot, whereas Amir, over the last couple of years, has proved he’s a little bit vulnerable in that area. I know if I can catch him he’s gone.’

West Ham fan Mitchell who who is under the Frank Warren promotional banner has vowed to stay loyal to the promoter who Khan left, to sign for American promoter Golden Boy last month, following his move to Freddy Roache’s Wild card Gym in LA.

And while Dagenham favourite Mitchell has questioned the Bolton fighter’s decision, he admits the move has given him an opportunity to grab a bigger share of the limelight – starting with his headlining clash with Colombian Ignacio Mendoza live on Sky this Saturday.

WBO lightweight title contender Mitchell said: “When Amir was fighting it was always the ‘Amir Khan show’ and I think now it will be the ‘Kevin Mitchell show’. I’ll be holding the big bills in London and it will be about me now.

“Now Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe are not about I’ll be on the big shows and hopefully they will be in London.

“Amir’s done his own thing for his own reasons but he’s done me a massive favour in terms of marketability and sponsorship.

“I think Frank’s paid him millions and earned him a fortune and I think he could have shown a bit more loyalty to him. It’s all right taking the money, but is he going to be looked after the way Frank looked after him?

“I don’t know many people who got knocked out in one round in the way he did, so easily, and then two fights later he’s a world champion. I’ve never seen that before in my life. That’s what Frank’s good at and why he’s the best at his job.”

Khan is due to fight Paulie Malignaggi in his next fight, but a meeting somewhere down the line with Mitchell is something that wets the British Boxing appetite, throw John Murray in the mix and the British domestic scene could rival the Benn, Eubank, Watson era.

Mitchell believes that with Khan leaving Warren has made the fight harder to make, given the fact that Golden Boy promotions are now in-charge of Khan’s career, and they seem hell bent on projecting Khan on the American fight scene against well known faces, even though some of the names being touted are past there sell by date.

“I think it’s made it harder,” he said.

“I personally think if he thought he could beat me, the fight would be on.
“It would be a highly marketable fight and a massive money generator for the pair of us but I don’t think it’s on because he doesn’t fancy it.

“There’s too much to lose for him. There are easier fights out there for the same sort of money where he knows he’s not going to be in trouble.”

Mitchell was promoting the fight in his local pie and mash shop in London today but admitted trainer Jimmy Tibbs has ruled the delicacy strictly off limits until after fight night.

Mitchell who himself plans to open his own shop serving the Cockney favorate, as had to refrain from his intake of the good stuff untill after the fight.

“I love my pie and mash but I’ve not been able to eat it for ages,” he said.
“I’ll get the fight out the way and next week I’ll have a bit of pie and mash and pop down the pub for a couple of beers.”

Also on the Bill.

Frankie Gavin v Peter McDonagh

Derek Chisora v Carl Baker

James Degale v Matthew Barr

Live on Sky Sports 1 – 10pm

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