By Mark Vester
Brendon Smith, the manager for WBO interim-lightweight champion Michael Katsidis, says Amir Khan made the safe choice by deciding on a fight with Joel Casamayor for July 31 in England. Katsidis and Casamayor were the two top choices for Khan's next fight. Smith thinks Khan watched a tape of Katsidis' recent TKO win over Kevin Mitchell and it scared them off.
Smith says an offer never came to them from the Khan camp, but they are ready to fight if a reasonable offer is put on the table.
"I am confident in saying Khan's team have viewed the tape of Michael against Kevin Mitchell and a cross would have gone through Michael's name immediately," Smith told BBC Sport. Therefore Joel Casamayor has now become a much safer choice. Michael Katsidis has never pulled out of a fight with Amir Khan... we have never received an offer to fight Amir Khan."
"I did have a discussion with [Golden Boy Promotions CEO] Richard Schaefer, who would love to put this fight on and knows we are available on the proviso that Michael is paid accordingly. Michael says he would love to pull the hat-trick with Amir Khan"
Smith was contacted about a fight with John Murray. After having a quick conversation about the fight, nobody has contacted him since.
"The real truth is, sorry to say it England, two of your greatest fighters have temporarily lost their balls/bottle and unless they find them quickly you won't be seeing Michael Katsidis in the opposite corner any time soon," Smith said.
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