World Boxing News 2010-2013

Australia’s warrior and former 2 Time World Lightweight champion Michael “The Great” Katsidis (28-6 with 23KO’s) will be headlining a great boxing card at The Melbourne Pavilion on February 21st live on Fox Sports. His opponent is tough Weng Haya (16-5) from the Philippines. Haya is best known for dropping WBO Featherweight champion Orlando Salido twice in their 2011 fight before being stopped himself in the 8th round. Haya has a similar style to Katsidis and is sure to provide a stiff test.   Katsidis will have new trainer Johnny Lewis in his corner and the two have already clicked very well. “Johnny knows the fight game inside out” said Katsidis “and we are working really well as a team”. “He is ultra professional and knows how to properly prepare a fighter”.  “Haya is tough but we will be ready”. Plenty of one liners and tags are afforded boxers but when talking about Katsidis, Lewis genuinely rates his charge. “Michael has settled well and trains hard” said Lewis. “T...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Great’ focusing on world title challenge Michael Katsidis is gearing up for another assault on the lightweight division as previously revealed on WBN and hopes that a couple of victories in his native Australia will lead him into another world title bid in 2013. The 32 year-old two-time interim world champion recently returned home to from an unsuccessful move to America and is hoping to fight before the end of the year, before stepping up his ambitions next year. “Now that I am back in Australia with a trusted team I am feeling reinvigorated and ready to go. I've got the hunger back and want to take on the world's best lightweights and get that third world title,” Katsidis told World Boxing News. “With some wins under my belt I would love a lightweight rematch with one of my old foes (Ricky Burns, Graham Earl and Juan Manuel Marquez), which is bound to be an epic Fight of the Year. “I would like to fight again in 2012 and I...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Great’ aiming for another world title Exciting fighter Michael Katsidis has a renewed focus after deciding to head back to the lightweight division after a brief hit and miss move up to light-welterweight. The 32 year-old from Toowoomba, who was linked to a clash at 147lbs against Ricky Hatton lately, is concentrating on competing in his most successful division to date - 135lbs, but won’t rule out a fight with the ‘Hitman’ in years to come. “With my exciting style and never say die attitude a fight with Hatton is one the fans want to see as our styles match up really well and we both know the other is very dangerous,” Katsidis told World Boxing News. “My team know that I would love to fight in England again against the world’s best, however things never really progressed beyond initial talks because my team and I also agree that lightweight is my division. “I am only 32 years old and was having trouble gaining the bulk required...

Michael “The Great” Katsidis is back in Australia with a new team, a new trainer and in full training to take on the world’s elite lightweight fighters. He wants a 3 rd World Title after previously winning 2 WBO Interim World Lightweight titles. Michael has commenced training at KO Boxing Gym at Miami on the Gold Coast under the tutelage of former Australian Lightweight champion Danny McGrail. Katsidis is blessed with natural power and killer instinct that makes for epic fights, however on occasion it’s also meant he has stood with opponents and engaged in slug fests. McGrail has no intention of altering Katsidis natural approach however he understands that Katsidis must mix this up with increased head and feet movement when he tackles the World’s elite Lightweights. Having travelled the world and living in the USA for most of his career, Katsidis is taking a fresh approach by using a stable Australian base and a trusted team to launch an assault on a 3rd World Tit...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘The Great’ open to contest, but states no contact Contrary to some belief, former interim WBO lightweight champion Michael Katsidis is not yet considering move up to 147lbs to face Ricky Hatton on November 24 in Manchester. A report in a national UK newspaper last week had suggested that the Aussie was almost a done deal to oppose Hatton on his comeback, which is not the case - although Katsidis’ team have come out today to reveal that they would be interest in opening negotiations with Hatton’s representatives. "At this stage there have been no discussions,” Michael Tripp, Katsidis’ advisor told BBC Sport . "But it is something we would consider depending on the purse and depending on the weight. "It wouldn't be a problem to fight in Manchester. Michael has been over to Britain and he's won two world titles over there. "We have had nothing from their camp at the moment. But 24 November would give us enou...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor (Picture by Chris Cozzone) Aussie suffers fourth defeat in five bouts Former two-time interim world lightweight champion Michael Katsidis is facing a tough decision following a majority decision defeat to Ghanaian Albert Mensah at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. The 31 year-old, who was fighting out of his US-base for the first time, was out-worked and out-thought by the younger Mensah as he dropped his sixth career loss in his 34 th professional contest. Mensah, 29, was seen as a stepping stone to another world title opportunity by many, although a loss was unthinkable to Katsidis, who was contemplating retirement on the back of his loss to Scotland’s Ricky Burns last time out. After ten bruising rounds of Katsidis fighting the only way he knows, Mensah built up a healthy lead on my card with his ability to adjust and change tactics, whilst the one-dimensional Australian became more desperate as the rounds went by. The judges c...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor US fans take to Aussie Warrior's spirit By February 2007, Michael Katisidis had travelled to the UK and taken apart Britain’s best lightweight at the time, Graham Earl to pick up the interim WBO lightweight title and launch himself on the world stage. Brendon Smith, by now his trainer and mentor for five years and friend for fifteen, had overseen his rise to a formidable 22-0 record and top five rankings with all four organisations. Both fighter and trainer took the opportunity to travel to America, the fight capital of the world and face dangerous Filipino Czar Amonsot on the undercard of Bernard Hopkins v ‘Winky’ Wright in July. Smith recalls the fight with fond memories and rates the fight as Katsidis’ greatest showing of guts to date as he fought through adversity to overcome the dogged challenger in his first defence of his belt. “I personally believe this was his best performance as he had never had a cut before and he suffered fo...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor (Picture courtesy of Brendon Smith) After a an initial ten-year friendship that blossomed into an eventual training and management partnership spanning another ten years, Brendon Smith parted company with two-time interim WBO lightweight champion Michael Katsidis last week. WBN has spoken to Smith about his time with the rugged Aussie and will exclusively air his view on the relationship in a three-part series starting here. In this installment, Smith remember's the earlier part of Katsidis's career from seeing the first spark of world championship class in the gym, to his maiden interim world title in 2007. Katsidis 'The Great' had turned professional in 2002, aged 22 with a third round knockout win over Danny Wilson and in only his second fight, became Australian lightweight champion. He added the 140lb version seven fights later and Smith recalls watching the young talent blossom and pointed out the moment knew he had a top fight...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Scot becomes interim lightweight champion Coatbridge fighter Ricky Burns is the new interim WBO lightweight champion of the world after a textbook defensive performance over former two-time belt holder Michael Katsidis at Wembley Arena. The 28 year-old started well, keeping the Australian at bay with his jab and continued in the same manor in a disciplined display and caught the judges eye with the cleaner punches on the night. Katsidis, 31, looked easy to hit at times and although he worked for every minute of every round, was denied the decision 117-112 and 117-111 (twice) on the judges’ scorecards to hand Burns the belt. A couple of the rounds I handed to Katsidis on work rate alone meaning my card scored it a draw and on reflection, I was maybe a little too keen to give the hardworking ‘Warrior’ the benefit of doubt despite Burns catching him with the better shots. The Scots' victory could see him defend the belt against stablem...

Ricky Burns v Michael Katsidis (Interim WBO lightweight title ) Wembley Arena, London, UK 12x3                                                                                            Burns                           Katsidis                                -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                   Round 1                       10                               ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor (Smith (left) with Katsidis, pic by Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun) Manager says ‘The Great’ will fight anytime, anywhere Brendon Smith, the trainer and manager of top-ranked light-welterweight contender Michael Katsidis (28-4, 23 KO’s) has hit back at claims by Frank Warren linking his fighter Kevin Mitchell (32-1, 24 KO’s) with a rematch against his man in the near future. Mitchell, 26, who lost in three rounds to Katsidis in May 2010 at his beloved Upton Park, has constantly been touted for a return bout with the Toowoomba fighter and even more so since he got back to winning ways against John Murray last month, who himself has also been linked with Katsidis in the past. The Ring Star Promotions chief believes that English fighters are constantly linking themselves with fights against Katsidis to enhance their reputations on the world stage and help move them on their way to getting a shot at the world title. “I can say as Michael's mana...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Tough Aussie fighter aims to come back with a win Although he ultimately faced another disappointment in the United States last Saturday, Michael Katsidis’ trainer Brendon Smith praised his fighter, before revealing that his charge will have some time away from the sport, before hopefully returning victorious. The 30 year-old lost for the second time in a row in Las Vegas in another "Fight of the year" contender against Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero. The Aussie gave everything to the cause for the duration of the fight, which has almost become his trademark of late and is what the American public expects of “The Great”. “It’s still too early to make any decisions,” Smith stated to finda.com.au “The thing is Michael is fighting the best in the division. Guerrero is a two-time world champion and was the number one contender and we fought a future Hall of Fame boxer in Marquez before that. “I think it’s important his next fight is a win, but we’l...

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 t...

Michael Katsidis v Robert Guerrero (Interim WBA and WBO lightweight titles ) MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA                               Katsidis                         Guerrero           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------            Round 1                                        9                                    10           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Former World title challenger aiming to help his homeland Australian warrior Michael Katsidis has announced his intention to try and bring a big fight down under and donate the proceeds to all the victims of the terrible flooding that has swamped his home country in recent days. Katsidis, 30, is a big draw around the world after his gutsy battle with Juan Manuel Marquez in November, which many believe was last years fight of the year and although he lost, has made his name in the American boxing market. It is now possible that “The Great” could put off a coup and bring a big fight to the Australian people, in order to help the operations in his home country as the rescue and restoration process begins in light of the devastation, which has directly affected Katsidis' hometown on Toowoomba. “I’m thinking about bringing the big fights to Australia,” he announced on Facebook. “What a great thing it would be to the contribute profits to the flood app...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Mexican eyes third encounter with Pacquiao Juan Manuel Marquez picked himself off the canvas to stop brave Australian challenger Michael Katsidis and successfully defend his WBO and WBA lightweight titles at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Marquez, 37, laid siege to “The Great” in the ninth round, raining down unanswered blows until referee Kenny Bayless had no other option but to call a halt to proceedings and save Katsidis from further punishment. Katsidis had started well in the opening rounds and caught the unified champion with a sweet left hand to put him on the floor in the third round, but Marquez showed all his class and experience to get up and finish the round the stronger of the two. “Dinamita” recorded his 52nd victory in his 58th outing (38th KO) and now hopes to lure Filipino legend Manny Pacquaio into the ring for what would be their third fight after a draw in 2004 and a close split decision win for Pacquiao four years later. W...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Brave Aussie turns down Marquez offer to postpone bout Michael Katsidis’ challenge for the WBO and WBA Lightweight Titles against Juan Manuel Marquez will still go ahead despite the death of the challenger’s brother. The pair are due to meet on November 27th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and it has now been confirmed by the Australian that the bout will not be postponed. "The fight will go on," Katsidis said in a statement. "I will do this for Stathi, my family and myself. Stathi 31, who was a Queensland Champion Jockey in his native country, was found dead on Tuesday and police has confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. Michael Katsidis went on to say, "He (Stathi) is with me and will be all the way, I'm happy about this. I have never experienced anything like I felt that day, Stathi is inside me.” "We will fight this fight together, I know this is what he wants." Golden ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Aussie Lightweight takes on Mexican legend Interim WBO Lightweight Champion Michael Katsidis will get his shot at Juan Manuel Marquez after all as the Mexican WBA and WBO Champ decided against moving up to light-welterweight to challenge Amir Khan. Marquez 37, had been hoping to take on Britain’s WBA Light-Welterweight Champion Khan sometime in December as he planned his way to a fourth world title at a fourth different weight, but has now announced he will stay at lightweight till at least 2011. Khan 23, is now due to take on Marcos Maidana on Decmeber 11th after the Argentinian outclassed DeMarcus Corley last Saturday night to win the Interim version of the WBA Light-Welterweight Champion’s belt. It’s a welcome announcement for Katsidis 30, who had been hoping to win the WBO Title rather than be handed the belt if Marquez moved up and after his three round demolition of Kevin Mitchell in May, the Aussie will be in confident mood....

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Interim Champ want’s Mexican Legend or his belt WBO Interim Lightweight Champion Michael Katsidis is hoping to land the fight of his dreams later in the year - a WBO Title shot against current champion Juan Manuel Marquez. Katsidis recently became the interim champion to the title when he stopped Britain’s Kevin Mitchell in three brutal rounds at Upton Park Stadium in London last May. Marquez defended his belt successfully against Juan Diaz, although the Mexican is looking at fighting Manny Pacquiao next and may have to fight Katsidis or give up his belt. Another spanner in the works could be Amir Khan who has a date already pencilled in for December 11th an is hoping to entice Marquez to move up a division for a world title showdown. Exactly where that leaves Katsidis is anyone’s guess but it does look likely that Marquez will be forced to give up the title as he looks for the fight with Pacquiao. As for Khan, it could be a un...