Kevin Mitchell to face Ghislain Maduma on May 31st on Froch-Groves card

By Boxing News - 04/06/2014 - Comments

mitchell3By Scott Gilfoid: #7 IBF Kevin Mitchell (37-2, 27 KO’s) says he’ll be fighting #6 IBF Ghislain Maduma (16-0, 10 KO’s) in an IBF lightweight eliminator bout on the undercard of Carl Froch vs. George Groves rematch on May 31st at the Wembley Stadium in London, UK. The winner of the Mitchell-Maduma fight will become the IBF mandatory challenger to champion Miguel Vazquez.

It’s hard to imagine Mitchell getting another crack at a world title after he was easily blasted out in 4 rounds 2 years ago by former WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns in 2012. Mitchell looked incredibly bad in that fight, just as he did in getting blown out in just 3 rounds by Michael Katsidis in 2010. However, Mitchell has won his last four fights in beating Karim El Ouazghari, Mikheil Avakyan, Marco Lopez and Sebastien Benito.

The International Boxing Federation seem to be okay with Mitchell getting another title shot if he beats the little known Maduma.

“I’ve got a final IBF title eliminator,” Mitchell said to IFL TV. “He’s got 16 bouts, 16 wins and 10 knockouts. He’s a good fighter, a good mover. It’s a fight I’m definitely going to win and win it in style.”

After the way Mitchell was blown out by Burns and Katsidis, it’s hard to take Mitchell seriously with him talking in absolute terms. He’s got to be realistic about his career. There are no certainties with a fighter like Mitchell when facing decent quality opposition, as he’s already been exposed. The only guys that Mitchell can really guarantee that he can beat are the limited opposition that he’s been matched against in his last four fights to get to this point. They momentarily got Mitchell winning again, but he’ll likely start losing again once he steps it up, either against Maduma or Miguel Vazquez.

I’ve seen a few of Maduma’s fights, and he’s got fast hands and an excellent left hook. He doesn’t look that great, though, and it’s possible that Mitchell might be able to beat him. If Maduma lands one of his big left hooks, I could see Mitchell planted face first on the canvas. Mitchell will have to be very careful against this guy because if nothing else, he can punch. Maduma seems to do well against opponents that come at him looking to slug. That could spell trouble for Mitchell, because he seems to fancy himself a puncher, which is why he’s been whipped when he stepped it up a class against Burns and Katsidis.



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