Joshua vs Whyte: Kevin Mitchell confident ahead of Ismael Barroso fight
Wednesday 9 December 2015 14:59, UK
Kevin Mitchell is adamant he can win a world title in 2016 as he prepares to face the unbeaten Ismael Barroso on Saturday.
The popular London lightweight (39-3-KO29) is back at The O2 to take on the Venezuelan (18-0-2-KO17) - almost seventh months since his third attempt to become world champion ended in a dramatic 10th-round stoppage defeat to WBC king Jorge Linares.
Reflecting on defeat to Linares, Mitchell said: "It was a good fight. A fight I was winning. It was just one of those things. I dust myself off and get back again. I take a lot of pluses from that fight. It was the only one I've ever been beat in that I thought I was winning.
The way I look at it now, I'm world champion without the belt and next year I'm going to clean up the division.
"I was straight back in the gym on the Monday and had Tony Sims, Darren Barker and Eddie Hearn running. I thought it was tremendous and I did the fans proud as well.
"As a kid, winning that world championship is what I've dreamed of. I was seconds away from being world champion. The way I look at it now, I'm world champion without the belt and next year I'm going to clean up the division."
Watch Mitchell vs Barroso on Joshua vs Whyte, exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office, December 12, now available to order via your Sky remote or online.
