by James Slater – On last night’s “Lightweight Lightning” card in Austin, Texas, Australia’s thrilling crowd-pleaser and former WBO interim 135-pound champ Michael Katsidis was in action. Winning yet another exciting fight, in forcing 36-year-old former two-time world champion Jesus Chavez to remain on his stool after the 7th round of an eventful bout, the 28-year-old from Queensland won his second fight since losing two in a row – being stopped in the 10th round by Cuban Joel Casamayor and then being out-pointed by Texan Juan Diaz, both last year.
Fresh off his TKO win over Mexico’s Chavez, “The Great” spoke to The Sydney Morning Herald about who he wants to fight next. Mentioning two opponents, Katsidis can’t wait to get back in the ring again.
Katsidis said he would love to get it on with 37-year-old Casamayor in an attempt to avenge his loss, and he also said a fight with Britain’s Amir Khan would suit him.
“I think Australia would love to get one up against England with that Amir Khan fight, but time is of the essence and Casamayor is not getting any younger,” Katsidis said. “I want him before he retires, to make the wrongs right.”
Of course, Casamayor was originally due to fight on last night’s card – against Julio Diaz (being replaced, due to injury, by Rolondo Reyes). Now having been out of action since his September 2008 stoppage loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, the Cuban southpaw doesn’t figure to have too long left in his career. Still, he beat Katsidis once and we would be foolish to doubt him in a second meeting. A Katsidis-Khan fight, though, would be very risky for the 22-year-old former Olympian.
Katsidis, who improved to 25-2(21) with last night’s win, injured his right hand in the battle.
He also spoke about this post-fight.
“It’s [my right hand] the size of a bloody football, it’s the same injury that happened in the fight with Juan Diaz,” Katsidis said. “I was warming into it as we went along [last night] and for my next fight I will be a lot quicker.”
Assuming his hand causes him no serious problems, the Australian thrill-a-minute warrior will probably be back in action by late summer. While his landing a fight with Khan would shock me (and many other people too, probably), a Katsidis-Casamayor II should have a good chance of coming off. Either way, and whoever he faces in his next outing, it’s safe to say Katsidis will once again give the fans more than their money’s worth.
One of the best value fighters out there today, it is always a joy to watch “The Great” go into battle!