Wednesday 27 May 2015 14:48, UK
Kevin Mitchell will be hoping it's third time lucky this Saturday night as he attempts to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a world champion when he takes on Jorge Linares for the WBC lightweight belt, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Mitchell has failed on two previous occasions to clinch that elusive world title, having suffered crushing knockout defeats firstly, to Michael Katsidis in 2010, and then to Ricky Burns in 2012.
Legendary boxer Oscar De La Hoya, who now promotes Linares, fully expects his man to thwart Mitchell once more at the O2 Arena in London. But here's what The Panel expect to happen come fight night.
Johnny Nelson
Mitchell has a tough one in front of him. It's last chance saloon for him but I feel he actually rises to the level of opposition. When he's in a good place, he's a better fighter than people give him credit for.
Linares is on Mitchell's patch, in the lion's den and not many perform to the best of their ability when that is the case. It makes a massive difference.
Linares is on Mitchell's patch, in the lion's den and not many perform to the best of their ability when that is the case. It makes a massive difference. Although I believe it will be an in-form Mitchell, I am going for a draw because it's such a 50-50 fight.
Jamie Moore
Mitchell did not box that well on the undercard of Carl Froch-George Groves II last summer and if he boxes like he did that night, he will not win.
However, if the best Mitchell shows up on the night, I see him winning because Linares has come up through the weights and Mitchell is the bigger puncher at lightweight. It'll be tough to get him out of there, but Mitchell is capable of a late stoppage if he's on the ball. More likely, I think Mitchell wins on points.
Glenn McCrory
Mitchell should be physically stronger than Linares. Obviously if this fight happened a few years ago against a three-weight world champion then you'd say Mitchell couldn't do it, but he's been absolutely fantastic recently.
Linares can be stopped as we've seen before, but I believe we'll get a punch-perfect performance from Mitchell and he'll win on points.
He's in a great place with his trainer, confident and living right. He really wants it and he's got world champion written all over him. If he can be on the same form as he has been recently, he can do it. Linares can be stopped as we've seen before, but I believe we'll get a punch-perfect performance from Mitchell and he'll win on points. If he's on form, Mitchell can beat anybody.
Jim Watt
It looks like Kevin has the toughest job out of the three world title fights. Linares is a really quality operator. He's also been a bit vulnerable as well, but the problem is - so has Mitchell in the past. In Mitchell's two defeats he was blasted out in both of them, but I don't think his head was right for those two previous shots at the big time.
I think he's in a better place now and is naturally bigger than Linares, who has come up through the weights. The good news is that Kevin is coming off a terrific performance, which was the best I have ever seen from him. It may come down to who gets their punches off first and there is no way you can predict that. But if it goes the distance and Mitchell can put on a similar performance to last time, then he can win on points.
Paul Smith
It is a massive ask, but it would be the icing on the cake for the Kevin Mitchell story. I would absolutely love to see him do it. I have watched Mitchell since he was 11-years-old. He was on the same bill as my younger brother, Steven, and I saw him at 32kg knocking a kid out.
Mitchell is my favourite British fighter still to this day. On his day he would give anyone a run for his money
I have watched him come through the amateurs and I have been a massive fan of his. Mitchell is my favourite British fighter still to this day. On his day he would give anyone a run for his money, but Linares is a quality operator, he is top level and is rightly the favourite. Mitchell has been hurt in the past, so it could happen again. But I am going to let my heart rule my head on this, I am backing Mitchell to do it on points.
Carl Froch
I actually think Kevin Mitchell has improved since that Michael Katsidis loss. He's reunited with Tony Sims and he has looked better and better. I've always been a fan and we know he has had stuff going on outside the ring, on boxing alone, he is brilliant.
I've always been a fan and we know he has had stuff going on outside the ring, on boxing alone, he is brilliant.
I know Linares can punch and he has been around the block but Mitchell has such a good workrate, but he has such an elusive style, I think he should win this on points. He has the class to do it and do it well.
Watch Mitchell v Linares live and exclusive as part of Brook v Gavin, on Sky Sports Box Office on May 30, with Joshua and Selby also on. Book via your phone or online now. If you want to record the event, book via your Sky remote. skysports.com/brookgavin
