Kevin Mitchell still hunting for world title, hoping for another shot in 2016

Lightweight Kevin Mitchell has had two world title shots (and one interim world title shot) in his career, but despite coming up short against Ricky Burns and Jorge Linares (and Michael Katsidis), all stoppage losses, the 30-year-old Mitchell is aiming to get another crack at a title in February 2016.

Mitchell (39-3, 29 KO) was stopped by Linares on May 30, leading on two of three cards with the third even at the time the fight ended, with Mitchell battered, bloody, and spent. He hasn't fought since, but says he's working hard and will be back on December 12.

"It's made me get back in the gym. I like getting back in the gym with all the young boys and work on new things with Tony. I'm getting the weight down again.

"I'm going to be back here on December 12. I'd like to fight a world-class fighter. My last three fights have been world class, so I want to stay at world class. I'm hoping for an eliminator and then to fight for a world title in February."

The current titleholders at 135 are Linares (WBC), Terry Flanagan (WBO), and Darleys Perez (WBA), with the IBF vacant and set to be decided between Rances Barthelemy and Denis Shafikov in November, it appears. There's really no one in that group that would be an overwhelming favorite against Mitchell, so it's not as if his hope for another shot is absurd or anything. Linares is set to face Ivan Cano on October 10, with Flanagan facing Diego Magdaleno on the same date.