Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
“The Ghost” claims landslide points victory over tough Aussie
Former IBF 126 and 130lb champion Robert Guerrero (29-1-1, 18 KO’s ) took a huge step into the upper echelons of the lightweight and world pound for pound rankings with a dominant display over twelve rounds against a never-say-die Michael Katsidis (27-4, 22 KO’s) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The 28 year-old kept the rugged Australian at bay with a strong southpaw jab and powerful combinations, frustrating “The Great” right till the end to claim wide points win. The Californian started the better and got straight into his rhythm until midway through the second round, “The Ghost” was then put down by a huge shot by Kastidis, which referee Russell Mora did not see.
Guerrero recovered well from what would be Katsidis best moment in the fight and got straight back to dominating Katsidis behind the jab until the eighth round, when the Aussie changed tactics and launched a body assault, only to be deducted two points for low blows by referee Mora, even though only one shot strayed below the belt.
Mora may have been a little embarrassed by the fact he got the eighth round wrong and then deducted a point from Guerrero for a non-existent low blow in the ninth round, handing Katsidis only his second winning round on the fight on WBN’s live scorecard.
Guerrero then took a breather in the tenth, but came on strong in eleven and twelve to sew up the dominating win against a true ring warrior, who was too brave at times, taking the fight 118-106, 118-107 and 117-108 to raise his stock in the fight game considerably. WBN scored the bout 117-109 to Guerrero, who picks up the interim WBA and WBO lightweight titles and moves a step closer to becoming a three-weight world champion.
WBN Scorecard: http://www.worldboxingnews.net/2011/04/live-wbn-scorecard-michael-katsidis-v.html?utm_source=BP_recent
WBN Editor
Former IBF 126 and 130lb champion Robert Guerrero (29-1-1, 18 KO’s ) took a huge step into the upper echelons of the lightweight and world pound for pound rankings with a dominant display over twelve rounds against a never-say-die Michael Katsidis (27-4, 22 KO’s) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The 28 year-old kept the rugged Australian at bay with a strong southpaw jab and powerful combinations, frustrating “The Great” right till the end to claim wide points win. The Californian started the better and got straight into his rhythm until midway through the second round, “The Ghost” was then put down by a huge shot by Kastidis, which referee Russell Mora did not see.
Guerrero recovered well from what would be Katsidis best moment in the fight and got straight back to dominating Katsidis behind the jab until the eighth round, when the Aussie changed tactics and launched a body assault, only to be deducted two points for low blows by referee Mora, even though only one shot strayed below the belt.
Mora may have been a little embarrassed by the fact he got the eighth round wrong and then deducted a point from Guerrero for a non-existent low blow in the ninth round, handing Katsidis only his second winning round on the fight on WBN’s live scorecard.
Guerrero then took a breather in the tenth, but came on strong in eleven and twelve to sew up the dominating win against a true ring warrior, who was too brave at times, taking the fight 118-106, 118-107 and 117-108 to raise his stock in the fight game considerably. WBN scored the bout 117-109 to Guerrero, who picks up the interim WBA and WBO lightweight titles and moves a step closer to becoming a three-weight world champion.
WBN Scorecard: http://www.worldboxingnews.net/2011/04/live-wbn-scorecard-michael-katsidis-v.html?utm_source=BP_recent