By Scott Gilfoid: #4 IBF Ghislain Maduma (16-0, 10 KO’s) is ready for this Saturday’s IBF lightweight title eliminator bout against #5 IBF Kevin Mitchell (37-2, 27 KO’s) for their fight at the Wembley Stadium in London, UK. The winner of the fight becomes the IBF mandatory challenger to IBF lightweight champion Miguel Vazquez. Having seen Maduma fight a number of times, I think Mitchell, 29, really has his work cut out for him in this fight, as Maduma is a lot faster than him and a much bigger puncher.
The difference in hand speed alone is going to make it all but impossible for Mitchell to win on Saturday unless perhaps by a decision, albeit a controversial one.
“A lot of things will be different over there for me but I’m fully focused on doing my job,” Maduma said. “I’m bringing my ‘A’ game to prove I’m one of the best lightweights in the world. I give all my respect to Mitchell. Everybody there will be thinking he’s going to win, but I’ll be motivated to win as the underdog.”
Mitchell has fought the better opposition during his career, but it really doesn’t matter in this case because Maduma is by far the better talent. He’s got one-punch right hand power, and he’s lightning fast with that shot. When he lands that punch, it’s all over for Mitchell.
Maduma has wins over John Carlo Aparicio, Fermin De los Santos, Saul Carreon and Josafat Perez in his last four fights. Granted, those guys aren’t as good as some of the fighters that Mitchell has fought during his career, but then again Mitchell has lost each time he’s stepped up a level, so his experience advantage doesn’t mean a whole lot.
Since his 4th round knockout loss to Ricky Burns in 2012, Mitchell has had four very easy fights against poor opposition to get his confidence up and to get him winning again. He’s won the fights, to be sure, but he’s not done anything to raise his game and improve as a fighter. Mitchell’s loss to Burns showed his level, and I don’t see how he could have improved any since then with the poor opposition he’s been facing.
I predict Maduma coming out fast and scoring a quick knockout within the first three rounds. Mitchell will come straight at Maduma hoping to impress the 80,000 fans, and he’ll end up walking into one of Maduma’s big right hand shots to the head.
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