Brother of Michael Katsidis found dead in Australia
by Scott Christ on Oct 19, 2010 5:42 PM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
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The 31-year-old brother of lightweight boxing star Michael Katsidis was found dead in Australia, just days before he was set to ride in a horse race in Melbourne. Police suspect a drug overdose took the life of Stathi Katsidis, who had battled drug addiction previously, and was suspended from his sport in 2008 for testing positive for ecstasy.
What this means for Michael Katsidis' immediate future and planned November 27 fight against Juan Manuel Marquez is unknown, but all reports are that the Katsidis brothers were very close. Michael has been training for the fight in Thailand, where he lives now. One report says that he's in shock, as you might expect, and likely at this time is not terribly concerned about his fight.
A representative from Golden Boy Promotions had this to say to ESPN.com's Dan Rafael:
"Our concern right now is for Michael, not as to whether he will fight. He just lost his brother, who he was very close with. However long it takes, he will decide what he will do. Right now the fight is not a concern for us. We're concerned for him."
Stathi Katsidis had been doing well in recovery, reports indicate, and had ridden the most winning horses last year in Australia. Bad Left Hook sends our condolences and best wishes to the family and friends of Mr. Katsidis.
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RIP Stathi
Stathi was one of the top riders in Australia , he was riding in The Cox Plate on Saturday. The weight for age championship of Australia. Horse racing is huge here in Oz . The Melbourne Cup is the biggest sporting occasion in Australia bar none .http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/katsidis-the-warrior-must-now-fight-alone-20101019-16sgj.html , http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/katsidis-riding-life-a-fight-all-the-way/story-e6frecj3-1225940678832 , http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/demons-and-drugs-claim-a-champion-20101019-16sj6.html . Condolences to the Katsidis family .
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
Horrible news. As much as I want to see the fight, I think it would be unwise for him to fight on the 27th.
"Mug an old lady, and if you have the right connections the WBO will rank you seventh." -Steve Farhood
I think to some degree it depends on his personality. If he needs to postpone the fight, no one can or should blame him. But he might be the type of guy to go and fight on with a heavy heart. Whatever he does, I just wish him all the best. You hate to see something like this happen to anyone, let alone one of boxing’s true class acts, which Katsidis is in my estimation.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Oct 19, 2010 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Agree with you SC, but I do see Katsidis as the type of person who would march on and dedicate the fight to his brother. If he does march on, I’m putting a large sum of money on Kat because there is no way he is going to lose. That being said, it is completely understandable if Katsidis postpones the fight. Thoughts are with the Katsidis’ family.
"The bell that tolls for all in boxing belongs to a cash register."
-Bob Verdi
by Waldo Rastel on Oct 19, 2010 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
If he is Greek Orthadox, I doubt he will go ahed with the fight. They have a long and strict mourning period for a family death.
Pray for Nick Charles
I imagine they'll have to go on with the card
and find a replacement if that happens, since HBO stupidly paid way too much for Berto to fight in the undercard. They’re pot committed to this one. At least with 5+ weeks to go, they should be able to find someone decent if they need to. If Top Rank is willing to go there, Brandon Rios is already training for a fight on December 4 and already won a title eliminator to face the winner of Katsidis-Marquez, and would make perfect sense.
Condolences to Michael and his family.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Or they could move the fight up to 140
And make Marquez-Morales
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
I think that is more Morales vs Marques is more likely
Top Rank vs Golden Boy and all that.
Best to the Katsidises
by journeyintosound on Oct 19, 2010 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s what I’d expect.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Oct 20, 2010 2:05 AM EDT up reply actions
A real tragedy but I imagine a man such as Michael Katsidis will now fight for his brother’s honor. A big ask for a young bloke only four weeks out from the fight of his life but no-one’s ever doubted the heart of a Katsidis – as big as Phar Lap’s. RIP Stathi. Peace to the Katsidis family.
"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.
tragedy indeed. for his family and boxing as this would have been one of the few actually entertaining scraps this year in boxing history.
Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei. Basillio. Harry Greb.
by theworldsoldestsport on Oct 20, 2010 11:57 AM EDT reply actions
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