Kevin Mitchell faces tough ask against Jorge Linares warns Oscar De La Hoya
Thursday 21 May 2015 15:09, UK
Oscar De La Hoya is touting his fighter Jorge Linares to give London favourite Kevin Mitchell a real run for his money in their WBC lightweight title fight on May 30.
The pair fight at the O2 in London on the same Sky Sports Box Office bill as IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook's defence against Frankie Gavin and Lee Selby's IBF featherweight title bout with Evgeny Gradovich.
Boxing hall of famer De la Hoya, who won 10 world titles at six different weights after striking gold at the Barcelona Olympics, now promotes Venezuelan Linares and expects him to again thwart the world title hopes of Mitchell, whose two previous attempts ended in failure.
Linares became a three-weight world champion when he seized the vacant title in December by stopping Javier Prieto in four rounds in Tokyo, his home for the past 10 years.
“Jorge Linares is a world champion fighter and is determined to give Kevin Mitchell a difficult time in the ring as he looks to defend his title,” said De La Hoya.
“Mitchell may have hometown advantage but Linares’ speed and skill will give Mitchell a considerable challenge in the ring. Make no mistake though, this will be a difficult fight for both Linares and Mitchell and one that is sure to excite.”
Linares’ world title defence against Mitchell is part of a massive night of action at The O2 where, in addition to the Brook and Selby fights, British fans get another chance to gauge the progress of heavyweight Anthony Joshua.
The Olympic super-heavyweight champion faces his toughest test in the paid ranks against former world title challenger Kevin ‘Kingpin’ Johnson, while there are three other all-domestic title dust-ups.
John Ryder faces Nick Blackwell for the vacant British middleweight title, Scotty Cardle and Craig Evans clash for the vacant British lightweight title and Dave Ryan defends his Commonwealth light-welterweight strap against John Wayne Hibbert.
To round off the bill, former world champion Nathan Cleverly is in action and Lucien Reid makes his pro debut.
Watch Mitchell v Linares live and exclusive as part of Brook v Gavin, on Sky Sports Box Office on May 30, plus Anthony Joshua and Lee Selby. Book via your phone or online now. If you want to record the event, book via your Sky remote from May 24.
