By Scott Gilfoid: In a press release today, number #1 WBO contender Kevin Mitchell (31-0, 23 KO’s) compares himself with Ricky Hatton. Mitchell, 25, noted that Hatton became well known after beating champion Kostya Tszyu in Manchester, in 2005. Mitchell believes he can accomplish the same thing if he can beat World Boxing Organization lightweight interim champion Michael Katsidis (26-2, 21 KO’s) on May 15th at Upton Park, West Ham, London. Mitchell says “I can see the similarities between the Katsidis fight and the opportunity Hatton had that night in Manchester. Just like Katsidis, Tszyu had a reputation for being heavy-handed and people thought he was a very dangerous opponent for Hatton who might be too experienced and just too good.”

I don’t see any similarities between Katsidis and Tszyu. Katsidis has already been exposed a couple of times by Juan Diaz and Joel Casamayor, losing to both of them. Katsidis was also fortunate to get by Czar Amonsot in a 12 round war in 2007. In contrast, Tszyu was a dominating fighter in his prime, although he wasn’t in his prime at the time he fought Hatton. Far from it, actually. He wasn’t someone like Katsidis who struggled when put in with good fighters.

Katsidis doesn’t have the pedigree that Tszyu had, so I can’t see this as being anywhere to the situation that Hatton found himself in five years ago. However, even in that fight it wasn’t as if Hatton was fighting a prime Tszyu. At the time that Hatton fought Tszyu, Kostya was 36-years-old, having had fought only three times in the past four years of his career and coming off of injuries. Tszyu was very rusty because of his inactivity in the past four years going into the Hatton fight, and of course Tszyu’s age was a factor as well. At 36, Tszyu wasn’t the same fighter he was earlier in his career.

Even with all that, Tszyu fought incredibly well under the circumstances. The difference in the fight is that Hatton was allowed to wrestle on the inside without the referee stepping in and warning Hatton. And there were few separations by the referee. He basically let Hatton maul Tszyu on the inside with wrestling. When Tszyu was able to get Hatton off of him, he drilled him to the head almost every time.

In looking at the fight, I thought Hatton should have been penalized and ultimately disqualified for the wrestling and the fouls that he committed. The fight, of course, took place in England. Had this bout taken place in the United States, I think Tszyu would have beaten Hatton. As such, I think Mitchell’s comparison between himself and Hatton isn’t even close. I don’t see Mitchell as being as good a fighter as Hatton.

Mitchell is a decent fighter, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t see him as someone you could put in the Hatton category based on how Mitchell looked against Breidis Prescott. I’m not fan of Hatton, but I could never see Hatton running from Prescott for 12 rounds like Mitchell did. That was a lot of running and it was painfully boring to watch. Mitchell isn’t as an entertaining fighter as Hatton in my view.

I see Mitchell as a good 2nd tier fighter. I don’t see him as being worthy of his current number #1 ranking. I expect Katsidis to easily beat Mitchell. My only concern is whether Katsidis will end up getting the decision from the judges since he’s going to be the visiting fighter.