Katsidis to fight for vacant world title
By Adrian Warren
Australian boxer Michael Katsidis has been given an extra incentive going into his September 13 clash with Juan Diaz with the bout now for the vacant IBO lightweight world title.
The clash was originally scheduled for 10 rounds instead of the traditional 12 round championship distance, as it was not for a major title.
However, the IBO have decided the battle between former WBO interim lightweight champion Katsidis and former IBF, WBA and WBO titleholder Diaz should be for their vacant crown.
The Australian's trainer Brendon Smith claimed it was a second pre-fight victory for Katsidis.
He said his charge always wanted a 12-round fight.
Queenslander Katsidis, who has been based in the United States for over a year, had already won a dispute over which type of glove to wear for the contest.
Smith said Katsidis was training well in Los Angeles and was primed for a big performance.
It will be the 2000 Australian Olympian's third straight fight on US cable television network HBO.
Smith suggested it already looked as if it would be a sellout crowd at the venue, which can accommodate around 18,000 fans.
Katsidis will have the chance to join the growing list of Australian IBO world champions which includes middleweight Daniel Geale and super featherweight Billy Dib.
Katsidis, 27, has a record of 23-1 (20 KO's).
Diaz, 24, who will be fighting for the first time since losing his titles to American compatriot Nate Campbell, in March, has a 33-1 (17 KO) record.
Check out more of this story at: http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=611706
The IBO rankings are actually a good idea - supposedly based on computer scoring and not the random BS that surfaces with the other alphabets. Their problem, though, is that their ranking often have very little to do with fulfilling worthwhile vacancies. And not having your top ranked fighter vie for a title, especially a vacant one, defeats the whole purpose of crowning champions.
"Katsidis will have the chance to join the growing list of Australian IBO world champions which includes middleweight Daniel Geale and super featherweight Billy Dib."
That part made me laugh - well that and the article being written as if there's any amount of prestige that goes into fighting for an IBO title, especially when both fighters are coming off of a loss.
lol your definetly right, the IBO title is a joke, but it does qualify as a world title (not a major one), and it adds more incentive for both fighters going into this fight.
"Katsidis will have the chance to join the growing list of Australian IBO world champions which includes middleweight Daniel Geale and super featherweight Billy Dib."
That part made me laugh - well that and the article being written as if there's any amount of prestige that goes into fighting for an IBO title, especially when both fighters are coming off of a loss.
Excellent fight!!!!!!! Best around id say.
Hope to fuck it dont end on cuts or something tho
5K Says Katsidis The Great wins, takers?
:hijacked:
While im at it anybody wanna bet on Marquez v Cassamayor and Guzman v Campbell? I got Marquez and Guzman :boxing:
Excellent fight!!!!!!! Best around id say.
Hope to fuck it dont end on cuts or something tho
5K Says Katsidis The Great wins, takers?
I'll take that! My 5k goes to hopkins though, via knife attack.