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Kevin Mitchell, Anthony Joshua return in January

Fighters Network
26
Nov

British lightweight contender Kevin Mitchell will face Daniel Estrada on Jan. 31 at the O2 Arena in London on a card that will also include heavyweight Anthony Joshua, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist for Great Britain.

In an event promoted by Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, Mitchell (38-2, 28 knockouts) could earn his sixth straight victory in a run that has included four consecutive knockouts, the last coming by 11th-round stoppage over previously unbeaten Ghislain Maduma in May.

Mitchell was knocked out in his only losses, falling by third-round stoppage to Michael Katsidis in May 2010 and then in the fourth round to then-WBO beltholder Ricky Burns in September 2012.

The 29-year-old Estrada (32-3-1, 24 KOs) was last in the ring for a ninth-round stoppage loss to then-WBC titleholder Omar Figueroa in August, ending his nine-fight winning streak that had included five knockouts.



“Mitchell vs. Estrada is a great fight,” said Hearn. “I was ringside in Carson [Calif.] when he took on Figueroa for the WBC title and he put up a great fight.”

In the wake of the injured Figueroa being stripped and declared a “champion in recess” by the WBC, former featherweight and junior lightweight titleholder Jorge Linares and Javier Prieto will fight for the vacant 135-pound belt on Dec. 30.

“We have applied to the WBC to make this fight a final eliminator for the WBC title with the winner to face the winner of Jorge Linares vs. Javier Prieto,” said Hearn. “We will be pushing the request at the upcoming convention. I expect it to be successful. It’s all part of a cracking line up at the O2.”

Coming off an 86-second stoppage of Michael Sprott on Nov. 22, the 25-year-old Joshua (10-0, 10 KOs) will face former title challenger Kevin Johnson (29-6-1, 14 KOs), who never has been knocked out.

Having lost his last two fights by unanimous decision to Dereck Chisora and Manuel Charr in February and April, Johnson, 35, has also gone the distance in losses to then-WBC titleholder Vitali Klitschko in December 2009, as well as Tor Hamer, Tyson Fury and Christian Hammer.

Other bouts on the card will feature junior welterweights Tommy Martin and Ricky Boylan as well as John Wayne Hibbert and Tyler Goodjohn in another 140-pound bout. Also, southpaw middleweight John Ryder will face an opponent to be determined.

 

Note: Quotes from a release.

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