By Michael Doss
According to manager Willie Savannah, the proposed bout between WBO/WBA/IBF lightweight champion Juan Diaz (33-0, 17KOs) and mandatory Michael Katsidis (23-0, 20KOs) is still moving forward on February 9. Savannah contacted BoxingScene.com with the news on Friday.
Sampson Lewkowicz, matchmaker for Golden Boy Promotions and agent to Katsidis, told Dong Secuya of Philboxing, the fight with Diaz was off due to an issue with the fight contract. Two weeks ago at the WBO headquarters in Puerto Rico, Oscar De La Hoya gained the promotional rights to the fight with a winning purse bid of $1.5 million.
Diaz's promoter Don King was overseas and not present for the WBO purse bid. He claims to have a clause in Diaz's contract which prevents him from fighting for another promoter pursuant to a winning purse bid.
"Juan is training and preparing to fight Michael Katsidis on February 9. Anyone who would try to stop a fight of this magnitude, would not be doing so in the interest of the sport," Savannah said.
