By James Slater: Warrior Michael Katsidis, fighting in his homeland of Australia for the first time since 2006, scored an impressive 3rd-round KO over Mexico’s Michael Lozada earlier today. A brutal body attack by the 30-year-old former interim WBO champ at lightweight got the job done, as 28-year-old Lozada failed to come close to beating the count of referee Adrian Cairns.
Katsidis, now campaigning full-time as a 140-pounder, improved to 28-4(23). Lozada falls to 38-9-1(30) with the loss.
Buzzing at the chance to fight at home and in a new weight class at that, “The Great” wasted no time in putting on a show for his fans. Some expected a more two-sided fight than the one that went down in Queensland, but the main thing is Katsidis got himself the victory his career badly needed. Loser of his previous two – in wars with Juan Manuel Marquez and Robert Guerrero – Katsidis would have had nowhere to go had he lost again. Now, his confidence restored with his first victory in 15-months, the thrill-a-minute fan-favourite can look ahead to at least one more huge fight.
Due to his exciting, value for money style of fighting, Katsidis’ name often comes up when big names are mentioned and are looking for a fight. There has been recent talk that Katsidis may face Mexican legend Erik Morales next year, and Katsidis’s name has also been linked recently with that of Amir Khan. While another British fighter in Kevin Mitchell – who lost his unbeaten record to Katsidis last May – has said he definitely wants a chance at gaining revenge.
As he has proven in the past, Katsidis is willing to rumble with absolutely anyone, and win or lose he always entertains. Katsidis has also expressed recently his interest in facing Cuban southpaw Joel Casamayor in a return of the 2008 classic they out on. With the Cuban now operating up at 140 himself, such a return could happen. And how about this for a fight that would absolutely guarantee to be a ferocious battle: Katsidis Vs. Marcos Maidana!?
As long as he’s around and fighting, Katsidis will continue to send his fans home happy.