Kevin Mitchell face: London boxer puts on smile day after bruising fight at the O2

Mitchell lost his WBC lightweight fight to Jorge Linares

Kevin Mitchell takes a punch to the head (GETTY IMAGES)

Kevin Mitchell has been pictured with a smile on his face the day after his bloody WBC lightweight defeat at the O2 arena.

The Londoner put up an incredibly game performance and floored champion Jorge Linares in the fifth round.

But by the 10th Mitchell could hardly see out of his left eye and after he was battered to the canvas, the referee called the fight off.

Mitchell drew widespread praise for his display on the undercard of Kell Brook's dismantling of Frankie Gavin for the IBF title. But his battered face also drew much concern.

Kevin Mitchell at the O2 (GETTY IMAGES)

However Mitchell was pictured today with a smile on his face as he recovers from his injuries.

After last night's event at the O2, promoter Eddie Hearn turned his attention to Amir Khan, suggesting the Olympic silver medallist was too scared to fight Brook.

"Khan is a brilliant fighter. You can't knock him. But you get to this stage and you think 'you're just too scared to fight Kell Brook'.

"I'm sorry, but it's the truth. I don't mean physically scared, I mean scared of losing."