Thursday 4 June 2015 17:33, UK
Kevin Mitchell is confident he will secure a rematch with WBC lightweight champion Jorge Linares.
The Dagenham fighter’s bid to win a world title at the third attempt was ended by the Venezuelan in the 10th round at the O2 Arena last weekend.
Mitchell floored Linares in the fifth round in a thrilling fight but suffered severe cuts above both eyes and his nose which forced the referee to call a halt.
"It was great, I was beating him at his own game. That was the best thing."
The 30-year, who drew praise for his performance from fellow fighters past and present, is optimistic about facing Linares a second time.
“I have heard the chances are pretty good,” Mitchell told Sky Sports News HQ. “I’ve spoke to Eddie Hearn and my trainer Tony Sims, my manager, and he said there’s a good chance that we’ll get it back on.
“I haven’t got a clue about the dates but all I know is they’re up for the rematch.”
Mitchell, who was ahead on two of the judges scorecards before the referee waded in, is likely to be out of the ring until the autumn while his injuries heal.
“It’s not that bad now,” he said after removing his dark sunglasses. “The swelling has gone down now, I’ve had my stitches out this morning and it’s gone alright.
“It wasn’t really painful, it was quite sore in the fight, obviously the blood on my face was getting in my eyes, but in the fight it wasn’t really too bad.”
Despite injuries and defeat Mitchell thoroughly enjoyed sharing a ring with Liinares in such a brutal bout.
“It was great, I was beating him at his own game,” added Mitchell. “That was the best thing, I was boxing I wasn’t really attacking, I thought he expected me to go at him.
“I had him down in the fifth, I thought I was beating him but the cuts were just too much in the end, with the head clashes and things it held me back I could really see what was going on.
“But it was just one of those things, hopefully I can get a rematch and we can get it on again.”
Linares has hinted he is willing to fight Mitchell a second time and denied his head was responsible for any of his rival’s injuries.
"Why not give Kevin Mitchell a rematch? If we fight again I will win like last weekend and defend my title," Linares told World Boxing News.
"I think everyone should look back at the fight again as you can see clearly that the cuts where caused because of the punches and combinations I was hitting Mitchell with. I worked on the injury and it worsened as the fight went on."
