Connor ‘The Hammer’ Mitchell wants to make his own name in the sport and surpass the fabled accomplishments of his famous father, Kevin Mitchell, as he looks ahead to his eagerly awaited professional debut on Wednesday night in London – live worldwide on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN. A decorated amateur standout, Mitchell prepares to introduce himself on the big stage at the Indigo at The O2 on the undercard of Giorgio Visioli vs Joe Howarth. The Super Bantamweight, 20, is managed by British boxing superstar Conor Benn and takes on experienced Spaniard Francisco Rodriguez as he opens up the main card on DAZN from 7pm (UK time). And the former ABA champion wants to step out of the shadows of cult hero dad, Kevin, and lay the foundations for his own exciting future in the sport – with his heart set on one day becoming a World Champion. “I’d love to say, ‘look Dad, I’ve gone one better than you and I’m a World Champion’,” said Essex boy Mitchell. “My Dad had a fantastic career. I probably didn’t realise the level my Dad was at and how good he really was until I was around 14-years-old and mixing it at a top level as an amateur. “I didn’t even like Boxing to begin with. I felt I was robbed in one of my early amateur fights and I wanted to give up, and go back to football. I found it hard at first to deal with the pressure whenever I walked into a gym and people would say, ‘oh look, it’s Kevin Mitchell’s son’. “I had a trial at Chelsea and was told I needed to be more physical. So I went back to a Boxing gym – I never went back to football. My dad to me to West Ham Boxing Club and I fell in love with the sport all over again. “It’s great to turn over to pro and have Conor Benn on my side. He’s been there and done, plus he knows what it is like having a famous dad in the sport too. He’s helped me with so much already and is a protector for me. His whole team are helping me and my Dad is really happy with that. “Not many people have done what I have done and been an ABA champion. I had a great amateur career. But I’m excited about the future ahead as a pro. I know I’ve got what it takes to reach that top level. I’ve always wanted to be a professional boxer. “People always ask me what my dream is and it’s to be able to sit at the table with my old man wearing a world title belt so I can joke with him that I’ve won one and he didn’t! He’d laugh and I know he would absolutely love it if I did ever win it. So, of course, I want to win the world title – especially the green and gold of the WBC. That’s the dream.” Indeed, the dream begins on Wednesday night for the youngster, who successfully weighed-in this morning – you can see the full results and running order for tomorrow’s show below.   For all the latest news and updates, follow @matchroomboxing on social media.

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INDIGO WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER Prelims – live on DAZN from 5pm (UK time) Alexey Shendrik (148.3lbs) vs Christophe Mbori (147.9lbs) 6 x 3-minute rounds Super Lightweight Contest Maisey-Rose Courtney (113.4lbs) vs Sara Orszagi (113lbs) 6 x 2-minute rounds Flyweight Contest William Crolla (156.9lbs) vs Harley Hodgetts (155.8lbs) 6 x 3-minute rounds Super Welterweight Contest Adam Maca (127.6lbs) vs Brandon Gallardo Vargas (126.7lbs) 4 x 3-minute rounds Super Bantamweight Contest Tiah-Mai Ayton (120.4lbs) vs Ana Karla Vaz De Moraes (118.4lbs) 8 x 3-minute rounds Bantamweight Contest Main card – live on DAZN from 7pm (UK time) Connor Mitchell (125.5lbs) vs Francisco Rodriguez (126.2lbs) 4 x 3-minute rounds Super Bantamweight Contest Taylor Bevan (170.3lbs) vs Mickey Ellison (170.5lbs) 8 x 3-minute rounds Super Middleweight Contest Leli Buttigieg (164.4lbs) vs Victor Ionascu (164lbs) 8 x 3-minute rounds Middleweight Contest John Hedges (199lbs) vs Ellis Zorro (198lbs) 10 x 3-minute rounds English Cruiserweight Championship Giorgio Visioli (135lbs) vs Joe Howarth (134.7lbs) 10 x 3-minute rounds English Lightweight Championship

A Christmas cracker is coming to London as one of the UK’s hottest prospects Giorgio Visoli headlines a card stacked with the next generation of British boxing superstars on Wednesday, December 17, at Indigo, at The O2 – live worldwide on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN.

The festive Fight Night sees the unbeaten 9-0 (6 KOs) Lightweight return to the UK, fresh from his impressive US debut in Philadelphia earlier this month when he defeated James Wilkins.

Now he faces a tough test in an eliminator for the English title against the 14-1 (4 KOs) ‘Wigan Warrior’ Joe Howarth – managed by popular Heavyweight star, Dave Allen.

Visioli said:“I want to say a massive thanks to Eddie Hearn and Frank Smith at Matchroom Boxing for giving me the opportunity to headline at such a young age — it shows the belief they have in me. I’m buzzing to be doing it so close to home and I can’t wait to put on a show.

“Respect to Joe Howarth for taking the fight, but he’s just a man in my way. I’m going to beat him, look good doing it, and then move on to winning titles. I don’t believe Joe is on my level — and on fight night, the levels will be shown. He’s a good fighter, but he’s not ready for someone like me.

“I can’t wait to keep showing my class to the boxing world and make my mark on the 135-pound division.”

Howarth is confident he can upset Visioli and underline why he is a top prospect to watch in 2026.

“Finally, this is my chance to show how good I am,”said Howarth. 

“It’s good for me to box someone as talented as Visioli. In everyone’s eyes he’s a future World Champion, but I believe I’m every bit as good as him. I want to prove I’m a world class prospect.”

In the co-main event, the English Cruiserweight Title is on the line as ’The Gentleman’ John Hedges collides with Ellis Zorro.

Zorro, a former WBO European and British title challenger, stepped up to face the ‘King of the Cruiserweights’, Jai Opetaia, in December 2023 and was spectacularly stopped in the first round.

The Bromley fighter fell to Chev Clarke a year ago in Leeds too and will be looking to bounce back to winning ways after falling on points to Aloys Junior in Bournemouth back in July.

Former Southern Area holder Hedges is determined to add the huge domestic scalp of Zorro to his CV, and notably stage a winning performance in honour of his late trainer, Ricky Hatton.

Hedges said:“Winning the English Title puts my name in with the best. Zorro has been in with some top contenders and beating him style puts eyes on me. This one is for Ricky!”

Zorro believes he has a chance to restart his career and has vowed he will not let this opportunity pass by.

He sad:“This is the part two of my career, a chance to win the English title, resurrect myself and move forward to where I feel I belong”.

Promising Super Bantamweight sensation Conor Mitchell – the son of cult British boxing favourite, Kevin Mitchell – makes his professional debut for Matchroom Boxing in his home city of London, with a bumper crowd expected to cheer on the two-time amateur National Champion.

Mitchell said:“I’m buzzing to be making my Matchroom debut. It’s a massive platform and the perfect stage to show everyone what I’m about. I’ve been working hard in the gym and I’m ready to put on a statement performance for the fans.”

Tiah-Mai Ayton – the teenage wonderkid dubbed by the legendary Katie Taylor as the future greatest of all time – returns to action in what is the Bristol fighter’s fourth professional contest of the year. 

And after a successive first outing to the capital earlier this month, Ayton is ready to light up The Indigo at The O2 and kickstart her push to claim championships next year.

Ayton said:“I had a week off last week but now it’s straight back in the gym again for December 17th. I can’t wait to get back to London again and make it 4 and 0 as a pro and then in 2026 I want to start chasing titles.”

Fellow exciting prospects Leli Buttigieg, Taylor Bevan and Adam Maca are also on the exciting card – with the trio plotting to make respective statements to close out the year.

Buttigieg said: “I can’t wait to be back out again just before Christmas, ready to finish the year in style. Expect a big turn out and win from myself.”

Bevan added:“I’m very grateful to Matchroom for keeping me so busy since turning professional. This will be my 7th fight in just over a year so it’s been very busy but I’ve loved every minute of it so far. It’s great to be back out so soon again and I’m looking forward to another great night on December 17 and ending the year with another good win.”

And Maca said: “Having back to back fights in London is really exciting. I’m grateful to Matchroom for keeping me active, I think that is key. I’m looking forward to once again showcasing my skills and continuing to bring everyone watching along on my journey.”

Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn says British fight fans are in for a real treat before Christmas with a glimpse into the future of the sport.

Hearn said: “If you want to see some of the future stars of British Boxing, then look no further. This festive fight night has got it all. It’s a great test for Giorgio Visioli in London, in what I am sure will be the first of many events in which he headlines. This is a Christmas cracker!”

Tickets – priced at £40, £60, and £120 – go on general sale next Tuesday. For more information visit: matchroomboxing.com

Matchroom Boxing is delighted to announce the latest, exciting addition to its elite global stable of fighters as Connor Mitchell – son of British boxing cult hero, Kevin Mitchell – signs with promoter Eddie Hearn on a long-term deal.

The two-time amateur National Champion, 20, enters the professional ranks with his debut – live on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN – set to be announced in due course.

Managed by Conor Benn, advised by Lee Emptage, and trained by Lewis Passfield, the livewire Super Bantamweight is already dreaming of surpassing his father’s fabled feats in the sport with his heart and head firmly set on one day winning a World Title.

“I’m buzzing,”said Mitchell, who like his legendary Dad, Kevin, is East End born and bread and a huge supporter of West Ham United Football Club.

“I’ve wanted to do this since I was a kid and sign with Matchroom Boxing so I’m excited to start things off.

“I started boxing when I was 10 years old for about a year but I couldn’t deal with the pressure of being known as Kevin Mitchell’s son. At that age it was a lot so I went back to playing football at a high level but I hated losing, which in a team game is not all down to you. Then I went back to the gym a few years later without telling my Dad and started training for a couple of weeks but he eventually found out and I’ve been working ever since.

“I had 46 fights and lost 5, two time National Champion and won the Senior Elite ABA’s this year alongside the Haringey Box Cup. I did go for a GB assessment but they took my weight class out of the Olympics so I thought there’s no real point in me staying around so I turned over.”

Fewer understand the ‘Father and Son’ parallels better than Benn – who on November 15 faces Chris Eubank Jr in a highly anticipated rematch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

And Mitchell believes Benn’s support and expertise will put him on the path to superstardom. 

“Conor Benn is advising me with things. He’s helping me with stuff behind the scenes, even seeing him at the recent press conference and seeing how it works up close,” said Mitchell, speaking to Matchroom Boxing’s Flash Knockdown Podcast.

“I’m going to be making Super Bantamweight and will be looking to make my debut in December. I’m a right handed southpaw who can punch. I’m going to be trained by amateur coach Lewis Passfield, he’s a great coach.”

The hard work begins now with Mitchell determined to go one step further than his father Kevin and one day realise his dream of ruling the world.

“My Dad should’ve been a World Champion, he got so close but I want to show him I can go better and lift the World Title,” he said. 

“We’re very alike as people but we decided to have a Father and Son relationship rather than a coach and fighter. I’ve trained with him since I was 14 but he’s happy for me and will be behind me the whole way.”

Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn is hugely excited about Mitchell’s future ahead – insisting he has the potential to become a household name in the sport.

“He’s from good stock and he’s in great hands,”said Hearn. 

“We truly are thrilled to be working with Connor and his team. The plan is to get him out for his debut before the end of the year, then keep him active and learning throughout 2026. I’ve got no doubt he’ll be a massive ticket seller like his Dad – and he has bundles of ability to entertain fans up and down the country. The road to becoming a World Champion starts now.”