I think Kevin Mitchell is going to get knocked out

[Counter-puncher]

i am still slightly nonplussed as to why, bearing in mind Mitchell's never fought anyone in Katsidis' league, people are so confident in him winning.

Mitchell outboxes Katsidis. apparently. Casamayor- albeit a very faded version- struggled mightily to outbox him. with all that skill and experience. but Sugar Ray Mitchell will?

I'm off to look at the Katsidis-Escobedo fight before making a pick, though (the Aussie's been in some real wars, so I want to see how fresh he looks).

see, I was expecting Escobedo- nice length, decent mover, decent pop, decent ama background/skills- to be the kind of guy who might give the stereotyped 'worst'version of Katsidis a problem: you know, this aussie guy, face-firster, never saw a punch he didn't want to eat like a kiddie's icecream..... and then what happened?

I'd be interested to hear what you think when you see the fight, but Katsidis dealt with him pretty fecking comprehensively.

not that that means much in direct relation to the Mitchell fight as KM's much more compact than Escobedo. nonetheless.............

edit: Datsue: Katsidis fairly similar to Maidana though, and Kotelnik handled him ok...?

[Datsue]

edit: Datsue: Katsidis fairly similar to Maidana though, and Kotelnik handled him ok...?

I'm sorry, Maidana's strong as eff but I remember watching the Kotelnik fight after several round these parts had bigged him up & I thought "Jesus, he's over-hyped to shite, the kiddie can't throw a straight punch to save his life." That fight was utterly dreadful for a "big" world title fight imo. Real C-level stuff.

I was impressed in his heart when he gutted it out & broke Ortiz but the result flatters to deceive: Ortiz can punch but who the Hell's he beaten?

I think our resident anti-Khan faction like to build the legend of the devastating rip-snorting Argie Wild Bull of the Pampas so they can dis' Amir more (than they usually do) & have someone to "threaten" Khan with. He's obviously physically strong & heavy-handed but I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that Katsidis is a better one-shot hitter (more correct delivery, more likely to land on your chin rather than clumping you in the side of the neck with the edge of his glove).

Sorry, what was the question? Oh yeah: Katisidis would break Kotelnik up, if you ask me. Late stoppage or bury him on the cards.

[Counter-puncher]

i think we differ slightly on how much better Katsidis is than Maidana but there you go.

[yiddo14]

Did anyone actually back Kotelnik against Katsidis? I may have missed it if they have, genuine question.

In a series of hyperthetical match ups, I would put money on Malignaggi beating Mitchell and Katsidis.
But of course, Khan hasn't beat him yet!

[Hagler2002]

I see this as a pretty straight forward win for Katsidis, he's relentless, something I don't think Mitchell will cope with, the Prescott win was a good scalp but he's nowhere near the level of the Aussie.

[Des1]

I imagine most who are expecting Mitchell to lose this fight also expected him to lose the Prescott fight. I feel Mitchell will pot shot and use his boxing ability to a pionts win, Mitchell has better boxing skills than given credit for.

[hurlock]

I can see a typical uk stoppage, on mitchells favour with Kat more than able to continue.

i could imagine mickey vann inspecting a cut in the fashion of vitali klitschko's cut man v lewis
or even stepping in with the nut himself D

katsidis is looking battleworn which can be mistaken for battle hardend.

[crusader]

I imagine most who are expecting Mitchell to lose this fight also expected him to lose the Prescott fight.

I don't think that is the case. Katsidis is faster and much more relentless than Prescott. He has also fought and beaten the better opponents. I was very confident about Mitchell beating Prescott, but I am not so sure about this fight. Very tough to pick.

[hurlock]

I imagine most who are expecting Mitchell to lose this fight also expected him to lose the Prescott fight.

I don't think that is the case. Katsidis is faster and much more relentless than Prescott. He has also fought and beaten the better opponents. I was very confident about Mitchell beating Prescott, but I am not so sure about this fight. Very tough to pick.

yeah your right & this what fights should be about :!: proper challenges unlike amir khan picking the easiest & expecting brits to show admiration & travel out too see him stateside v malinaggi, i wouldnt cross the road for it personally.

[crusader]

I imagine most who are expecting Mitchell to lose this fight also expected him to lose the Prescott fight.

I don't think that is the case. Katsidis is faster and much more relentless than Prescott. He has also fought and beaten the better opponents. I was very confident about Mitchell beating Prescott, but I am not so sure about this fight. Very tough to pick.

yeah your right & this what fights should be about :!: proper challenges unlike amir khan picking the easiest & expecting brits to show admiration & travel out too see him stateside v malinaggi, i wouldnt cross the road for it personally.

Ya, I would rather watch this fight anyday than Khan-Malinaggi and certainly I would not fly to New York to see that fight.

[hurlock]

would you swim instead yar

[crusader]

would you swim instead yar

If I swam to New York it certainly wouldn't be to see Khan fight!

[Des1]

One thing can be said, Mitchell is not scared of a challenge, has self belief, knows what he wants and he really believes he's going to get it. When you have a man focused in as that he's going to be hard to stop.

[lefthook82]

Proper 50/50 this fight is. I see Mitchell returning to his face first mode and ultimately coming unstock via late round stoppage. I don't see someone like Mitchell fighting on the back foot in his 1st headliner at Upton Park in front of all those well wishers. That could be his downfall

[yiddo14]

I imagine most who are expecting Mitchell to lose this fight also expected him to lose the Prescott fight.

I don't think that is the case. Katsidis is faster and much more relentless than Prescott. He has also fought and beaten the better opponents. I was very confident about Mitchell beating Prescott, but I am not so sure about this fight. Very tough to pick.

yeah your right & this what fights should be about :!: proper challenges unlike amir khan picking the easiest & expecting brits to show admiration & travel out too see him stateside v malinaggi, i wouldnt cross the road for it personally.

Yet, I bet Malignaggi would beat both Katsidis and Mitchell...

The amount of stick Amir gets is laughable.
He gets slated for not taking on real challenges and Kevin gets praised yet Amir is younger than Mitchell, been pro for 2 fewer years yet has already won and defended a world title whereas this is Mitchell's real first big test!
Malignaggi will be Amir's 24th fight...Mitchell's 24th fight was against Alexander Khrulev.

Some people need to realise it's possible to support both and you don't have to pick and choose based on some non-existant rivalry. It has always seemed soome Mitchell fans have been a tad jealous of Amir's success and wealth. Unfortunately(for them obviously)wealth and fame comes along with winning a Silver Medal at the Olympics when aged a mere(notice the pun!)17.

[Des1]

Understand what you saying but how can you say this is Mitchell's first real test when he was tested 2 years ago by Johannson, and lets get it right, tested by the man who KO'd Khan!

Khan is only getting judged by the hype which surrounded/surrounds him.

Just because Khan has already won and defended a World title doesn't really account for much other than good managing and promoting. I mean, who else would of got a 'World' title shot coming of a 1st round KO.

Having said that, I agree with you that it is possible to support both and Im sure some do, it also seems that Khan has shown great character coming back of that loss and is improving

[tonyevs]

It really seems like a 50/50 fight.
Katsidis has been found to fall short of real world class .. where as Mitchel has yet to test the waters.

From what I`ve seen of Mitchel - he seems to be a very good British title level fighter. So for that reason I`ll edge my bets with a clear Katsidis win.

[Spud]

It will be a fantastic fight - and I hope a great night for British Boxing.

[hurlock]

It will be a fantastic fight - and I hope a great night for British Boxing.

TOUCHE :!:

i dont attend many shows these day's but this gets me of my backside,& will enjoy cheering our boy on :!: play the national anthem it will be electric as challenges like this spur the fans on to get behind our man.

the prospects on the under card hopefully against decent opposition rather then mugs to fool the drunk crowd,& fail to attract new viewing support.

[yiddo14]

Understand what you saying but how can you say this is Mitchell's first real test when he was tested 2 years ago by Johannson, and lets get it right, tested by the man who KO'd Khan!

Khan is only getting judged by the hype which surrounded/surrounds him.

Just because Khan has already won and defended a World title doesn't really account for much other than good managing and promoting. I mean, who else would of got a 'World' title shot coming of a 1st round KO.

Having said that, I agree with you that it is possible to support both and Im sure some do, it also seems that Khan has shown great character coming back of that loss and is improving

I support both and will admit I wasn't overly keen on Khan but the way he has bounced back from the Prescott defeat made me respect him a lot. Take away the hype etc and underneath the lad is a fighter.

Hopefully, both win their upcoming fights and both get the respect they will deserve for doing so.

[Spud]

I am impressed with the latest version of Kevin Mitchell - seems massively changed with Jimmy Tibbs having a large influence on his career now.

[Spiker]

I am impressed with the latest version of Kevin Mitchell - seems massively changed with Jimmy Tibbs having a large influence on his career now.

Yep I second this.
I think he has a real good chance I slightly favour mitchell on this.
I cant see Paulie beating Khan Or Mitchell for that matter. peashooter!

[Coffee Aroma]

I see Kevin putting in his best showing to date! I see him beating Katsidis.

On a slightly different note, there was an interesting article in BN recently about Mitchell. Did not know he nearly went bankrupt!

F*#kin' A ................... C'mon Kev!

Good piece about Kevin Mitchell it made a nice change from all the ostentatious "Knees up muvva brahn" cockney pride sh*t the media seems obsessed with: its all; way too Spurs for my likin'.
Hammers and real eastenders tread softly whilst carrying a big stick ....'ave a banana

[yiddo14]

Don't 95% of Hammers, "real" Eastenders and mockneys come from Dagenham and other assorted areas of Essex anyway?

Come fight night I suspect the most spoken phrase in the stadium will be "yeah, I live In Essex now but I was born and raised in Bethnal Green/Stepney/Bow(etc) weren't I?"

[oliverfennell]

Katsidis of 07 would stop him, but he has taken a fair few since then.

No way. The Katsidis of 07 was getting dropped by Graham Earl and being taken to the wire by Czar Amonsot. The current version is handily beating Vicente Escobar and pushing Casamayor to the absolute limit.