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By Jake Donovan - Assuming lightweight contenders Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis can stay healthy between now and Saturday night, it’s safe to say that this September will jump off to a much better start than was the case a year ago.
This time last year, HBO and Showtime both loaded up their September schedule, which was to serve as a welcome back after the usually mid-summer break. Instead, the sport was forced to endure the wrath of the injury big, which ran rampant through the sapphire month, knocking scheduled cards for the first three Saturdays following Labor Day.
Those fiending for boxing action but able to hold their breath without passing out were handsomely rewarded by month’s end. That’s when Kelly Pavlik peeled himself off of the canvas to rally back and knock out Jermain Taylor to claim the middleweight crown.
The instant classic was the first of three linear title matches in a span of ten weeks that boasted undefeated fighters on both sides of the billing. It was also among the year’s best fights, in fact voted the very best of 2007 by the Boxing Writers Association of America.
There stands a very good chance that come voting time, the 2008 ballot will include this weekend’s headlining act, when lightweights Juan Diaz (33-1, 17KO) and Michael Katsidis collide (23-1, 20KO) in Diaz’ hometown of Houston, Texas (Saturday, HBO, 10:15PM ET/PT).
It’s the first bout for both fighters since losing their “0” in separate bouts this past March. Oddly enough, they were first scheduled to square off earlier this year. A lot has changed between now and then: their records, title status and in Diaz’ case, who signed his checks. [details]
This time last year, HBO and Showtime both loaded up their September schedule, which was to serve as a welcome back after the usually mid-summer break. Instead, the sport was forced to endure the wrath of the injury big, which ran rampant through the sapphire month, knocking scheduled cards for the first three Saturdays following Labor Day.
Those fiending for boxing action but able to hold their breath without passing out were handsomely rewarded by month’s end. That’s when Kelly Pavlik peeled himself off of the canvas to rally back and knock out Jermain Taylor to claim the middleweight crown.
The instant classic was the first of three linear title matches in a span of ten weeks that boasted undefeated fighters on both sides of the billing. It was also among the year’s best fights, in fact voted the very best of 2007 by the Boxing Writers Association of America.
There stands a very good chance that come voting time, the 2008 ballot will include this weekend’s headlining act, when lightweights Juan Diaz (33-1, 17KO) and Michael Katsidis collide (23-1, 20KO) in Diaz’ hometown of Houston, Texas (Saturday, HBO, 10:15PM ET/PT).
It’s the first bout for both fighters since losing their “0” in separate bouts this past March. Oddly enough, they were first scheduled to square off earlier this year. A lot has changed between now and then: their records, title status and in Diaz’ case, who signed his checks. [details]
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