Kevin Mitchell: I Want Redemption, Give Me Katsidis

I agree. That's why I thought the Katsidis fight was slightly off. I suppose it's churlish to say as Katsidis is a legitimate puncher but I thought Kevin would take more punishment. He's got a decent jaw and enormous self-belief - usually. But I could be putting too much emphasis on that as who knows what getting banjo'd by Michael Katsidis feels like. I also agree with your assessment of Kats but I disagree in the sense that I think he is battle-worn, and susceptible to being hurt now even by Mitchell who has decent power. I think Kevin can frustrate Katsidis and earn enough respect to stop Kats from walking through him and beating him up. Stylistically, I'll always pick Kevin to beat Katsidis until there can be no doubt that I'm wrong. If he whomps Kev again - I'll graciously concede the point. Put Kevin needs to avoid those ropes like you say. my thoughts exactly!

Not wholly. But it shouldn't be taken to mean too much, because it's too small a portion of the fight and Katsidis was clearly feeling Mitchell out for part of those 3 rounds, after which he wasted no time tearing him down. And if Mitchell hangs on those ropes again, for a breather from the constant movement, or because he feels he can hang there in spells, his defence off them will need to be a whole lot less porous and he'll need to keep his eyes open and counter accurately off them. He controlled that fight as comfortably as almost anyone could control Pacquiao after the 2nd. We're talking about a different league of technician, too. And, I mean, it took that guy everything he had to diffuse Katsidis. A lot of people sleep on Mike - with the exception of Diaz (who beat MK by out-pressure boxing him), it's only really guys with elite technical skills or very good skills + significant physical advantages who've beaten him. That's where I don't doubt Kevin, if he comes in correctly prepared and mentally ready. He'll take whatever his body will let him 'til he drops, if that's the way it ends up. I agree. That's why I thought the Katsidis fight was slightly off. I suppose it's churlish to say as Katsidis is a legitimate puncher but I thought Kevin would take more punishment. He's got a decent jaw and enormous self-belief - usually. But I could be putting too much emphasis on that as who knows what getting banjo'd by Michael Katsidis feels like. I also agree with your assessment of Kats but I disagree in the sense that I think he is battle-worn, and susceptible to being hurt now even by Mitchell who has decent power. I think Kevin can frustrate Katsidis and earn enough respect to stop Kats from walking through him and beating him up. Stylistically, I'll always pick Kevin to beat Katsidis until there can be no doubt that I'm wrong. If he whomps Kev again - I'll graciously concede the point. Put Kevin needs to avoid those ropes like you say.

There is no revisionist history being applied to the Katsidis fight. Even when Mitchell was outboxing Katsidis (for spells of, yes, a whopping 2 and a half rounds), he looked painfully vulnerable, like he could be consumed at any moment. Mitchell got demolished. He needs to change things from the first fight and prepare for the war of his life, or Mike will smash him within 5 again. That is not insignificant. He did look vulnerable. But Marquez looked vulnerable after picking himself off the floor 3 times to outbox Pac. I'd question Mitchell's desire to take the punishment as well. And Kats punishes everyone.

Katsidis in his prime? Ofcourse, Kats kills him. But Kats of today is a completely diff guy, like i said above, Brawlers have a very short shelf-life/prime and he is a former shell of himself. He is still world class but now he's beatable. I wouldnt call him a gate keeper just yet but if you want to be top 10-15 you gotta fight Kats. I stand by what I say, Mitchell just doesn't have the physicality to be able to beat Katsidis. He doesn't have the physical strength to hold off a pressure fighter as good as Katsidis and I don't think he hits hard enough to stop Kats. Evetually Kats gets to him. I admit that Katsidis has taken a lot of beatings but that's against world class lightweights. Casamayor, Guererro and Marquez are on a different level to Mitchell and probably Juan Diaz too. I agree with you that Kats is above being called a gatekeep though. He is world class but unlucky to be stuck in a division were there were 2 or 3 possible future halls of famers fighting. Mitchell should have stayed at super featherweight were he was a good size. There were and still are some good fights there for him.

I think Murray was not a bad pressure fighter but a bit overrated .I knew he was good at applying the pressure but not as good as Katsidis .I think the only way Mitchell wins this is to prep for the fight of his life and not get caught on the ropes .He was able to get off them last night but not against Katsidis .I think Katsidis wins the second one late stoppage .