By Srithar Visuasam: By Srithar Visuasam: Australian fight fans have a lot to look forward to this month with a number of world title bouts scheduled and some exciting fight cards planned.
Below are some of the major fights set for this month that involve some of the biggest names in boxing down under.
5 November 2011:
Michael Katsidis (28-4, 23 KOs) v Ricky Burns (32-2, 9 KOs)
Vacant WBO ‘Interim’ Lightweight World Title
Wembley Stadium, London, England
Michael Katsidis gets his chance to regain the interim WBO lightweight world title when he visits England to take on Briton Ricky Burns at Wembley Stadium, London.
Katsidis’ has very good memories of England with some of his biggest wins coming from this part of the world which include his first ‘interim’ world title win over Graham Earl in 2007 and his victory over Kevin Mitchell last year.
Katsidis is a bookies favourite in Australia over Burns, the former WBO super featherweight champion, which should be an exciting fight between the two.
11 November 2011:
Austin Trout (23-0, 13 KOs) v Frank Lo Porto (15-4-2, 7 KOs)
WBA Junior Middleweight World Title
El Paso, Texas, USA
Unlikely challenger Frank Lo Porto received some great news last month, when called in as a late replacement to take on unbeaten American Austin Trout for his WBA junior middleweight title on November 11.
Lo Porto, who is currently ranked #14 by the WBA, has had some strong recent form, though not form that would usually receive a shot at a world title. That being said, Lo Porto heads to the States to take on the relatively untested Trout, with the opportunity of causing a major upset and capturing the world title.
Trout is expected to be too slick for the Victorian, however Lo Porto has an relentless approach which will sure test the champion’s resolve and however the fight ends, should be an interesting matchup.
19 November 2011:
Billy Dib (32-1, 19 KOs) v Alberto Servidei (31-0, 7 KOs)
IBF Featherweight World Title
Sydney, Australia
New IBF featherweight champion, Billy Dib, has a major challenge scheduled for his first defense, taking on Alberto Servidei at the Homebush Sports Centre on November 19. Dib captured the vacant title earlier this year in an impressive points decision victory over Jorge Lacierva.
Servidei, unbeaten in 31 bouts, has never fought outside his homeland of Italy and has a small knockout ratio with only 7 knockouts , less than 25% of his victories. A victory for Dib will help cerment himself as on the premier featherweights in the division which will allow him the ability to take part in some big money fights in the 12 months in a talent laden division.
30 November 2011:
Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (45-2-1, 32 KOs) v Danny Green (31-4, 27 KOs)
WBC Cruiserweight World Title
Perth, Australia
A big month of boxing for Australians culminates on November 30 with Danny Green taking on WBC cruiserweight champ Krzysztof Wlodarczyk at the Challenge Stadium, Perth, Australia.
Green suffered a comprehensive defeat at the hands of the Antonio Tarver in July, in which he was stopped for the first time in his professional career, losing via 9th round TKO and in the process losing his IBO title. With no immediate rematch with Tarver eventuating, Green has been fortunate enough to lure the WBC champion down under in his very next fight.
Wlodarcyzk on paper certainly has the better credentials between the two at cruiserweight, with victories over Steve Cunningham and Giacobbe Fragomeni along with being a former IBF cruiserweight champion, illustrating why he is considered one of the best fighters in the division.
The undercard of the November 30 card sees Will Tomlinson (17-0-1, 12 KOs) compete for the IBO super featherweight title and Indonesian superstar and WBA featherweight ‘super’ champion Chris John (45-0-2, 22 KOs) in action.
There are a number of other fights nights held in Australia over the month of November, headlined by Peter Maniatis’ Clash of The Titans card on November 11 and Barry Michael’s on November 18, both in Melbourne with the latter card featuring an IBF middleweight title eliminator between Sam Soliman (39-11, 17 KOs) and Eromesele Albert (24-5-1, 12 KOs).
It is set to be a big month for Aussie boxing and by month’s end a few more world champions may be crowned.