Juan Diaz vs Michael Katsidis for the vacant IBO Belt!

[{}MATADOR{}]

I got Diaz by an asswhoopin. Katsidis won't know what hit him.

[MANGLER]

**** the IBO belt, but this will be an ill fight. Juan UD.

[Texanballer]

IBO belt is making its way up the ranks. I like it. It looks real nice, no mandatories. Best most legit rankings out there.

[mgkirkpatrick]

It's going to be an incredible fight. Diaz is the logical favourite, but there's one thing that Katsidis has that he doesnt - power.

If Diaz stands in the pocket he might just get broken down.

[warp1432]

**** the IBO...it's not a belt. Stop recognizing it.

[Jim Jeffries]

It's going to be an incredible fight. Diaz is the logical favourite, but there's one thing that Katsidis has that he doesnt - power.

If Diaz stands in the pocket he might just get broken down.

Depends how effective Juan's defense is against Katsidis. People forget that Diaz' +/- % was second only to Mayweather's before the Campbell fight, and it wasn't even close till the next guy. Juan showed a pretty amazing beard against Campbell, but he needs to block more shots against the harder hitting Katsidis. If he can do that he should win a UD, or stop him late on cuts. Exciting fight either way.

[Xyei]

Depends how effective Juan's defense is against Katsidis. People forget that Diaz' +/- % was second only to Mayweather's before the Campbell fight, and it wasn't even close till the next guy. Juan showed a pretty amazing beard against Campbell, but he needs to block more shots against the harder hitting Katsidis. If he can do that he should win a UD, or stop him late on cuts. Exciting fight either way.

I like Diaz in this fight but one thing that Campbell showed us is that if you can cut Diaz or make him swell, you can take him out of his game plan.

I'm aware that that could be simply because Diaz had never had to deal with blood dripping in his eye and not being able to see. Katsidis punches harder than Nate IMO so that has to be factored in.

Either way, this will be a ****ing barnburner...

I would bet on Diaz but my heart wants Katsidis to win even though I've only seen him fight once.

[RisAri0]

this is another classic in the making.. hopefully it turns out to be like a Castillo-Corrales type of fight..



and for the IBO belt just makes it legendary status!

[ColWallace]

It all depends on how Katsidis comes back after his TKO loss to Casa, and whether or not Diaz is willing to engage in the same sort of war with Katsidis he lost to Campbell.

I think Katsidis is the kind of fellow who can't be held down and will see his loss as a one-off ****-up never to be repeated. A guy who can fight ten rounds against Czar Amonsot (one tough, skilled guy) with the cuts and closures he had can't be written off. I think he was very nervous headlining on HBO for the first time, and Casa fought extremely well.

Diaz said he plans to box rather than brawl, and go toe-to-toe only if need be. Kind of strange to concede that sort of ground when you're a known brawler. Katsidis, as usual, is saying nothing, and that's what I like about both guys. They don't blather and bull**** across the boxing wires like many fighters do. This is a great fight between two awesome ambassadors for this sport - the most anticipated bout in the second half of 2008. The best thing about the IBO showdown is it's now 12 rounds instead of 10. Enjoy peoples.... this will be epic.

[Mr. Ryan]

IBO belt is making its way up the ranks. I like it. It looks real nice, no mandatories. Best most legit rankings out there.

I hope the IBO loses steam because there are already four ranking bodies that claim to be the real world championship. The more organizations the worse off boxing is.