By Rick Reeno
BoxingScene.com was advised that WBO interim-lightweight champion Michael Katsidis, and his team, will push the WBO to strip the winner of the Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz rematch on July 31 - if the winner moves forward with a possible December 11 bout against WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan.
The Marquez-Diaz winner is the most likely option [especially if the winner is Marquez] to face Khan on the tentative December date. The WBO ordered the Marquez-Diaz winner to fight Katsidis or face the possibility of being stripped. Marquez is the full WBO champion at lightweight.
I've heard Katsidis had recently asked the WBO for permission to take a fight on July 31 in Australia. The request was denied because Katsidis is the mandatory to Marquez, and WBO president Paco Valcarcel expects him to fight the Marquez-Diaz winner before the end of the year.
