Kevin Mitchell says he would relish the chance to "smash" WBO world champion Ricky Burns should the two fighters step into the ring for a hotly anticipated Battle of Britain bout.
 

The Englishman says a fight with the Scotsman is the one that he "really wants" and he is prepared to put his friendship with Burns to one side in order to get his hands on the WBO lightweight title.

The Dagenham Destroyer is currently making his final preparations ahead of his upcoming bout with Felix Lora in a ten round international lightweight contest, having dispatched John Murray in one of the most impressive fights of last year.

But Mitchell has challenged Burns to get in the ring with him should he overcome the Dominican.

He said: "I know it's not good to look ahead at future fights, but beating Lora is the key to getting a world title fight with Burns.

"It's the fight I really want and I genuinely like Ricky, he's a super kid, but I'll put friendship aside and smash him to bits to win the title - come on Ricky lets get it on,"

"I really like Murray, but look what I did to him, once the fight is over we'll shake hands, it's just the nature of the business that we are in."

Burns is currently stepping up his training ahead of his world title defence against Paulus Moses at Glasgow's Braehead Arena on March 10 but the champion has admitted that Mitchell is firmly on his radar.

The Coatbridge fighter - who was recently confirmed as the full WBO lightweight champion after Juan Manuel Márquez moved up a weight division - has said that he considers Mitchell and himself as the "best two lightweights in Britain" and that he would welcome a fight against the Englishman should they both come through their respective fights. 

He said: "I know Kevin is fighting in February and as long as the two of us come through then we can sit down and talk about it. Both of us are promoted by Frank Warren so it is an easy fight for us to make.

"I would say the two of us are the best lightweights in Britain just now so it is a fight that I would really want. When I beat Michael Katsidis he (Mitchell) was saying he would love the chance to fight me. They are talking about the venue being down in London or up here. I was on the same bill when Michael Katsidis beat him down at West Ham's football ground and

"I know that was the venue that was mentioned if I was to fight him in the summer but I would prefer it to be up here."
 

IN DETAIL

Ricky Burns installed as WBO lightweight champion

Burns targets Battle of Britain bout with Kevin Mitchell