By Gav Duthie: Kevin Mitchell 39-2 (29) will be hoping third time is a charm as he again prepares for a title shot against Jorge Linares 38-3 (25) on May 30th in London.
Not content with one title fight Eddie Hearn has also moved the Evgeny Gradovich 19-0-1 (9) v Lee Selby 20-1 (8) from its April date. Another third times a charm attempt to put Anthony Joshua 10-0 (10) against Kevin Johnson 29-6 (14) will be chief support.
Mitchell v Linares
The hope is that at age 30 Mitchell is finally ready for a world title. In my opinion he is one of the best boxers around not to win one. In saying that he fell well short against Katsidis (interim title) and Ricky Burns being knocked out in the 3rd and 4th rounds respectively. Linares by contrast is a three time and two weight world champion. Linares undoubtedly had the easiest route to a WBC title since Morales-Pablo Cesar Cano in 2011. Linares beat Javier Prieto 24-8-2 (18) to win it after Omar Figueroa relinquished it. I don’t think Mitchell or Linares could beat Figueroa but they are more evenly matched against each other.
The fight
Linares has a small reach advantage over Mitchell and fast hands. Seeing as Mitchell often fights as a counter puncher and aggressor I feel he will be the one coming forward as Linares likes to control the pace from the back foot. The Venezuelan has been stopped in all of his 3 losses but he can take a punch. His face was an absolute mess when throwing away a big lead against Antonio Di Marco and Sergio Thompson just swarmed him reminiscent of Froch-Bute. Mitchell is more of a thinking fighter so he needs to make sure he doesn’t take too much on the way in. I hope I’m wrong but I feel Mitchell will need a knockout that he won’t get.
Linares UD 12
Gradovich v Selby
Promoter Eddie Hearn did well to secure this fight as many thought Evgeny Gradovich would need to rematch Jayson Velez after their draw in November 2014. Gradovich was robbed that night and Hearn managed to secure the fight due to Lee Selby’s mandatory status. Its hard to pick a weak champion in the featherweight division with Nicholas Walters and Vasyl Lomachenko but Gradovich is beatable.
The fight
The Russian has more power than his 9 knockouts suggest, his TKO of Billy Dib is testament to that. He is a good all round boxer who doesn’t waste punches. The same can be said of Selby so I don’t expect fireworks but it will be a good technical battle. Gradovich will be the aggressor in this one and he will need to be aware that his punch output must be high to get the decision. This one will be closer but I again must go with the champion.
Gradovich SD 12
Anthony Joshua v Kevin Johnson
Anthony Joshua should have at least one more fight in before this. Being that he fought ten times in 1 and a half years this will be torture for him and he should sharpen his skills on April 4th first against an unnamed opponent. Kevin Johnson has little ambition now other than that of a high class journeyman but that doesn’t mean he isn’t dangerous.
The fight
Joshua needs rounds and this is why the veteran Johnson was chosen. The American has only been down once his entire career against Chisora. I feel Joshua will get the rounds he needs but may force a stoppage in the mid to late rounds.
Joshua TKO 8
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