Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images
This Saturday night, on January 31, 2015, former two-time world title challenger Kevin Mitchell aims to set up a third world title tilt with a victory against the rugged lightweight Daniel Estrada at the 02 Arena in the British capital.
Mitchell is currently on a five-fight unbeaten streak since he was demolished by former WBO lightweight king Ricky Burns back in 2012. However, Estrada hopes to bring that streak to a sudden end, as both men battle it out for a shot at WBC Lightweight champion Jorge Linares.
Estrada’s last foray in the ring was against the relentless puncher and former WBC linchpin Omar Figueroa. Unfortunately, despite Estrada’s genuine attempts to withstand the hectic onslaught set by Figueroa early on in the fight, the 29-year-old Mexican failed to derail the persistent champion, eventually succumbing to the pressure in the ninth round.
Estrada should in no way be ashamed of his performance against the American slugger, as he did give Figueroa some trouble throughout their scrap. Nevertheless, after such a devastating knockout defeat, does he still have enough in the tank to defeat an apparently reinvigorated Mitchell?
Photo by Esther Lin
2008 was the year when Britain’s great hope Amir Khan was smashed up by an unknown puncher named Breidis Prescott. However, as the British public pondered Khan’s questionable chin, there was no such doubt over the future of rising star Kevin Mitchell.
The Londoner was undefeated in his first 31 pro contests; including an impressive win against Prescott, therefore it was seemingly inevitable he would one day go on to win a world title.
So when his day of reckoning finally came against Australian hard man Michael Katsidis, many were utterly shocked to witness Mitchell absolutely obliterated in three solitary rounds by the battle-hardened warrior.
With rumours of distractions outside the ring constantly circulating, the 30 year old also failed in his bid to dethrone the then WBO king Ricky Burns, who stopped Mitchell in four.
So after many highs and lows in his career, is Mitchell really reinvigorated or will Estrada end his title aspirations once and for all?
If Mitchell is on a downward spiral, then Estrada will expose the former British and Commonwealth champion, hijacking what would appear to be Mitchell’s last shot at glory.
Three years on since his knockout defeat at the hands of Burns, it has been a long road to redemption for Mitchell, who undoubtedly deserves to win that elusive world title. But Saturday night’s performance will determine whether or not the 30 year old from London is in fact reinvigorated or simply over the hill.
