By Terence Dooley

Sky Sports and The Daily Mail have reported that Dagenham's Kevin Mitchell failed the IBF's second day weigh-in this morning, so he could miss out on a world title challenge against Miguel Vasquez even if he beats Canada-based Congolian Ghislain Maduma in their world title eliminator at London's Wembley Arena live on Sky Sports PPV later tonight.

Mitchell, 37-2 (27), weighed 10st 6lb 110z earlier today, 2lbs over the 10lbs that the IBF allows for overnight pre-fight weight gain.  Maduma, 16-0 (10), will get Vasquez if he beats Mitchell. But, should Mitchell win, the 29-year-old Londoner is at the mercy of the IBF.  IBF championship Rule 1. B. 3 states that you cannot win a vacant title should you fail the second day weigh-in, which presumably means that the organization will take a dim view of Mitchell's miscalculation.

Still, a win for Mitchell would earn him a solid scalp.  Eddie Hearn, his promoter, could lobby for a reprieve, as Mitchell made weight for his previous interim and world title challenges—L TKO 3 and 4 to Michael Katsidis and Ricky Burns for the interim and full WBO lightweight titles respectively—so, apart from today's mishap, he does not have a history of failing to make weight when it really matters.

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