Linares (38-3-0,25 KOs) is defending his title for the first time after knocking out Javier Prieto last year at the Metropolitan Gym in Tokyo, Japan, where he is currently based.
The Venezuelan native is under promotional contract with Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and in association with Matchroom Boxing and Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Boxing Gym.
Linares, who once served as sparring partner of Manny Pacquiao when he trained in Baguio City in the Philippines a few years ago, will be facing a tough opponent for his first title defense.
Mitchell (39-2-0, 29 KOs), is coming off five straight TKO wins with the latest against Daniel Estrada last January for the WBC lightweight title final eliminator.
Linares and Mitchell are orthodox fighters and they both have the same height (5′ 8″). Linares is 29 while Mitchell is 30 years old.
“I am excited and honored to be defending my third world championship title in London,” said Linares, who will be fighting for the first time at the O2 Arena, a huge venue in London with a capacity of 20,000.
Mitchell, who hails from Romford, London, England, is confident he will beat Linares in his home ground.
“This is the making of my career,” said Kevin Mitchell. “I will win this fight and create a legacy as an unbeaten world champion. I know Jorge Linares is a three-weight world champion and a classy fighter – if you allow him to do what he wants to do, but I believe I will shut him down. I’ve matured, I feel secure with the team around me and I have left that party boy behind, I am enjoying it again. There’s excitement in me, Tony Sims is getting the best out of me as a result; it’s a good feeling. I know I am going to win this fight,” he added.
Michell has fought tough fighters and former world champions including, Michael Katsides, Michael Murray,Ricky Burns and Daniel Estrada, among others.
