By Scott Gilfoid: #1 WBO lightweight contender Kevin Mitchell (33-1, 24 KO’s) hasn’t had to do much to redeem himself in order to achieve a high ranking by the World Boxing Organization since being destroyed by Michael Katsidis by a 3rd round TKO loss in 2010.

All it’s taken for Mitchell to get pushed back to the top was an unimpressive points win over 2nd tier fighter Felix Lora and a stoppage victory over John Murray of Britain.

Mitchell now finds himself getting a title shot against WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns (34-2, 9 KO’s) on September 22nd in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. A loss for Mitchell will send him spiraling down to the bottom of the pack again from which it likely would take at least two years or so to get back to where he’s at right now under the best of circumstances.

Mitchell told thesun.co.uk “If I lose I’m back to the bottom of the pack. I’m not going there so it’s a must-win for me – losing to Ricky is not an option…It’s a fight between the two best in Britain and two of the best in the world.”

I disagree with Mitchell about this fight being between the two best fighters in the lightweight division in Britain. I think Scott Harrison is a lot better than both of these guys combined, and I see that guy as a legit former world title holder. Sure, Burns is a title holder by virtue of the World Boxing Organization making him their lightweight champion outside of the ring and not inside it, but I don’t see Burns as a legitimate world champion. To me, I see Scott Harrison as being the much better than Burns and Mitchell. I see him as legitimate former world champion, and I think he’s still easily better than Burns or Mitchell even at 34.