Graham Earl is out, Michael Lozada is in, and Erik Morales is next as Katsidis and his team lock in the Gold Coast Convention Centre as the venue for “the great’s” next fight. Katsidis’s manager/trainer Brendon Smith today revealed that after a breakdown in contract negotiations with Graham Earl, Katsidis will now face 27 yo Mexican Michael Lozada (38 wins, 8 losses,30 wins by way of KO).
“We had a verbal agreement with Earl, which broke down when it came to the contractual agreement, we have now signed Lozada to come to Australia and we are excited to have it at the Gold Coast”. “The Convention Centre is a fantastic venue for a fight like this, and it gives us the opportunity to let all the country fans, and fans from all over Australia spend the weekend on the beautiful Gold Coast”.
Katsidis will move up to Junior Welterweight for this bout and when asked his thoughts on the fight he said “I’m excited about moving up to Jnr Welterweight, and the challenge that comes with moving up a weight division. I want Morales next and that is what we are working toward, but firstly I need to focus on Lozada, he has a strong record with 38 wins and 30 knockouts”
This will be the first fight for Katsidis at 140 pounds (63.5kg) and Smith say’s the step up is in preparation for a potential fight with Mexican superstar and multiple world title winner Erik Morales later in the year, “I have had a few discussions with Oscar De La Hoya and the team at Golden Boy Promotions and there is big interest in a fight between Michael and Erik Morales, that was part of the reason for going with Lozada, we wanted to stick with the Mexican fighting style”.
Katsidis is in familiar territory when it comes to stepping in the ring with Mexican boxers, he won an 8 round TKO victory over former world champion Jesus Chavez in 2009 and, more recently, shared the ring with future hall of famer and three division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez in a fight of the year performance.
Katsidis will meet Lozada on August the 13th at the Gold Coast Convention Centre and ticketing information will be available soon.
WEIGHTS FROM HARTFORD
HARTFORD (June 17, 2011) – The official weigh-in was held today for tomorrow (Saturday) night’s professional boxing show, “The New Generation Boxing Series,” presented by Bulldog Cartel Promotions at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.
MAIN EVENT – 8 ROUNDS – WELTERWEIGHTS
JAVIER FLORES (5-0, 5 KOs), Hartford, CT 146 LBS.
SHAKHA MOORE (11-15-3, 2 KOs), Norwalk, CT 145 ½ LBS.
8 ROUNDS – CRUISERWEIGHTS
JOSHUA HARRIS (7-4-1, 5 KOs), Providence, RI 200 LBS.
HARVEY JOLLY (11-17-1, 6 KOs), Adrian, MI 199 LBS.
6 ROUNDS – JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHTS
LUIS ROSA (6-0, 5 KOs), New Haven, CT 122 LBS.
SHAWN NICHOL (5-4, 5 KOs), Denver, Co 122 LBS.
4 ROUNDS – JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS
CHRISTIAN LAO (2-0, 1 KO), New Haven, CT 144 LBS.
JOSE JAVIER CALDERON (1-0, 1 KO), San Juan, Puerto Rico 144 LBS.
4 ROUNDS – LIGHTWEIGHTS
OSCAR BONILLA (Pro Debut), New Haven, CT 134 LBS.
COREY WHITE (1-1, 1 KO), Cincinnati, OH 133 LBS.
4 ROUNDS – JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHTS
JOSH CRESPO(Pro Debut), New Haven, CT 123 LBS.
FRANKIE GARRIGA(Pro Debut), Bronx, NY 121 LBS.
4 ROUNDS – SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
CHARLES FOSTER(Pro Debut), New Haven, CT 166 LBS.
RALPH JOHNSON(Pro Debut), Worcester, MA 168 LBS.
4 ROUNDS – JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS
CARLOS HERNANDEZ(0-2), New Haven, CT 139 ½ LBS.
BARRINGTON DOUSE (0-1), Springfield, MA 143 LBS.
(ALL FIGHTS AND FIGHTERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
WHAT: “The New Generation Boxing Series”professional show
WHEN: Saturday, June 18, 2011
WHERE: Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford
PROMOTER: Bulldog Cartel Promotions
TICKETS: $80.00 (ringside) and $40.00 (general admission) and available to purchase by going on line to www.WorldClassTickets.com, at the Connecticut Convention Center box office, and calling 860.759.8898 or 203.889.1222
INFORMATION: Doors open at 6:00 PM/ET, first bout at 7:30 PM/ET
St Juste-Zepede & Cote-Navarrete added to Bute vs. Mendy card
Montreal, Friday, June 17th, 2011 – EuroPlus Computers S.R.L., in collaboration with InterBox, have finalized the opponents for World Boxing Organization (WBO) #2 rated Super Middleweight contender Renan St-Juste and fellow Quebecker Pier-Olivier Cote. Both InterBox protégés will lace up the gloves in Bucharest, Romania on the undercard of the July 9th Lucian Bute vs. Jean-Paul Mendy IBF World Super Middleweight title bout.
Cote vs Navarette
Up and coming 140-pound prospect Pier-Olivier « Apou » Côté (16-0-0 11 KO) will be looking to continue his climb up the Division ladder as he prepares to make a name for himself in Romania, 2 short months after impressing promoters and television executives alike at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on the Pacquiao/Mosley undercard. The undefeated Cote will be facing Pedro Navarette (25-11-3, 14 KO), a rugged and durable Mexican boxer who was only KO’d once in his long professional career. Navarette’s last bout was on InterBox’s March 19th Bute vs. Magee Bell Centre card, where Navarette lost a split decision to Romanian undefeated prospect Viorel Simion (13-0-0, 5 KO).
« Navarette is a good test for me at this stage of my career. This will be the third time I fight outside Quebec and I am looking at this as another opportunity to expand my fan base and gather more experience. July 9th will be a Historic day for InterBox and for Lucian, and I am extremely happy to be a part of this Event” states Pier-Olivier Cote.
St-Juste vs Zepeda
WBO #2 Super Middleweight contender Renan St-Juste (22-2-1 15 KO) has been busy helping Lucian prepare for Jean-Paul Mendy, and will also box on the undercard. He will face Jaudiel Zepeda (12-4-1, 9 KO) in a Super-Middleweight bout scheduled for 8-10 rounds. “I am very grateful to not only help the best 168 pounder in the World prepare for his title defense, but also to return to the ring in Lucian’s Country. All I need is a good victory in Romania and I will be well on my way to a significant fight this Fall” states Renan St-Juste.
Simion vs Talape
Undefeated 126-pound Romanian prospect Viorel Simion (13-0-0, 5 KO) will also participate in this history-making boxing Card. Simion will dispute the most significant bout in his young career as he takes on WBC International 126 lb champion and #15 rated Jun Talape (20-7-1, 8 KO) from the Philippines.
Event broadcast
The Bute vs. Mendy bout, together with the undercard fights featuring St-Juste, Cote and Simion, will be broadcast live on PPV (Canal Indigo, Bell TV and Shaw) as of 3 PM on July 9th, as well as throughout the 50 Cage aux Sports Restaurants throughout Quebec.
Join us in Romania for his Historic Event and Weekend!
Lucian Bute fans throughout Quebec who wish to travel to Romania to see the fight live can reserve their package through Laurier Du Vallon Travel Agency (418-653-1882 ou 1 800 640-1882). Packages are available for 5 days including transport, hotel, and boxing gala ticket in Bucharest. A visit to Dracula’s Castle is also offered at extra cost. The rock band Bon Jovi is also scheduled to perform on Sunday.Tickets for Bon Jovi must be purchased by the buyer directly from the venue.
Boxing ticket for Bute vs Mendy are on sale on www.eventim.ro