Katsidis Training For Escobedo Even on His Birthday
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Michael Katsidis trained even on his birthday showing how seriously he is taking his bid to regain the WBO lightweight interim title when he takes on former Olympian Vicente Escobedo on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather Jr – Juan Manuel Marquez super fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on September 19.
The Australian newspaper Toowoomba Chronicle reported that Katsidis who is from Toowoomba celebrated his 29th birthday slugged it out in the gym by sparring twelve rounds against two separate opponents.
Katsidis told The Chronicle “to c elebrate a birthday and actually enjoy training through it is a pretty good thing.”
Katsidis who won the interim title in a bloody and bruising brawl against Filipino southpaw Czar Amonsot in one of the best fights in 2007 pointed out that “Marquez has the WBO world title so if I win the interim belt be has to fight me or I become the full world champion.”
The hard-hitting Aussie said “I’d b e just so happy to fight him but either way, we’re on the verge of something really big.”
While talking about the future Katsidis made it clear “I haven’t been focused on anything other than this fight” even as he indicated it was “good to be in a nice area on the outskirts of Vegas and to have no one around to disturb us.”
Katsidis who has a record of 25-2 with 21 knockouts has fought some of the best in his career including Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz to whom he lost a split decision on September 6, 2008 and Joel Casamayor who he dropped in round six and was deducted a point for a low blow in round nine but came back to win by a 10th round TKO when Katsidis got careless. Katsidis will enter the ring against Escobedo following back-to-back wins including an 8th round TKO over former world champion Jesus Chavez on April 4 this year.
The 27 year old Escobedo who represented the US in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games has a record of 21-1 with 13 knockouts and is coming off three successive and impressive wins. Escobedo scored a 6th round TKO over previously unbeaten Dominic Salcido and then blasted former world champions Carlos “Famoso” Hernandez on April 4 this year before stopping the ageing Kevin Kelley in a 2nd round TKO last May 21.
Escobedo said “I am really looking forward to fight on this card as it falls on Mexican Independence Day and I will be fighting for all of the Mexican people out there. It is for my first world title and I’m training extremely hard because I know this is a great opportunity and my dream coming true. I can’t wait for the fight and I’m ready to win.”
The blockbuster Golden Boy Promotions fight card titled “Number One/Numero Uno” will be telecast by the giant Philippine broadcast network ABS-CBN on its pre-eminent Channel 2.
