Kevin Mitchell out to defeat cocky Ricky Burns

Kevin Mitchell risks his British super featherweight crown and his world title bid, scheduled to take place early in 2010, when he defends against cocky Scot Ricky Burns in Newcastle on December 5.

Boosted by a 12-fight unbeaten run, Commonwealth champion Burns blasted Mitchell for: "Running like a big girl," to avoid fighting him.

"I've been waiting for this fight for ages, but I think Mitchell has been looking for soft touches rather than risk a defence against a real threat like me," said the challenger, who has suffered just two defeats in 29 bouts.

Burns' boasts will not worry the titleholder - he knows that big talk is all part of the pre-fight build up and Mitchell will certainly need no extra incentive to put the 30th straight victory on his pro record.

The British super-featherweight champion hopes that the new year will bring his own world title chance.

Promoter Frank Warren is hoping to tempt WBO champion Roman 'Rocky' Martinez, to defend against the fighter officially recognised as his number one contender, with a big fight in London possibly on the cards.

Mitchell, who recently switched camps to join Jimmy and Mark Tibbs at East London's Peacock and Ultrachem TKO gyms, knows that his big chance will disappear if he fails to come through a winner in the December defence.

There is no doubt that the 26-year-old from Coatbridge is a serious threat with his 12-fight winning run which includes victories in title clashes in his last four fights.

Mitchell versus Burns certainly adds appeal to promoter Frank Warren's big December bill at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena which is headlined by Amir Khan's defence of his world Light-Welter title against top challenger Dimitriy Salita, the adopted New Yorker, born in Ukraine.

Another fighter from the Tibbs camp is also set for action on the Newcastle bill, unbeaten middleweight Olympian Billy Joe Saunders looks for his fifth pro win in a supporting bout on the big December show.