• Boxing

Khan warns Mitchell that bouncing back won't be easy

ESPN staff
May 20, 2010
Kevin Mitchell was well beaten by Michael Katsidis © Getty Images
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Amir Khan has warned Kevin Mitchell that he can afford to make no more mistakes if he is to bounce back from his third-round defeat against Michael Katsidis on May 15.

Mitchell was outclassed by Katsidis in the WBO interim lightweight title clash, a defeat he subsequently blamed on a lack of preparation for the bout due to personal problems.

Katsidis is now being lined up as a July opponent for Khan, who knows about suffering potentially disastrous setbacks early in a career - in September 2008, he was knocked out by unheralded Colombian Breidis Prescott in 54 seconds.

"I remember being defeated and coming back - it is tough and he needs to get his confidence back up," Khan said to PA Sport. "That was a massive fight for him that would have made him a big star, especially in the States because Katsidis is a big name. But I'm sure he will learn from that and bounce back stronger. I think it won't be too hard for him, but he needs to get focused, keep winning and make no more mistakes.

"It seems Kevin went into the fight not prepared. Katsidis is a tough fighter, very durable, and you saw what happened on the night. I have heard that his preparation and training in the camp wasn't right and he had a lot of problems before the fight.

"For him to come back I think he needs to beat another big name - someone like John Murray - in Britain and then that will put him back up to where he needs to be. "He needs to get in the gym, train hard and forget about the defeat."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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