BoxRec

Whilst I'm not quite buying a ticket for the Sky "when he trains properly/dedicates himself he's world class" hype-train, I was impressed the other night - very good display.

It might be that he is genuinely improving as a fighter.

It's hard though to ignore the fact that he made Ricky Burns look a puncher and Linares, while vulnerable himself, can punch a bit.

Kevin has world class skills and a European level chin.

palooka wrote:Kevin has world class skills and a European level chin.

I don't actually think it's his chin, Burns is still the only fighter to put him on the floor, there's something missing that isn't easy to pinpoint, it could be a mental thing, I actually think it might be that he isn't as skilled as he's made out to be. Great against lower class opposition, but he struggles at the top level, suggests to me that what we've seen against Murray, Prescott and Estrada is the best he has to offer, but it isn't enough at world level.

I just don't think he likes getting it back.

(At world level I should say)

If was designing a fighter to beat Linares, it would be a double-aard bastard, not a shorter older less consistent version of himself

Linares chin is fragile and Mitchell can bang,if he can land on Jorge early and as precise as he did on Estrada then Linares will be in trouble

Linares seems to have carried his power up from FW,to a certain level at least and Kevin doesn't want to get caught trading with him as he's had his own problems getting tagged early

I think he's good enough to earn a world title shot, but not quite good enough to win at that level. As several have said already - between euro and world class.

He's had his knocks in the past, but he has come back and done himself proud by turning up when he has to, I'll admit I've doubted him since the Katsidis fight years ago but since the Burns fight he has put in the performance that's been expected.

I'll say he is at world class or at the very least he has every right and the ability to challenge them.