By Phil D. Jay
Two-time interim lightweight champion Michael Katsidis has spoken exclusively to World Boxing News after a Twitter exchange broke out with world title holder Adrien Broner in the past few hours.
Katsidis, 31, is dropping back down to lightweight following an unsuccessful spell at 140lbs and has set his sights on the number one fighter at super-featherweight, who is expected to move up to 135lbs in the future.
Broner, 22, responded to the Australian’s talk with distain and tweeted that if the pair met in the ring, then Katsidis could end up badly hurt or even killed - in a heated back and forth rant between the two fighters.
“Let's see how Broner goes against Vincente,” Katsidis told World Boxing News.
“I have been places he hasn't and he can talk all the trash he likes. He isn't going to kill me.
“He said he’d send me to [hell]? News for him - I've been there almost every fight. I've only lost in world title fights and one title fight which I gave away too much weight.
“This fight would be a perfect example of a man putting a kid into a real fight. I can take his shots. I have something to prove and I don't need the money.
“I’ve had enough HBO championship fights (to back it up) and I still know have more to bring to the sport. The sport needs warriors. I'm not shot and people are going off recent form.
“He's been going well and I have had weight issues, deaths in the family and then put into fights I gave away too much weight. None-the-less I do this because I love it and I love to fight.”
He then added: “I can still beat the best. I'm a puncher and I have the experience that Broner doesn't. If you have ever seen the fear of life on a fighter, it is most common in a young fighter that has it all.
“When I hit, I will hit hard. His punches won't faze me. Talk is talk, but I think it's necessary to lay my case.
"Take it or leave it but a lot of fans like the fight and have me to win against the naturally lighter opponent, but time will tell?
“Trash talk is not my game. Now I will wait. No disrespect intended, I just want to fight the best,” said Katsidis.
American Broner is pencilled in to fight Escobedo on July 21st, whilst Katsidis has offered to step in to fill the corner opposite to old foe Kevin Mitchell on July 14th at Upton Park. Whether that fight happens seems to lay in the hands of Frank Warren at this point after Marco Antonio Barrera talk disintegrated as fast as it appeared.
A fight with Broner could be a realistic proposition if Katsidis can get back to winning ways this summer as ‘The Problem’ could be ready to vacate his super-featherweight belt and move up to 135lbs later in 2012.
Phil D. Jay covers boxing for worldboxingnews.net
