London date for Mitchell

Kevin Mitchell will fight Michael Katsidis for the WBO interim lightweight title in London in May after Frank Warren completed the deal.

Dagenham Destroyer on home turf for WBO showdown with Katsidis

Kevin Mitchell will fight Michael Katsidis for the WBO interim lightweight title in London in May after Frank Warren completed the deal for the fight. Warren vowed that Mitchell would take on the Australian after winning the WBA Inter-Continental title belt with a clinical second-round stoppage of Ignacio Mendoza last month. As Dagenham lightweight Mitchell had wanted, Warren has also granted his wish for the fight to take place in London, ensuring another vociferous home crowd backing him. Mitchell took his record to 31-0 as a professional with his win over Mendoza, and should he beat Katsidis in May he will then fight full WBO champion Juan Manuel Marquez.

Delight

"I'm delighted that I won the purse bids for this cracking contest and I'm sure it will be an explosive encounter," said Warren. "Both guys are come-forward, all-action fighters throwing plenty of punches so it's hard not to see this fight developing into real war." 25-year-old Mitchell really enhanced his reputation by beating Amir Khan's conqueror Breidis Prescott last December, and now he is relishing his big day. "Frank has done a fantastic job getting me the fight and bringing it to England," said Mitchell. "I know all about Katsidis. This is the kind of fight I've dreamed of since I was kid and now I've got it I can't wait."