By Sean McDaniel: Lightweight Kevin Mitchell (31-1, 23 KO’s) is still hoping to fight EBU lightweight champion John Murray (30-0, 18 KO’s) in April, as long as Mitchell can get the big enough offer from his promoter Frank Warren to take the fight. Mitchell doesn’t want to get small money for the fight. However, he’s not helped that he hasn’t fought since May when he was stopped in the 3rd round by Michael Katsidis.

In an interview by Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro, Mitchell said this about the Murray fight: “I don’t think it’s completely off the board. I think it’s still there. I’m in the gym getting ready for it. I’m just waiting for a better offer of money for it.”

Mitchell needs this fight more than anything because of how poor he looked against Katsidis. If Mitchell can beat Murray, he will have proven that he’s the best fighter in the UK, and will also get a big push up the rankings in the lightweight division. Murray is currently ranked #3 by the WBC. Mitchell could do himself a huge favor if he takes this fight, even it it means taking less than what he would have liked to have received. If Mitchell beats Murray, he’ll be back to where he was before the fight with Katsidis.

Speaking about Katsidis, Mitchell says he wants a rematch with Katsidis after the Murray fight. “Beat John Murray, show them I’m back, and then Katsidis and then a world title fight.”

Mitchell has a lot of excuses for his loss to Katsidis, saying he cut corners during training, and wasn’t working hard enough during the camp.

I don’t know that a rematch with Katsidis would be the smartest thing for Mitchell to do. Beating a guy like Murray is one thing, but Katsidis appears to be too fast and too powerful for Mitchell. Murray is slow and easily hit. Mitchell can probably beat this guy unless his punch resistance isn’t the same. However, Katsidis is a whole different matter. I think Mitchell would lose to him again because he just looked overmatched and not powerful enough to stand in there with the Australian.