Wednesday 22 March 2017 08:10, UK
Kevin Mitchell is hoping Jorge Linares will pay the price for treating his world title rematch with Anthony Crolla as "easy money."
The retired Londoner was the first Brit to face the current WBA lightweight champion, suffering a brutal 10th-round stoppage defeat to Linares at The O2, back in May 2015.
Crolla lost a points decision against Linares in September, but has the chance to regain his belt in an immediate rematch at the Manchester Arena on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.
Mitchell expects the Venezuelan to repeat the result but is clinging on to the idea that complacency and a recent hand injury will work in the Mancunian's favour this time.
"Linares is very smart; very, very smart," he exclusively told Sky Sports. "If I'd had another crack it him, there is no way he would've let me dominate as I did in the first fight and I just can't see him giving Ant more chances, either.
"One thing I will say, is there is every chance he's in it to cash in. I spoke to his manager a while back and asked him why they are taking the rematch, and he said it was 'just easy money for us'."
Let's hope Crolla will win this one, because he is such a nice guy, an absolute gentleman
Mitchell's painful defeat to Linares put him on the path to retirement, with the following loss to Ismael Barroso forcing him to call it a day after 43 fights and only four defeats.
Crolla claimed revenge for his compatriot by stopping Barroso in his first WBA title defence and 'Super Kev' hopes 'Million Dollar' can produce a similar result if Linares is on the slide.
"Linares is cute and he can punch a little bit and I know people are saying he is past his best, but I actually think he was when he fought me that night," he said.
"He could be even further past it and fingers cross that will be the case. I know he's carrying injuries as well, so let's hope Crolla will win this one because he is such a nice guy, an absolute gentleman.
"People have said I had him beat when I fought him, but of course I didn't, and if I had done so and gone in with him again, he would have been a whole different ball game.
"Like Crolla I took one of those big shots in the fifth or sixth myself and he was so fast with it, I didn't know where I was. I woke up standing there, not knowing! He was so quick with that right and in the 10th, I took the knee because I was covered in blood and the last thing I wanted to do was look up and see that coming again.
"I took that knee on my terms, not his. That right is so good, I have seen him knock people out in sparring. But the one good thing is Crolla knows what to expect. It would be great to see him do it, it really would."
Watch Jorge Linares vs Anthony Crolla II, live from the Manchester Arena, from 7.00pm, Saturday, on Sky Sports 1.
