By Shaun Brown

Kevin Mitchell’s next fight could take him to Finland

The former two-time world lightweight title challenger is in talks to challenge the Helsinki-based Kosovan Edis Tatli (26-1, 9 KOs) for his European lightweight crown.

Tatli won the vacant title against Yvan Mendy in April this year. Mendy bounced back from that loss by defeating Olympic Gold medallist Luke Campbell on December 12 in one of 2015’s upsets of the year.

Mitchell came unstuck on the same night at London’s O2 Arena when he lost to KO artist Ismael Barroso for the interim WBA World lightweight title. A win would have led Mitchell to a British world title showdown against stable-mate and WBA World champion Anthony Crolla. Mitchell, however, was stopped by the ruthless Venezuelan in the fifth round of their contest, seven months after being halted by WBC champion Jorge Linares in the 10th round of their fight of the year candidate.

Mitchell’s promoter Eddie Hearn is in negotiations with Tatli’s team for a bout sometime in the first half of 2016.

“We’re just negotiating and getting it all sorted now,” Hearn told Boxing Scene.

“Most likely it will be in Finland,” he added.

“[Ricky] Burns was next in line for Tatli, we weighed it up and just felt like it wasn’t the fight we wanted, and bearing in mind we wanted a [WBO] final eliminator.” Editor’s note: Hearn is still in negotiations for Burns to appear in a WBO World lightweight title final eliminator on April 9, 2016 in London.

“And next in line for Tatli is Mitchell,” he continued.

“Tatli’s got good backing in Finland. Kevin’s not bothered about travelling. With Kevin we feel like he has something left in the tank. The Tatli fight is a 50-50 fight and it might be one that he [Mitchell] goes out and has one last hurrah.”

Tatli has won three on the spin in 2015, including his European triumph, after dropping a majority decision to Richar Abril for the WBA World lightweight title in September 2014.

Shaun Brown is Boxing Scene’s UK News Editor. Follow him on Twitter @sbrown2pt0 Contact him at sbrownboxing@gmail.com