Marquez-Katsidis could be a go for May with Hatton "grossly" out of shape
by Scott Christ on Jan 2, 2010 5:19 PM EST
in Boxing News Analysis
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Adviser/agent Sampson Lewkowicz told BoxingScene.com today that the WBO is planning to enforce its ruling that Juan Manuel Marquez must defend their lightweight title against Michael Katsidis or be stripped of the belt. This itself is nothing new, but with Marquez tentatively set for a May 1 return to the ring, it looks like the fight could very well happen.
Rick Reeno of Boxing Scene says that "numerous sources" have informed him that Ricky Hatton is so "grossly" out of shape that a May date at his standard 140 pounds could prove impossible. So with Marquez (and I assume HBO) targeting the last Saturday before Cinco de Mayo as the ring return for Mexico's biggest active fighter, that would seem to rule out Hatton.
And after Hatton, there aren't many options any more lucrative than the rugged Katsidis.
If Marquez wants to fight at 140 (which I think is a mistake in general), there are guys like Timothy Bradley, but Bradley probably offers no more money than Katsidis. At 135, there's Edwin Valero, but they'd have to fight in Mexico or elsewhere, and Valero is busy on February 6 against Antonio DeMarco, and you never know how that one might turn out. There's Amir Khan at 140, and Freddie Roach has said in the past he'd like to get Marquez and Khan together at some point. To be honest, unless Marquez is completely past it (and I don't assume he is), I think he's too tough and relentless for Khan. At some point he's going to find him and counter him, and he won't tumble the way Dmitriy Salita did in his pathetic title "challenge."
I've said before that I love Marquez-Katsidis on paper. Katsidis has earned his way back into contention after a rough 2008 followed by a good 2009, he's an exciting fighter, and he'll come to win. Marquez is better than him, but also aging and pushing his body at 135 pounds. I could see Katsidis muscling through a more talented Marquez in a war. I can also see a more talented Marquez picking Katsidis apart in a war. It achieves a lot of things at once. It's a more than suitable title fight, a good shot for Katsidis to establish himself (he'd be the real world's champion at 135), a good bounce-back opponent for Marquez, and also not a soft touch. It's essentially a perfect fight for a lot of reasons.
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"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
Damn it… forwhatever reason it didn’t let me put 3 pics in a row…
Anyways… from what I read he is around 190. I am 5’11 and when I was 175ish… I thought I was chucky.
He isn’t going to be a championship level boxer for much longer if he continues his gorges.
I like Marquez vs Katsidis. Marquez should pick him apart like Casa did a while ago, but you never know, it just takes one fight to become old.
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
At that kind of weight
and having done similar things so many times, I find it unlikely that he may ever return. I am almost certain that he won’t ever win a relevant title ever again.
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jan 2, 2010 6:08 PM EST up reply actions
Love this fight
Katsidis always said, that win or lose, he wants to develop his craft by fighting the best. He has the attitude – ‘even if I lose I’ll gain experience and come back a better fighter.’ Old-school mentality and a tough man to beat.
Always been a big Hatton fan, the guy has nothing to prove. I hope he embraces his new role in life and continues to enjoy himself.
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
The way Hatton lets himself get so out of shape is a disgrace for a so-called professional boxer/athlete.You had a good run,Ricky….Probably achieved more than someone with your ability should have but please,just retire…And take your brother with you when you hang ‘em up please so that we don’t have to have our intelligence insulted with joke mismatch ‘fights’.
It’s almost sad how big of a joke Hatton has become. Anyways, Marquez-Katsidis I think is pretty much a mismatch. Marquez is just to skilled for him. While Katsidis will be much more active than Rocky Juarez was I see a similar result. Katsidis has good pop but I think his power is some what overrated. He wears opponents down by accumulation. He doesn’t have great one punch power that Marquez needs to be overly concern about. Marquez has shown he can handle come forward fighters
If a man ain't found something worth dying for. He ain't fit to live.
Agreed
"If you sit there and watch a person take about an hour to tie his shoestrings, then you realize that whatever problems you got ain't that significant"
---Vernon Forrest 2006
by The Midnight Rambler on Jan 2, 2010 11:09 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed 2
I don’t rate Katsidis very highly,certainly not in Marquez’ league.He wouldn’t be as competitve as Juan Diaz,imo,and would keep walking onto counters all night.I would like to see Marquez v Valero asap.
Anyways, Marquez-Katsidis I think is pretty much a mismatch. Marquez is just to skilled for him.
It’s the gut feeling I get, too, but with enough possibility that Katsidis is young and strong enough to overcome the gap in skill that I think it’s a totally acceptable fight for JMM.
Katsidis has good pop but I think his power is some what overrated.
Could not agree more. He’s physically very strong but his punches don’t rip like a lot of guys.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
He doesn’t have the one punch knockout power that can really turn a fight around like other fighters.
HBO has tried to pimping as this uber strong guy but in reality he doesn’t sit down on his punches and just tries to bowl you over with pressure.
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
Also Katsidis is facing an even more skilled fighter that KO’ed him. I mean Marquez actually outboxed the Cuban gold medalist in Casamayor, and old man Casa who isn’t known for his KO power knocked Katsidis silly.
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
katsidis WILL KO JMM. with Baby Bull as my witness i guarantee it
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Jan 2, 2010 11:37 PM EST reply actions
well if i’m being honest i would say that he shouldn’t get a rematch with either of them. he was lucky to not be in a three fight losing streak, so i’d say he shouldn’t be getting a shot at the champ till he deserves it
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Jan 3, 2010 3:08 AM EST up reply actions
I didn't mean next, I meant after Diaz wins another fight
I didn’t make that clear in my original post
Who should Diaz fight next?
I’d like to see him again Casamayor if he can still make 135. I don’t think he should fight Funeka or Valero right now. I suppose there’s also Guzman and the two interim beltholders in the WBA. And if he wants a really easy rebound fight, he could go after Barrera.
Hatton is
or should be done. Marquez/Katsidis would, I imagine, be an exciting fight, but I’m about ready to see Marquez ride off into the sunset and couldn’t get that psyched about the match.
JMM-KAT
At 135 I’m thinkin’ JMM walks the Kat down, Marquez too experienced for the face first Kat, he leads Michael into a KO or busts him up and it won’t be pretty. MK is a tough guy and I admire his tough guy attitude, he will fight anybody, but his skills are a little light to stay with JMM, with Diaz its a pick-em fight. Hatton is still young, but if he doesn’t stop with the Arreola habits, he is done. Peace!!
I would prefer to see Katsidis-JMM
I’ve never really cared for Hatton. He clinched too much for my taste. The main reason his fights seemed exciting is because of the rowdy drunken crowd that he attracts that oohs and ahhs at every half-landed jab.
As much as I like Marquez, I would be pulling Katsidis. I feel he could contribute more to an exciting future of boxing.
I agree about Hatton.
You pretty much summed up my feelings about Hatton. With his holding and his plodding pressure style, I just never saw what all the fuss was about. The ability to down a ton of Guinness and still kick ass at darts just isn’t what I’m looking for a boxer.
Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"
BTW
Is your screen name a reference to the Cormac McCarthy novel?
Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"
Yep, it is. I was reading it at the time I signed up for an account here. And boxing can get a little bloody at times, although not necessarily my favorite aspect of it.
by BloodMeridian on Jan 3, 2010 8:56 PM EST up reply actions
Skill wise its Marquez by a country mile but it will be interesting to see how the jump up in weight and coming back down will have a bad effect on him. If he has lost anything then the pressure and toughness of Katsidis will be more effective. Diaz did well in the early rounds untill he was able to be warn down. If Marquez dont come in the same person as he was for the Diaz fight he could be in for a long night
"Good, so it can’t go any deeper." - Arturo Gatti after being told he was cut to the bone
I don’t think this fight gets JMM’s adrenaline pumping the way he needs it to pump in order to combat his old age. JMM won’t counter punch as well as he usually does and will get worn down by Kat in this fight. Split decission for Kat with the fight turning his way in round 5 or 6.
"I will five all over this blog." - JRW
Hatton vs. Arreola
I think Hatton is just taking a new direction to the heavy weight division. I can see him calling out David Haye with chops like that. First, Cristabol Arreola! cue Ricky’s song
JMM/Katsidis
would make for an exciting fight, but I hope JMM is beginning to think along the lines of putting some away for his golden years.
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