Matchroom Sport's Rule Britannia card is headlined by the IBF welterweight clash between Kell Brook and Frankie Gavin, but their domestic encounter has been somewhat overshadowed by the undercard on the stacked bill at the O2 Arena in London.
Kevin Mitchell will attempt to win his first world crown against WBC lightweight champion Jorge Linares, while Lee Selby will bid to dethrone IBF featherweight title holder Evgeny Gradovich. Saturday night will also see Anthony Joshua try to extend his unbeaten record to 13 fights against the durable Kevin Johnson.
Below, Sports Mole takes a look at each fight and attempts to predict who will prevail in each contest.
1. Kevin Mitchell vs. Jorge Linares
When Kevin Mitchell was stopped by Ricky Burns in 2012, many believed that his chances of becoming a world champion were all but over, but since that defeat, the Londoner has moved himself into a position where he can make another bid for a world crown. However, in WBC champion Jorge Linares, he faces the stiffest test of his career in a fight that could turn out to be the standout contest on Saturday night.
In the past, distractions have resulted in Mitchell stepping into the ring below his best, but in January, the 30-year-old delivered a punch-perfect display to see off Daniel Estrada, a dangerous Mexican who had previously fought for the WBC belt. Estrada's style arguably gelled well with Mitchell's approach, but the execution of his strategy in what was a make-or-break fight indicated that he has made the mental adjustments in his game ahead of a career-defining match against Linares.
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However, standing in the opposite corner will be a three-weight world champion who is travelling to England on the back of seven successive wins, four of which have come inside 12 minutes. The Venezuelan isn't well known on these shores, but his worldwide achievements and current champion status see him head into the match as the marginal favourite. He has previously suffered three stoppage defeats, but Mitchell has also shown in the past that he is susceptible to an early finish.
This fight has all the makings of a classic, but it wouldn't come as a big surprise if it didn't go past six rounds. Both men can punch as well as be hurt, and with Linares unlikely to give up much ground at the start, Mitchell's temperament is going to be tested for the first time since he fought Michael Katsidis back in 2010. Like that night at Upton Park, this is his big opportunity and if he performs at his best, he is capable of edging the win. Anything less than that and it could turn into a difficult evening for the challenger.
2. Lee Selby vs. Evgeny Gradovich
The technical ability of Lee Selby has seen him described as the "Welsh Floyd Mayweather" during the majority of his professional career, but on Saturday night, he has the opportunity to do justice to that comparison when he features in his first world title fight against IBF champion Evgeny Gradovich, an unbeaten Russian who has successfully defended his belt on four occasions since winning it over two years ago.
His come-forward style is a good match for Selby, who will fancy his chances of picking off his opponent if he becomes too predictable, but Selby must ensure that he approaches the match expecting Gradovich to be a step up from his last opponent Joel Brunker. The Australian is similar to Gradovich but he was comfortably dispatched by Selby in nine one-sided rounds.
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That performance came at the right time for Selby after failing to perform to his optimum level in his previous four outings, but it was one that showed that he was capable of dealing with the expectation that has been built up since 2011 when he won the British and Commonwealth titles in emphatic style. It's taken four years to earn an opportunity at world level, but that has allowed him time to add layers to his repertoire ahead of the biggest night of his career.
Selby will take encouragement from Gradovich only gaining a split draw in his last fight, but the champion can't be overlooked after spending the past two years in the spotlight as well as recently being named as the IBF Fighter of the Year. He will likely look to test Selby's patience in the opening stages, but if Selby can come through untroubled and frustrate his opponent, he should be able to run away with a win on points.
3. Anthony Joshua vs. Kevin Johnson
Ever since making the transition to the professional ranks in 2013, Anthony Joshua has blasted his way past each of his 12 opponents inside three rounds. That has resulted in criticism of the match-making for the Olympic gold medallist, despite several of his opponents having respectable records, but on Saturday night, the Londoner is expected to be posed with the toughest test of his career against Kevin Johnson, a man who has never been stopped in his 36-fight career.
On paper, this is the perfect test for Joshua at this stage of his career. His opponent has challenged for a world title, gone the distance with the likes of Vitali Klitschko and Tyson Fury, and brings a brashness that Joshua would never have encountered before as an amateur or professional. After his poor performance against Dereck Chisora last year, his ability will be questioned, but he has been brought in to give Joshua rounds and test his character before he progresses up the rankings.
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Despite Johnson seemingly being over-matched though, he can't be completely dismissed. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain by taking this fight, and a win would send shockwaves through the division. If reports are to be believed, Johnson set up camp in Manchester last month in order to prepare for this fight, while he was present at Joshua's latest win over Rafael Zumbano Love in Birmingham.
The casual boxing fan will expect Joshua to have little problem in dispatching Johnson, but this could be the fight where we see the 25-year-old having to think his way through a contest. The American will take some shifting and Joshua will need to remain focused if he is to get rid of his opponent before the final bell.
Darren Plant
