British boxing booming again; Mitchell is predicting golden era.

Byline: Mark Douglas 

BRITISH boxing is ready to rule the world again according to Kevin Mitchell, the heavily-touted lightweight prospect who is looking to move his career to "the next level" in Newcastle next month.

Mitchell tops an exciting undercard to Amir Khan's title defence at the Arena on December 5 - fighting the dangerous Colombian Breidis Prescott in a WBO world lightweight title eliminator that will test his claims to be the "real deal".

The bill also includes Frank Warren's unbeaten Olympians James DeGale, Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders - three more well-fancied prospects who are four fights into their professional careers.

Along with Sunderland's Tony Jeffries they were part of the most successful British Olympic squad in modern history at last year's Beijing games and form part of a potentially golden generation for the sport.

Mitchell feels that the public's interest in 'the sweet science' is building to the levels that surrounding the sport during the mid-nineties, when Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank were prowling the middleweight scene.

"There is a bit of a buzz about British boxing at the moment. I look at this bill and it's all British boxers and it's selling out, which is great for the sport," Mitchell said.

"I look at the four of us on the undercard and I honestly think that we'll all be topping shows soon and fighting for World titles. There is that much talent on this bill. Boxing is taking off in this country again with the Olympians, Amir and guys like Tony Jeffries, too. I think it is building back to be as big as it was a few years ago. "People love their football in this country but I think the boxers are becoming household names again. Maybe it helps that we're a bit more like the general public - we're just normal lads that you could meet in your local cafe. It's the way boxers are and I think it is why boxing is picking up again."

Mitchell's career will reach a crossroads with the Prescott fight, which he hopes will set him on track for an all-British superfight with Khan, whose only defeat came at the hands of the Colombian.

"It's the next big thing for me really - it puts me into the big time and in the contention for a World title if I win this one," he said. "I have been around two years longer than Amir now and for me beating Prescott in front of 10,000 people in Newcastle shows that I have got it.

"It's a big show for Newcastle and I'm delighted to be part of it. I know it's a bit of a risk because he's a big puncher but if you're a 25-year-old man who wants a World title and you're not prepared to take a gamble there is something wrong with you.

"I'm confident I'll beat him. We've done our homework on him."

With sales around the 8,000 mark promoters are confidently predicting a sell-out for the Newcastle show. And Olympic gold medallist DeGale - familiar with the area thanks to a former girlfriend from Hartlepool - can't wait to step out at the Arena.

"It's a great, great city. The buzz here is amazing, the shops, the women - everyone is great." he said. "I love the place. The crowds around here are brilliant and get right behind you.

"I know that Frank (Warren) brought Naseem Hamed here, Ricky Hatton's been here and Joe Calzaghe, too. If you want a national following like those guys have got you want to come to places like Newcastle and show people what you're made of."

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BRINGING GOLD TO NEWCASTLE Former Olympic champion James DeGale is relishing his upcoming fight at the MetroRadio Arena. Below: Kevin Mitchell, who faces Amir Khan's conqueror Breidis Prescott on the same bill.