London's Boxing Eye with Paul Foley: Kevin Mitchell interview

By the end of this week the name of Londoner Kevin Mitchell may be ringing in a few more ears.

Dagenham's former British and Commenwealth super-featherweight champion Mitchell takes a step up in weight and class when he pits his fighting wits against Breidis Prescott, the man best known for shaking the empire of Amir Khan in an eliminator for the WBO lightweight title.

This Saturday in Newcastle, Kevin will be many miles away from his East End roots as he steps into the Metro Arena with his fellow Colombian gladiator.

So how great a task is this challenge? Mitchell has a great amateur pedigree and is undefeated as a professional which may stand him in good stead if the going gets tough.

Is Prescott still the same man who took Khan to pieces in September 2008? Because if he is, Mitchell will need all of his bulldog like spirit most recently displayed when he fought his way out of a deep valley against Carl Johanesson in March last year.

But maybe Prescott is not quite the same man. He was like a man who had reached the breathless heights of Mount Everest in making Khan fall, and should have been fighting for a world title and not peanuts on ESPN Friday Night Fights (oh, the injustice of "so called boxing politics").

If that's not bad enough Breidis is currently ranked by Boxrec at 25th, some 13 places behind washed up former great Marco Antonio Barrera (who has hardly had a career at lightweight has he?) .

All the "outside fighting" may have taken Prescott's breath away. Negative energy can drain a fighter (or any human) and no matter how good he is physically, if his mind is not focused peak performance is nigh on impossible (remember Kirkland Laing?).

Kevin is already an accomplished domestic fighter and with Jimmy Tibbs now alongside him, coupled with Breidis's recent set-backs this looks like the right time to be facing a once feared man.

Mitchell recently made the switch in trainers choosing to swap long time trainer Paul Cook for Jimmy, who Kevin describes as "the best tactical trainer in the business" and now trains in Canning Town's TKO gym located just a couple of miles from his beloved West Ham United's football ground.

On Tuesday morning at his new training home I caught up with him while he put the finishing touches to a routine designed for victory.

The first qualities shinning from the 25-yearold is a warm spirit, a solid determination and a healthy confidence.

Facing Prescott is not causing him any slepless nights and Kevin not only sees triumph, but envisages a sensational late stoppage. "I'm looking for a late knockout. He's brilliant early. For one or two rounds, but then he falls to pieces."

Having beat the comfort and warmth of my bed while it was still dark I watched Prescott do exacly this against Mexican Miguel Vazquez when losing his unbeaten record and a sense of invisibility the night before his own victim Amir Khan became world champion. (July 18th).

Kevin's big chance came as a result of him "growing out of the weight." while training for his match with Ricky Burns, trainer Jimmy Tibbs warned he would not healthfully make the 9st 4lbs super-featherweight championship limit. Mitchell was weighing 10st 6lbs and "ripped" after training.

 "I will get you down to the weight, but you're not going to fight at it. You will be like a dead man."

But promoter Frank Warren had a little surprise for his "boy" and Kevin gladly accepted it with both hands. "Frank said don't go mad. I am going to put it to you - the Prescott fight." Mitchell quickly responded, "What's wrong with that? He don't bother me just because he took Khan out in a round."

With respect in his voice for Amir, Kevin continued, "Amir is a good talent but as everyone knows, anyone half decent that hits him he ain't getting back up is he?

"Anyone who has hit him on the chin has dropped him. Frank has done really well promoting him (Khan) putting him in with good fighters but slow fighters that haven't got fast hands so he can't be caught."

So what has Mitchell been doing to ensure he doesn't go the same way as Khan and just what is he expecting?

"I've been doing a lot of power sprints up hills with Mark (son of Jimmy). I have done lots of head movement, plenty of slipping and sliding probably more than I've ever done since I was a kid.

"I'm feeling strong and I've not been getting hit in sparring (with Michael Grant and Nathan Weise) who are both heavier men. I'm hitting harder than ever,  I've got fast hands and I am really ready for this fight.

"Prescott will bring fast hands and bombs for two rounds, perhaps five or six rounds but I'm ready for it."

On Monday, Kevin was only 2lbs over the fighting limit of 9st 9lbs and feels good at the weight.

He feels this fight will throw him into deserved world title contention.

"Let me tell you if Amir Khan can get knocked out in one round  but comes straight back and gets a world title fight, why shouldn't I be a world champion now? That's the truth of it."

Mitchell would welcome the opportunity of going up to light-welterweight for a mouth watering domestic clash with Khan, but feels lightweight is his "natural weight."

"Like the American fighters I could go up to light-welterweight and come back down to lightweight. So if that fight was there (with Khan) I would move up."

One of the benefits of Kevin going up in weight is he's now able to eat just before fights. "I wouldn't be eating for three days before the fight to make weight."

His main ticket seller and fan Mum has no fears for her son but offers a few words of advice. "Just keep your chin up and don't go out there having a war like you did against Carl Johanesson."

Mitchell doesn't think he will be out of his depth but is looking forward to the moment of battle. "I should be able to play with this kid."

Kevin has already spoken to one of Khan's team on some pre-fight advice and was told that Prescott is a "little flat-footed" but because he and trainer Tibbs have the same boxing style adapting during fights should comes easy.

This has the makings an intriguing contest. But his promoter Frank Warren must have seen or knows something to put another of his stable in with the knockout artist Prescott 21-1 (18).

I recall Warren being livid after witnessing the destruction of Khan. So why would he risk another night of horror unless he's discovered some chink in the Colombian's armour?

Frank only takes risks if the reward is bigger. (Benn v McClellan) He did come unstuck when his man Enzo Maccarinelli was taken apart by David Haye last year. It was a fight Warren was highly confident Enzo would win as he claimed before hand. "If Haye wins I will retire from promoting."

All this persuades me that Mitchell will survive early attacks and his fighting heart will carry him through until Prescott runs out of ideas, becomes frustrated before he is stopped somewhere around or after the ninth.