Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of tonight's boxing from across Britain.
The big fight is no doubt the highly-anticipated WBO lightweight title bout between Ricky Burns and Kevin Mitchell.
Fight fans have been looking forward to this scrap since it was made official back in June. Billed as a 'genuine 50/50 contest', both men come into the fight in good form.
Burns defeated Paulus Moses for the vacant WBO strap back in March and is making his first defence tonight. The Scot won the right to fight for the belt last November by beating Michael Katsidis, the only man to have bested Mitchell in his career to date.
'The Hammer' was destroyed inside three rounds by the Australian back in 2010, but bounced back superbly in his next contest, stopping John Murray in the eighth round of what had been a fantastic fight at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.
It all serves to whet the appetite ahead of what could prove to be a memorable encounter, and you can follow all the action with us below.
We are also covering Paul McCloskey's clash with Manuel Perez and Carl Frampton's Commonwealth title clash against Steve Molitor.
11pmGoodnight everybody!
10.58pmThat brings to a close Sports Mole's live coverage of tonight's boxing. It's been a great night of boxing, we hope you enjoyed it.
10.57pmBurns and Frampton have given two performances of real merit tonight. Both against good opposition, both have proven their credentials.
10.55pmThat was a fantastic performance from Carl Frampton. Simply awesome.
Round 6And it doesn't! The referee waves it off! Correct decision.
Round 6Another knockdown! This can't last much longer...
Round 6Frampton is relentless in his assault. Molitor's legs looks really bandy.
Round 6Frampton has looked slick tonight. This is sending a real message to the likes of Scott Quigg and Rendall Munroe. Molitor is a former two-time world champion after all.
END OF ROUND 5Molitor falls to the floor. If Frampton doesn't put him down, he just falls down.
Round 5We'll focus full on Frampton's bout following the senational end to the Burns/Mitchell title fight.
Frampton vs. MolitorAmid all the chaos, Frampton has had Molitor on the deck once more!
Burns vs. MitchellTHE REFEREE JUMPS IN! BURNS HAS STOPPED MITCHELL WITH AN EXPLOSIVE PERFORMANCE! SENSATIONAL!
Burns vs. Mitchell10 SECONDS TO GO FOR MITCHELL!
Burns vs. MitchellMITCHELL GETS UP BUT BURNS COMES FORWARD AND PUTS HIM DOWN AGAIN! IT'S NEARLY OVER!
Burns vs. MitchellMASSIVE LEFT HOOK SENDS MITCHELL TO THE FLOOR!
Burns vs. MitchellMitchell has boxed well off the back foot so far in this round, but Burns is starting to come forward again...
Frampton vs. MolitorMolitor is shook! Frampton lands and the Canadian retreats, willing him on. He's hanging on here!
Burns vs. MitchellThe third round goes to Burns. Good round from the Scot.
Frampton vs. MolitorFrampton had him against the ropes and rained in the blows. Molitor was forced to the ground!
Frampton vs. MolitorMOLITOR DOWN! HE'S SAVED BY THE BELL!
Burns vs. Mitchellburns launches another attack at Mitchell! He had him up against the ropes and was pummeling the body!
Frampton vs. MolitorFrampton looks lively. He's looking very sharp in Belfast.
Burns vs. MitchellAnother trade off! burns lands with the better shot, but Mitchell manages to get one in as they release.
Burns vs. MitchellBurns takes that round. I have it level after two.
Burns vs. MitchellCrisp right hand from Burns! That has Mitchell stunned for a moment!
Frampton vs. MolitorFrampton has made a very bright start. That should be the second round under his belt, but Molitor looks dangerous.
Burns vs. MitchellBurns goes hard at Mitchell but can't land cleanly enough. Mitchell did well to dodge the punches.
Frampton vs. MolitorFrampton has started well against Molitor. He has taken the first round, landing with a nice straight right flush on the Canadian's chin.
Burns vs. MitchellThe pair exchange heavy shots! Both men landed with decent blows.
Burns vs. MitchellBurns is the man on the attack. He is forcing the early pace. But Mitchell has started well on the back foot. Intriguing match up.
10.31pmSo Burns/Mitchell... Frampton/Molitor... where's your money?
10.30pmMichael Buffer is giving a history lesson in Glasgow. "700 years ago, William the Braveheart..." (I kid you not).
10.28pmMeanwhile, Carl Frampton is in the ring in Belfast as he takes on Steve Molitor.
10.27pmHere comes Ricky Burns. The crowd are on their feet. The atmosphere is electric.
10.25pmKevin Mitchell is on his way to the ring to a chorus of boos.
10.18pmRicky Burns speaking on BoxNation: "Me and Kev get on well outside the ring, but we both know that when the first bell rings we're going to war."
10.11pmMcCloskey: "If I'm at my best, I can beat anybody."
10.10pmMcCloskey: "I won the fight comfortably, but it wasn't my best performance."
10.09pmMcCloskey: "That was the most important fight of my life. I had to prove people wrong tonight."
DECISIONOf course, McCloskey takes it. He is speaking at ringside with Sky Sports News...
END OF ROUND 12It's over and the referee should be raising McCloskey's hand.
Round 12Perez is walking forward with his guard down while McCloskey lands with a few jabs. He's certainly fearless, but not the best boxer in truth.
END OF ROUND 11The Northern Irishman is nearly there. He'll be a deserved winner should he last the final round. But a step up in class could leave him undone.
END OF ROUND 10That round goes to McCloskey. He's been tagged a few times though.
Round 10McCloskey lands with a few nice punches, but there are definite weaknesses in his defence that a better fighter would expose.
Round 10Perez was using his face to block McCloskey's punches. Classic tactics.
END OF ROUND 9A frankly bizarre moment at the end of that round! McCloskey landed with a big shot and Perez stood there. He just... stood there. Guard down. But McCloskey could not finish him before the bell rang. Very strange!
END OF ROUND 8McCloskey came on strong at the end of that round. He was helped by the crowd, who have been left a bit flat by the slow pace that this bout has been fought at.
END OF ROUND 7Perez put some pressure on McCloskey towards the end of that round, landing with some decent body shots. The American has paid particular attention to the body, throwing 28 shots to McCloskey's nine.
9.41pmWe're going to jump into the action at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, where Paul McCloskey is in the seventh round of his duel with Manuel Perez. McCloskey is ahead on the scorecards and looks in control.
9.26pmSome news from earlier tonigh: Chris Eubank Jnr stopped Lithuania's Tadas Jonkus in the third round of their fight.
9.24pmOver 8,000 people have packed out the arena in Glasgow for arguably the best fight that could have been made in British boxing. The WBO lightweight title added into the mix makes the occasion extra special.
9.22pmGood evening fight fans. Welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the WBO lightweight title clash between Ricky Burns and Kevin Mitchell.
Written by
Michael Penkman
Michael Penkman
