Michael Katsidis vs Juan Diaz for Sat. 6th September

[robbie mustoe]

Queenslander Michael Katsidis gets back into the ring on Saturday night US time to face former unified lightweight champion Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz for the vacant IBO lightweight title.

Katsidis has a professional record of 23 wins and 1 loss with 20 KOs. He claimed the WBO lightweight title last year with a 5th round stoppage over Englishman Graham Earl in what was an out and out war and one of the best fights of last year. He defended his title successfully only once, running into the extremely tough veteran Joel Casamayor who stopped Katsidis in the 10th round of an action-packed fight in which both guys tasted the canvas.

Juan Diaz was touted as the next superstar Mexican-American fighter. He has easily faced tougher competition than Katsidis defeating the likes of Jose Miguel Cotto (brother of the former Welterweight champ), Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz. With his 9th round TKO win over Julio Diaz last year, Juan captured three versions of the lightweight title - the WBA, WBO and IBF. He then lost his titles in what was a shock upset to American veteran Nate Campbell via split decision.

These two great young warriors will definately go at it on Sunday morning. Both are extremely exciting to watch and have a tonne of heart. Kat is going in a reasonable underdog but you can never count him out.

The fight is on HBO Boxing After Dark over in the States so there is no TV coverage out here in Australia. I will post a link for the fight on Sunday morning if I get one that works and there is sufficient interest. Get behind the young Queenslander!

 

[robbie mustoe]

Fight was early this afternoon. Kat fought a tough fight but ended up losing a split decision. I scored the fight 116-112 to Juan Diaz. In the post fight interview Katsidis said he gave it everything he had and was looking forward to getting back in the ring against a top LW soon.