Ian MacNicol - Getty Images
Ricky Burns vs Kevin Mitchell would be another blockbuster fight in the UK. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Interim WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns is hoping to face Kevin Mitchell this summer, once he gets past Nambia's Paulus Moses.
The 28-year-old will face Moses on March 10th at the Braehead arena, and he is also hoping his home fans can fill the arena to persuade promoter Frank Warren to hold the summer clash in Scotland.
Possible future opponent Mitchell has lost only once in his 33 fight career - tasting defeat against Michael Katsidis in 2010. Last year Burns beat Katsidis comfortably but he knows he can't afford to look past Moses.
Obviously I have to get past Paulus Moses first or that (Mitchell) fight is not going to happen. I know Kevin is fighting in February and as long as the two of us come through then we can sit down and talk about it. Both of us are promoted by Frank Warren so its an easy fight for us to make. I would say the two of us are the best lightweights in Britiain just now so it is a fight that I would really want.
When I beat Katsidis he (Mitchell) was saying he would love the chance to fight me. They are talking about the venue being down in London or up here. I was on the same bill when Katsidis beat him down at West Ham's football ground. I know that was the venue that was mentioned if I was to fight him in the summer. I would prefer it up here.
Speaking to Skysports, Burns explained he only has one more week before he has to cut back to make sure he is within the nine stone limit to face Moses.
The hard dieting will start next week, at the moment I have a wee bit of leeway and if I want something I can have it. But I start pushing it seven weeks before the fight, I started training just after the New Year so we are in full training, two and three times a day. But the countdown is on the weigh-in and then it's time to get on with the job. Making nine stone nine is a lot easier than having to boil down to nine stone four.
Burns wanting Mitchell is one of the main reasons I like the guy, he wants to fight everyone. When he announced the fight with Katsidis people expected him to lose by KO but he stood there traded with him and came through the fight. He doesn't have much punching power which may be a problem as he climbs the rankings to face some of the world elite.
Despite liking the fight, I have some mixed feelings about it. Frank Warren would love the fight it's two of his fighters and he would earn a nice little pay packet from it. - and I don't like the man but if enough of that. If the fight does happen, then whoever loses faces a hard battle to get their career back on track. Burns could be looking for bigger fights than Mitchell, but fair play to him for wanting to challenge the Londoner.
If I had to pick a winner I'd go for Burns, but what about you? If the fight happens in the summer who do you see winning?
0 recs | 22 comments
Mitchell for me but he would have to bring his A game
Does he have that in him? to produce the goods consistantly? Who knows?
Do you have any news on his leagal troubles?
Sweet science - January 20, 2012
Legal?
Sweet science - January 20, 2012
I think some people will look at the Katsidis fight too much, Mitchell said he was a mess mentally. But I just think Burns will keep improving and be too much for Mitchell, although Mitchell did look good against Murray. At the moment there isn’t much in the media about his legal troubles, hopefully it is all behind him now though as he can box.
Thomas Hill - January 20, 2012
I do love Burns, but I think Mitchell is just a little too good for him
His angles and footwork will be a little too much for him
Sweet science - January 20, 2012
So unless Scottish fans fill the arena for a fight against a decent but unknown fighter, probably lumped with a terrible undercard, then the Mitchell fight will go to London. Mind you, for the Katsidis fight Mitchell did draw a card, but I’m not sure if he has that drawing potential any longer due to that performance and his legal problems.
I’m prettty sure that even Burns was selling out large arenas, the fight would still go to London for one of those ‘super Warren’ bills in the summer, maybe underneath a James Degale ‘world title’ match. If Mitchell is switched on, I could see him beating Burns, but just now I’d go 60-40 that Burns would win.
Eoin_not_ian - January 20, 2012
Fair shout
The fight could headline a bill, after all Murray vs Mitchell was a fantastic battle and with Burns it could be even better. Mitchell has the skills no doubt, but I just don’t know whether he can focus once again to tackle Burns. Burns seems like a top lad who trains hard, and it seems most people warm to him. I like both fighters but like I said in the post Burns for me.
Thomas Hill - January 20, 2012
Answer to filling a Glasgow arena
Make one guy wear the Union Jack, and the other white and green. Make one guy get Rangers tattooed on his back, and the other CelticFC or a picture of the pope or something.
RyanSexton - January 20, 2012
And then neither fighter makes it out alive?
Seriously though, I don’t think that Burns is involved in the football thing. At the stage he is currently at, declaring support for one side would risk halving his popularity. Its not quite at the ‘leave the fighting to Barry [McGuigan]’ stage, but the basic idea remains.
Eoin_not_ian - January 20, 2012
Mitchell for me but either way i love the fight. I do worry for the man than loses, but this is what we always say we want, good fighters fighting good fighters
whypunchrabbits? - January 20, 2012
Mitchell – it’s a good fight, but I don’t think Burns can outbox Mitchell enough to make up for his shortcomings in power. Mitchell is simply a more well-rounded fighter when his head’s on straight.
Scott Christ - January 20, 2012
A part of me does think that.
Although I do think that Burns power in his left hand is a bit underrated, he may as well use his right to wave to family members in the audience.
As someone living in Glasgow I want to pick Burns, but I honestly really rate a fully focused Mitchell to get the better of him. I just bank Mitchell having ‘issues’ if they ever met.
Eoin_not_ian - January 20, 2012
Also went with Mitchell (same reasons as Scott’s), but I thought Katsidis was going to rip Burn’s to pieces…………………………shows you what I know.
DPlainview - January 20, 2012
Agree with both you and Scott here and take your points in. Mitchell when focused is a danger….but I just like Burns more for some reason. As the poll shows most people disagree with me but hey ho!
Thomas Hill - January 20, 2012
It’s a close enough call and never forget how many times Ricky Burns has been binned off in the build up and then turns round and actually wins.. Im rooting for the Scotsman! Och aye
Bald-Eagle - January 20, 2012
I thought Mitchell wanted Brandon Rios because according to Mitchell Brandon is a one trick pony. Now I think Mitchell would give Brandon serious problems, but well I mean Miguel Acosta did until Brandon’s determination allowed for him to figure Miguel out and knock his head off. So with that said I don’t think Kevin Mitchell should read too much into his own confidence in how he would fare against Brandon Rios.
Remember, and I’m not comparing Kevin Mitchell to Meldrick Taylor because Taylor was light years above Mitchell talent wise, but everyone assumed Meldrick would give Julio Cesar Chavez problems because Chavez was an action fighter and Taylor was the speedy boxer, but eventually Chavez broke Meldrick Taylor down and did serious damage.
I know Kevin likes to move and what not but Brandon is one determined guy in that ring.
CollegeDropIn - January 20, 2012
If Mitchell, and his team, was smart he should gun for Burns………………….Rios is a bad man.
DPlainview - January 20, 2012
It's easy to call someone out when you know the fight can't get made
Mitchell can’t leave the UK and Rios will never go there.
Brickhaus - January 20, 2012
Yeah some of this talk stems from the situation of Kevin winning the fight with John Murray and it was going to be Rios/Mitchell and Kevin was talking thrash on Twitter and what not. I actually think Kevin Mitchell could stand a shot at beating Brandon but by no means is the fight as Mitchell believes “easy pickings”. Yes Brandon is a one trick pony as Mitchell said but that one trick removed Miguel Acosta from" the consciousnesses of the earth" to quote Ralph Wiley
CollegeDropIn - January 20, 2012
Fighters tend to think Rios is a one dimensional fighter until they step in the ring with him and get broken down. Rios is a very talented fighter with underrated skills. Shit I thought Acosta would be able to outbox Rios, and he got broken down and destroyed.
36_chambers_ofdeatH - January 20, 2012
Yeah and we don’t know how many fights Rios has at 135 either. Rios’s fight with Molina could very well his very last fight at the lightweight limit.
36_chambers_ofdeatH - January 20, 2012
Wrote Burns off against Martinez and Kats, and I’ll do it again this time. Mitchell is too good.
Shitali Klitschko - January 20, 2012 via mobile
Gonna be a great great fight if it happens anyway. My favourite fights always tend to be the ones that divide opinions and this would do just that as evidence by this forum
Perks4ever - January 20, 2012
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