KEVIN MITCHELL is set to make his first London appearance since March last year when he defends his British super-featherweight title against Salford s Steve Foster on a Sports Network show in Docklands in April, writes LEN WHALEY. The popular fighter s

KEVIN MITCHELL is set to make his first London appearance since March last year when he defends his British super-featherweight title against Salford's Steve Foster on a Sports Network show in Docklands in April, writes LEN WHALEY.

The popular fighter's last appearance in the capital was a thrilling ninth-round victory over Carl Johanneson at the 02 Arena, a real battle that was acclaimed the Best Fight of 2008 by the British Boxing Board of Control.

The fight gave Mitchell his 26th straight victory - and earned him the British super-featherweight title, which he will put on the line in April.

After taming the Leeds fighter, former West Ham BC amateur star Mitchell, crossed the Atlantic for his summer success, halting Colombia's former world title challenger Walter Estrada in five rounds in Atlantic City.

Following that victory, hard-hitting Mitchell took time out to have an operation on his hand to solve a knuckle problem that had troubled him for three years.

Now after working hard in the gym, the 24-year-old faces a test against a dangerous opponent who was due to challenge Mitchell's stablemate Nicky Cook for the WBO world super-featherweight championship in a scheduled clash at the ExCel Arena in Docklands, last December.

However, an attack of flu forced Cook to withdraw from that contest and he now must defend his world crown against mandatory challenger Ramon Martinez - a contest that takes place at Manchester's MEN Arena next month.

So now it is Cook's younger stablemate who faces the challenge from the Salford fighter, a 28-year-old with a useful pro record, suffering just two defeats in his 27 outings.

Those defeats were against quality opposition, Foster losing points verdicts to Derry Matthews and Alex Arthur - both in bouts with world title labels.

The popular Salford fighter earlier held the WBU and British featherweight title belts.

Mitchell looks forward to appearing on the Sports Network promotion and admits that he is keen to return to the ring after almost 10 months out of the spotlight.

With his usual confidence, the undefeated Mitchell looks forward to the year's campaign: "I think 2009 will be a big year for me with at least one world title fight," he predicted.

First he knows he must turn back Foster's challenge on promoter Frank Warren's first big London show of the year.