Furious Kevin Mitchell says he’ll finally punish Michael Katsidis for snubbing him when he was an up-and-coming fighter.
The Dagenham star will aim to become a world champion when he fights the 29-year-old Australian for the interim WBO lightweight title on May 15 at West Ham’s Boleyn Ground at Upton Park, televised live on Sky Sports HD1..
But it won’t be the first time the pair have come face to face after a frosty meeting at Wembley three years ago.
That night, Katsidis impressed with a thrilling win over Graham Earl, while Mitchell got a solid victory on the undercard.
At the end of the night, Mitchell approached Katsidis and praised him for the win.
But the arrogant Aussie could barely be bothered to return the compliment.
“I’ve always remember that and it’s stuck with me to this day,” stormed Mitchell. “His fight against Earl was one of the best I have ever seen, and I went up to him to tell him that.
“But rather than show me the kind of respect that fighters usually have for each other, he looked at me like I was a nobody.
“I couldn’t believe it. I was just a young kid who wanted to big up a fighter who’d just put it all on the line.
“I’ve meet a lot of champions in my time, and his behaviour that night was the worst I have come across.
“From Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Mike Tyson to Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton, they have all been great with loads of time to talk to me, but Katsidis is one arrogant sod. Now it’s payback time.
“Until that moment I was one of his biggest fans – but afterwards I was desperate to knock him out.
“Right there and then I thought to myself ‘You’re going to pay for that’.
“I’ve been waiting for my chance ever since, so it was an added incentive when Frank Warren offered me the fight.
“One things for sure and that is Katsidis will definitely know who I am on May 15, and he will definitely be giving me respect after I’ve knocked him out and taken away his title.”
‘Hammer Time’ is headlined by Kevin Mitchell’s challenge for the WBO Interim World Lightweight Championship against Michael Katsidis. A quality packed undercard includes the British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship between Danny Williams and Sam Sexton; Olympic Gold medallist James DeGale challenges for the first title in his career – the WBA International Super-Middleweight Championship; unbeaten heavyweight star Derek Chisora; and Britain’s hottest young prospects Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders.
Tickets for ‘Hammer Time’, priced at £30, £40, £50, £80, £150, £200 & £250, are available from:
West Ham Ticket Hotline: 0871 222 2700*
Website: www.whufc.com
See Tickets Ticket Hotline: 0871 2200 260*
Website: www.seetickets.com
Ticketmaster: 0844 847 2500*
Website: www.ticketmaster.co.uk
*Subject to booking fee.
Kevin Mitchell v Michael Katsidis is live on Sky Sports HD1 from 8pm on Saturday 15 May.
SAUNDERS HITS FASHION BIBLE
Billy Joe Saunders is in vogue – quite literally.
The unbeaten 20-year-old prospect is showing model behaviour in the latest edition of fashion magazine Vogue Hommes International.
Dressed like boxing’s answer to James Bond in black tie, Saunders features alongside supermodel Kate Moss and World Cup winner Zinidine Zidane.
But it will be back for the day job for Saunders on May 15 when he fights at West Ham’s Upton Park football ground.
There he will have his sixth professional fight, and the first since suffering a hand injury from which he is now fully recovered.
“I’ll be working on my defence a bit – I don’t my second career as a model ruined before it’s even started,” said Saunders.
“The photo shoot was a great laugh and I’ll definitely do it again if I’m asked.
“The lads in the gym have made sure that I’ve not got too big headed – they haven’t stopped laughing since they saw them.
“But I like to think I look like James Bond, and when it comes to boxing I’ve defnitely got a licence to thrill.
“I can’t wait to get back in the boxing ring again and get another win under my belt.
“The hand is completely fine now and I’ve been working hard in sparring. I’m ready to go.”
‘Hammer Time’ is headlined by Kevin Mitchell’s challenge for the WBO Interim World Lightweight Championship against Michael Katsidis. A quality packed undercard includes the British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship between Danny Williams and Sam Sexton; Olympic Gold medallist James DeGale challenges for the first title in his career – the WBA International Super-Middleweight Championship; unbeaten heavyweight star Derek Chisora; and Britain’s hottest young prospects Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders.
Tickets for ‘Hammer Time’, priced at £30, £40, £50, £80, £150, £200 & £250