By James Slater – Lightweight king Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico had two options for his next fight: either go up to 140-pounds and challenge WBA light-welterweight ruler Amir Khan, or stay at 135 and defend against mandatory challenger and interim WBO champ Michael Katsidis. Well, according to ESPN.com, the 37-year-old has chosen to get it on with the tough and exciting warrior from Australia.
According to Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy, the fight is set to go ahead on November 27th – Thanksgiving weekend in the States – and that the fight will likely take place in Las Vegas, at either The MGM or at The Mandalay Bay..
A great fight on paper, with both men more than willing to go to war whenever they fight, Marquez-Katsidis could even become a fight of the year candidate. Marquez, fresh off his good win over Juan Diaz, may not be quite the fighter he was a few years ago, but he is still around 75% the sensational fighter he was in his prime. And Katsidis, thought by some to be a “shot” fighter until he roared back in impressive style to smash would-be star Kevin Mitchell in his last outing, appears, amazingly, to have improved some (or did the easy-looking win over Mitchell serve to unduly flatter “The Great?”)
The ultimate plan for Marquez – though Lord knows he shouldn’t in any way look past Katsidis – is to win in November and then make the move up to 140 to face Britain’s Khan. Still very much wanting to become the first Mexican to capture world belts at four different weights, “Dinamita,” according to Schaefer, could well move up next year. Schaefer also continues to speak of a Marquez-Erik Morales fight, also to take place at 140-pounds.
So, we may have a few exciting Marquez fights to look forward to (even if most fans will probably look at the Morales fight as something of an easy win for Marquez). Also of interest, is where Marquez’s decision to stay at lightweight leaves Amir Khan. Now that the Bolton man will not be facing the Mexican legend, just who will he get it on with in his next fight, all but set for December 11th?
Schaefer said he has talked with the Khans about Amir facing WBA interim champ Marcos Maidana in December; either in the U.S or the U.K.
“I just talked to the Khans and we’ll see if we can put together a fight with Maidana,” Schaefer said. “If Maidana wins (on Saturday against DeMarcus Corley), we will see if we can put that together for December 11th. I don’t know yet if it would be in the U.S or in the U.K. The Khans are checking with Sky [T.V in the U.K] and I will be talking with HBO to see what makes most sense.”
It appears then (unless I’m guilty of wishful thinking) that Khan-Maidana is as close to being made as it ever has. Khan has reportedly said he’ll “shut Maidana’s mouth,” and we all know how much the Argentine banger wants the fight. It could well be that the end of 2010 gives us some of the year’s best action!
Marquez-Katsidis looks a pretty easy match to make because, as Schaefer said, Katsidis wants it so badly. Hopefully, the lightweight rumble will get signed, and after that the 140-pound WBA unification battle everyone is seemingly desperate to see will be made official also.