Mitchell has plenty of reasons to stay positive

Kevin Mitchell has every reason to be a bit fed up ahead of what was supposed to be a big night for him at York Hall this evening.  2007 was a pretty wasted year, 2008 was meant to be when it all came together for him. But it was never going to be that easy.

The year was supposed to kick off in style with Mitchell putting his Commonwealth super-featherweight title on the line in a unification match against British champion Carl Johanneson, a fight that quickly sold out. It all started going wrong on New Year's Eve, when Johanneson pulled out claiming a back injury.  The replacement was Ghanaian Thomas Aryeetey, pretty much an unknown but on the Commonwealth council's list of challengers an claiming an 11-1 record.

But on his arrival in Britain this week, he failed his medical and, as of Wednesday, Mitchell, 23, had no opponent. In the circumstances, Dean Powell, the matchmaker, did well to get Edison Torres, a 39-year-old Venezuelan who lives in Spain. In a 78-bout career, which stretches back to 1989, Torres has won 41 and drawn four. If you want to put a negative spin on Torres, you would say that he has won just ten of 34 since the start of 2000 and he used to box as a flyweight but, in the circumstances, he seems a pretty solid opponent.

Mitchell boxed only twice in 2007 - a straight-forward win over Harry Ramogoadi followed by a two-round win over Alexander Hrulev, who was so hopeless he was docked part of his purse for not trying. Another bout in October was scrapped when flu struck down everyone in the gym of his trainer, Paul Cook.

It is almost hard to remember that nearly five years ago, Mitchell was the hottest prospect in British boxing when he won the ABA title for his West Ham club at 18. Had he stayed amateur, as many told him he should, he could have been picked ahead of Amir Khan to the trials for the Athens Olympics - how different history could have been then.

But he has reasons to impress tonight. There is a good chance that the rearranged bout with Johanneson could end up as chief support to the David Haye-Enzo Maccarinelli world cruiserweight title fight at the O2 on March 8 - what a bill that would then be.

One fight I can't see happening any time soon is Mitchell v Alex Arthur. As well as being the IBF's No 9 contender, Mitchell is rated a generous No 4 by the WBO. With Arthur the interim champion, it might seem an obvious match, but my belief is that Mitchell is not seen as ready yet. Arthur v Scott Harrison, however? Watch this space.

It's a family night for the Mitchells tonight as Vinny will be making his live television debut on the show. The 20-year-old younger brother, who won both his bouts in his first year as a pro, faces Robin Deakin in the first live bout Setanta Sports 1 will be showing.

Pick of the bill has to be the Southern Area light-middleweight title clash between Takaloo and Anthony Small. Takaloo, who challenged Daniel Santos for the WBO title in 2002, looked past his best when losing to Michael Jennings last year (although he said he had been sick in the run-up and was not at his best at welterweight), while Small had his bubble burst when he was stopped by Bradley Pryce last time. If Takaloo can get through six rounds and is still in the fight, I'd pick him, but Small punches very hard.