By Shaun Brown

Kevin Mitchell’s promoter Eddie Hearn believes that his fight on Saturday night with Ismael Barroso is a 50-50 contest.

Mitchell (39-3, 29 KOs), a former two-time world lightweight title challenger, takes on the Venezuelan knock out artist (18-0-2, 17 KOs) for the vacant WBA Interim lightweight title at London’s O2 Arena as part of the Anthony Joshua-Dillian Whyte pay-per-view on Sky Box Office.

Hearn told Boxing Scene a win for Mitchell, now 31, sets up an all-British world title fight against recently crowned WBA champion Anthony Crolla in the spring. However, the Matchroom promoter is more than wary of the challenge that the Londoner faces in Barroso.

“Mitchell is in a life and death fight with Barroso. Go on YouTube fight and watch him. He is an absolute beast,” declared Hearn.

“I think it’s a 50-50 fight to be honest. Mitchell’s coming off the back of a war against [Jorge] Linares and this kid can punch but this kid can be hurt. He’s been hurt before in fights and Mitchell can punch as well.”

“Crolla has to fight the winner of Barroso-Mitchell,” he added “but you could look at a unification fight whether it’s Linares, [Terry] Flanagan or another champion.

"To be honest with you the biggest pay day is Kevin Mitchell and that’s a fight that Anthony fancies and is a great fight for British boxing.

“I’m praying that Kevin Mitchell beats Barroso and we can make that fight for the spring.”

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