Michael Katsidis Looking At April/May Return – Would Love To Come Back To UK To Fight Khan!

By James Slater – Australian warrior Michael Katsidis, who proved yet again in defeat to Mexican great Juan Manuel Marquez that he is never in a bad fight, is reportedly hungry for more big fights. According to his trainer and manager Brendan Smith, “The Great” is looking at returning to the ring in April or May. And who does the incredibly exciting lightweight title challenger have right at the top of his Hit-List? Why, Britain’s own Amir Khan, the reigning WBA 140-pound champ.

It seems Katsidis fancies a move up in weight, and in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald Smith made it clear his man is more than willing to return to the UK for a third time (although a rematch with the lightweight king is something Katsidis would also love).. As his fans know, Katsidis gave us another thriller in stopping a brave Graham Earl in an unforgettable 2007 slugfest, and he had a relatively easy night’s work this past summer in the UK, when he took Kevin Mitchell’s unbeaten record away inside three-rounds.

Now the 30-year-old wants a showdown with Khan!

“I believe that [Khan-Katsidis] is a fight that would absolutely fill anywhere in England,” Smith told the news outlet. “That’s a fight that would be watched all over the world, and it makes a great fight. Michael is two out of two in England, and whether Amir Khan takes that into consideration and whether he wants to try and square up for the Pommies – he may have his own agenda.

“At the moment, Michael is taking a little bit of time with his family, to grieve. But at this stage we’d like to get set [for a return] in April or May. We’ll weigh it all up in the next few weeks. It may be back in Australia, in England, it may be back in the States. We’ll see what makes most sense. Michael’s had an incredible run, and it’s not over yet.”

Katsidis barely had time for the recent, tragic death of his brother to sink in before he was swapping blows with “Dinamita,” and Smith believes that the fight’s outcome was largely a result of the baggage his warrior took into the ring with him. “I don’t feel Juan beat us,” Smith said. “We all know what he had to deal with leading up to the fight.”

That statement will inspire debate, but Katsidis is looking to get back in against a big name and that is good news for fight fans. Who would the crowd-pleaser be better off going in with in his return though – Khan or Marquez?

I think Smith is totally correct when he says a Khan-Katsidis clash would be massive in the UK. But would the tough but hittable Aussie who so loves a battle have a good chance of beating the seriously fast 24-year-old? The fight would be exciting, yes, but I think style-wise Khan would be all wrong for Katsidis. A return with Marquez would probably sell in the States, seeing how good the first fight was (a FOTY pick for many). But would a second fight be any different, even taking into account the fact that Katsidis would have far less on his mind going into a rematch?

Whoever Katsidis fights, it will attract a ton of fan attention. Katsidis, 27-3(22) really is too exciting to risk not watching!