By Scott Gilfoid: IBF Inter-Continental lightweight champion Kevin Mitchell (35-2, 25 KO’s) will be defending his strap against replacement opponent Karim El Ouazghari (15-3-2, 4 KO’s) this Saturday night, December 14th at the ExCel Arena, in London, United Kingdom.
Mitchell’s previously scheduled opponent Brunet Zamora couldn’t make the trip to London, so El Ouazghari was found to replacement. This is obviously a downgrade in opposition for the 29-year-old Mitchell, but that might be good for Mitchell because he can’t afford yet another loss at this point in his sagging career.
Mitchell is still trying to rebuild his shattered career after brutal knockout losses to Michael Katsidis and Ricky Burns. Mitchell has since won his last two fights in 2013 against weak opposition in Sebastien Benito and Marco Lopez.
Mitchell, #9 IBF, is hoping to get a title shot against IBF lightweight champion Miguel Vazquez in 2014. That’s a good fight for Mitchell and possibly the only champion out of the bunch that he might have a chance at beating. I’m not about to say it’s a good chance that Mitchell has, but at least he has a chance.
You can’t say that Mitchell would do well if matched against the other lightweight champion Richard Abril, Burns [for now] and Adrien Broner. The title held by Broner will likely be vacated soon depending on how things go for Broner this Saturday in his defense of his WBA welterweight strap against Marcos Maidana in San Antonio, Texas. If Broner gets beaten badly in that fight, then he’ll probably go back down in weight and continue defending his WBC lightweight strap.
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Also on the card will be welterweight Lee Purdy facing Leonard Bundu. I can see Purdy losing this fight of Bundu goes after him with his big power shots.
Middleweight Martin Murray will be fighting a needless rematch against journeyman Sergey Khomitsky in a 10 round bout. I’m not sure why Murray feels he needs to be still fighting tuneups at this point, but it could be his confidence took a major hit in his loss to Sergio Martinez last April. In that case, Khomitsky and more like him is just what Murray needs.
Super middleweight Paul Smith continues his long slow climb up the latter in facing Jamie Ambler. Smith was knocked out by George Groves in the 2nd round two years ago, and he’s only fought twice since then.
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