By William Mackay: Promoter Frank Warren believes that World Boxing Association (WBA) light welterweight champion Amir Khan (22-1, 16 KO’s) has the easier fight against former IBF light welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KO’s) compared to his unbeaten fighter Kevin Mitchell (31-0, 23 KO’s), who will be facing WBO lightweight interim champion Michael Katsidis (26-2, 21 KO’s) on the same night on May 15th, according to Boxrec. Warren used to promote Khan until recently when Khan switched over to Golden Boy Promotions. Warren says “Malignaggi is an easy fight for Amir while Kevin has taken a hard one. Amir is fighting in front of 5000 while Kevin [Mitchell] will have 20,000.”

There’s little question that Mitchell has the much tougher fight. He’s never faced anyone as good as Katsidis and will be taking a big step up in competition by facing the Australian. Katsidis has more big fight experience than Mitchell and is the bigger puncher. The one thing that Mitchell has going for him in this fight will be the crowd, as the fight will be taking place at Upton Park in London, England. Having the crowd on his side may help Mitchell fight with more energy and confidence than he would if the fight were taking place in Katsidis’ home country of Australia or a neutral country.

It could also help Mitchell if the fight goes to the cards, because the judges could give Mitchell the decision if the fight is close. However, Mitchell also could end up getting badly beaten and stopped if he decides to actually fight Katsidis instead of moving all night long like he did in his win over Breidis Prescott. Mitchell will big problems if he decides to punch with Katsidis. In looking at some of Mitchell’s fights, he’s not taken much punishment in his fights thus far and hasn’t had too many opponents that could stand up to his shots. Even in the fights he didn’t stop his opponents in, Mitchell hasn’t been hit by big sluggers in the class of Katsidis.

The Australian appears more rugged and more suited to a long distance war. It’s hard to see the more slender Mitchell standing up to the kind of wear and tear that Katsidis will be putting on him. Crowd or no crowd, Mitchell will have to be able to take Katsidis’ heavy shots for 12 rounds if he wants to win. I don’t expect Katsidis to be bothered by Mitchell’s shots. He won’t fold up like some off the fighters that have been matched against Mitchell recently. When Katsidis is still coming after six rounds, Mitchell could be in for a world of hurt.

Some of Mitchell’s fans seem to think that he’ll be able to run from Katsidis all night like he did against Prescott last year. However, I doubt that will work at all. Vicente Escobedo tried to get away from Katsidis during stretches of his recent fight with him and it was useless. Katsidis stayed with him the entire time, cutting off the ring and forcing him into a grueling 12 round war. This is what will likely happen with Mitchell. He’s going to have to beat Katsidis in the pits whether he likes it or not. If Mitchell has the game to beat Katsidis then he’ll win the fight, but if he can’t handle that kind of war, then Mitchell will get knocked out. I don’t think he’ll make it to the end of the fight. Katsidis is too powerful and used to this kind of fighting. Compared to Joel Casamayor, Czar Amonsot, Jesus Chavez and Escobedo, Mitchell appears to be a much easier option.

Khan will be facing Malignaggi rather than the hard hitting Marcos Maidana. There’s little danger that Khan will be knocked out by Malignaggi and a ton of danger if he were to fight Maidana, the WBO light welterweight interim champion. That’s the fighter that Khan should be fighting but instead has opted to fight the feather-fisted Malignaggi.