'I'll fight Khan now' says Kevin Mitchell

Kevin Mitchell has been threatening to gatecrash the boxing big time for a while.

And now could just be that time if what he’s been saying and doing in the gym is anything to go by.

A victory over tough Colombian Ignacio Mendoza (25-5-2) this Saturday 12th February for the undefeated 25-year-old Eastender could then see him in a well-deserved world tile tilt - and he says he's ready for Amir Khan right now.

I made several visits to his school of craft recently and on both occasions came away highly impressed.

The first one was last Thursday when I watched lightweight Mitchell spar for 12 rounds at Canning Town’s TKO gym against two heavier men Michael Grant (light-welterweight) and Jamal Morisson (light-middleweight).

Mitchell (30-0) is now oozing with confidence, and is becoming increasingly controlled, carefully selecting his shots while being an attentive listener to his corner.

While his trainer Jimmy Tibbs was quick to admit that Kevin wasn’t at his best early on, as the sparring drew to the final rounds a beaming smile shone from his face because his student was beginning to show the skill and subtlety of a champion in waiting.

He holds a shot well from bigger men and is an economical user of his power resources, wasting nothing in anger. 

Kevin came back to the corner after sparring was complete and a proud Tibbs began to pour out his encouragement. “All great champions come good in the end.”

Well if that is what Mitchell is like on a bad day then most of today’s lightweights are in for some tough tussles.

Kevin left the ring unscathed, no sign of bruise or blood. He hadn’t taken a beating.

It looked as though he had just finished warming up and was more than able to go another 12.

My final viewing of Mitchell came just three days (Wednesday) before fight night. (Saturday)

Since teaming up with team Tibbs (Jimmy and son Mark) there has been an air of maturity breathing out from the West Ham favourite.

Outside the ring Kevin smiles and laughs often. Who can blame him after his outstanding performance against Amir Khan’s conqueror Breidis Prescott?

But victory is not about to get Mitchell carried away, and in the final week of his training he has been arriving at the gym in good spirits while remaining focused on the job in hand.

“The Prescott victory hasn’t changed me. I have been in the gym with all the boys. I have always been confident. Some people go to the mountains while I train at TKO.”

While he keeps it simple Kevin feels that the press have been a little slow out of the blocks in giving him credit.

“I have not been able to get in the newspapers and the media for years but beating the kid (Prescott) that beat Amir Khan puts me in the big time in the papers and now Khan has gone to America it has worked in my favour.”

It’s at times like these that fighters can become forgetful and complacent but Mitchell is quick to pay tribute to Jimmy and Mark.

“It is unbelievable what they have done for me. They have made me happy with what I do in the gym I’m working hard and I’m happy to be in the gym all the time around good people like Jimmy and Mark.”

A man who enjoys what he does will usually perform at a higher level and this may be the key for him come Saturday night as Kevin is not expecting a stroll in the park.

“He’s a tough, strong guy. I’m in for a hard night's work but I can make it as easy as I want to. The key will be fighting like I did against Prescott.

Today before training he’s weighing 10st with just a few pounds to come off in getting to the limit of 9st 12lbs.

So nothing too strenuous today then, Kev?

“I will have a light training session, have a little sweat out with some shadow boxing and getting the weight right. I will still eat little bits but nice and healthily.”

Mitchell is looking forward to a crack at the WBO lightweight title against Michael Katsidis if he comes through this latest test.

And what about Amir Khan?

“I will fight him now.”

From what I’ve seen and heard at close quarters I think he has a great chance of showing Khan and Katsidis that he is the man.

He’s no longer the boy who might.

Mitchell is now the man who can!