MICHAEL KATSIDIS 28-4 (23 KO’s) believes that Ricky Burns 32-2 (9) is the most dangerous opponent he could have faced when he meets the Scot in two weeks time at Wembley Arena for the interim WBO lightweight title.
Katsidis who has been named the ‘Brit Basher’ by some has already defeated Graham Earl and Kevin Mitchell on British soil and will be aiming to add a third scalp to the list.
Burns has moved up to lightweight for the bout having relinquished his World Boxing Organization (WBO) World Super-Featherweight title, the belt he won last summer against Roman Martinez.
Katsidis, who will be making his second appearance at London’s Wembley Arena on November 5 LIVE on BoxNation (Sky Platform Ch. 456), is wary of the threat his Glaswegian rival poses, “He is very dangerous, the most dangerous opponent I could have faced.”
The 31-year-old defeated Mitchell last May at Upton Park via a third round knockout and the Australian feels that Burns will provide a harder test, “Burns has better boxing ability than both Kevin Mitchell and Graham Earl. Earl has the biggest heart out of them while Mitchell is a little inconsistent. Burns will be the best I have faced in the UK.
Burns is powerful and is a very consistent fighter. He has showed it in the past. It will be tough like I said he is more consistent that Mitchell and he is a better boxer than Earl, if we are to compare him with the English lads.”
Katsidis knows what it is like to move from different weight divisions as he recently returned to lightweight and feels that the change will have no affect on his Scottish counterpart, “I don’t think Burns will be at a disadvantage moving up a weight. I think it’s a move he should have made a long time ago. Some underestimate his power but not me.”
‘The Great’ believes there is no favourite going into the world title clash in a fortnight and feels that he and Burns are on par that will make for an interesting fight, “I do not feel I am the favourite for this fight or that I have the edge. I feel we are on par. I may be experienced at the top level but Burns has an awful a lot of experience too. He showed that last year when he won his title.”
Katsidis last fought back August when he defeated Michael Lozada inside three rounds. The fight was the perfect comeback after the Queensland-born boxer had lost out to Robert Guerrero on a points decision in April, a fight he revealed he was not mentally prepared for, “I was in great condition physically for that fight but mentally I wasn’t there. I only took the fight because I was relying on knocking him out. It obviously didn’t come off that way. He was lucky to get away with it. It is all in the past now.”
Before the match-up was confirmed with Burns, Katsidis had been linked with a potential rematch with Mitchell. The Londoner made a victorious comeback in July against Manchester-fighter John Murray and Katsidis revealed he would relish the opportunity, “Anything is possible. I’d love to because I love fighting in England. I wouldn’t say no to the opportunity. At this moment in time I am not looking past this fight though.”
Katsidis was received well by the east London fans after that win last May and the Aussie has spoken of his desire to live in England one day, “I love England. I want to live there. It is a fantastic place and some where I always want to fight. Hopefully I can be based there soon. The West Ham fans when I faced Mitchell showed why the country is so great. They appreciated me, they appreciate warriors.”
Ronald Cruz vs. Anges Adjaho on November 19th
Atlantic City, NJ—Undefeated welterweight Ronald Cruz, of Bethlehem, PA, takes on steel-chinned Anges Adjaho, of Buffalo, NY, in a scheduled eight-round contest on Saturday evening, Nov. 19, at Bally’s Atlantic City.
The Cruz-Adjaho match will serve as the semifinal to the 12-round main event which features Garrett Wilson, of Philadelphia, PA, making the first defense of his United States Boxing Association (USBA) cruiserweight title against Chuck Mussachio, of Wildwood, NJ.
The 25-year-old Cruz (pictured) is coming off an impressive fifth-round knockout over Chris Fernandez, of Salt Lake City, UT, on Sept. 9 at the Asylum Arena in Philadelphia, PA. Cruz was scheduled to box Adjaho that evening, but a wrist injury suffered in training forced Adjaho to withdraw.
Cruz’ win over Fernandez followed a string of knockout victories he registered over Doel Carrasquillo and Manuel Guzman, both of Lancaster, PA, Dillett Frederick, of Fort Myers, FL, and Jeremy Bryan, of Passaic, NJ.
A pro since 2009, Cruz is now 14-0, 11 K0s, and ranked by the United States Boxing Association (USBA) at No. 14 and the North American Boxing Organization (NABO) at No. 13.
“I would fight every month if I could,” said Cruz, whose 28-fight amateur career lasted only 13 months, from July, 2007, to August, 2008. As a pro, he has been just as busy, fighting seven times in 2009, three times in 2010 and four times so far in 2011.
Adjaho, 31, is originally from the Republic of Benin in West Africa. He came to the United States in 2006 after winning African titles at junior lightweight and lightweight.
He has not had it easy here, fighting only the best—Antonio DeMarco, Mark Melligen, Brad Solomon, Shawn Porter and Joel Julio. Since turning pro in 2002, Adjaho is 17-6, 9 K0s. He has been stopped once, by DeMarco in nine rounds, when he had to get down to135 pounds after previously fighting at 142.
ABOUT NOV. 19
The Wilson-Mussachio and Cruz-Adjaho fights top a seven-bout card at Bally’s Atlantic City. First fight is 7.30 pm. Tickets priced at $50 and $75 are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000). Tickets also are on sale at www.peltzboxing.com and www.ticketmaster.com. Gofightlive.tv will televise the card on the internet. The card is being promoted by Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., in association with Bally’s Atlantic City.
Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex to host Mumbai Fighters’ first home match
Lausanne, Switzerland, 25 October 2011 – The Mumbai Fighters Franchise has announced the venue for its first home fixture for the upcoming WSB season. The Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex boxing arena in Balewadi, Pune will host the opening match against the Dolce & Gabbana Milano Thunder on 11 November 2011.
This one-of-a-kind venue was built with a futuristic vision in mind, to hold the most sought after international sporting events. The complex in Pune has established itself as one of the best sporting facilities in India since its inception. The centre excelled and surpassed expectation when they contributed to the enormous success of the Youth Commonwealth Games in 2008 and the venue has become a real hub for global sporting events.
After the Youth Olympic Games, the venue hosted the World Junior Table Tennis Circuit in the same year and in 2009 welcomed the FIVB Volleyball Men’s Junior World Championship and continues to excel in the delivery of top-quality events.
The Mumbai Fighters felt this was a fitting arena so decided to make the most of the world-class facilities and set up their training camp there. Feeling at home in these surroundings, the team management rightly decided it would be the perfect setting to start their season in. Boasting a seating arrangement of 2000, the venue is sure to be a cauldron of noise when the Indian Franchise makes its debut in WSB.
Team owner Udit Sheth was excited with this development, stating: “The Mumbai Fighters hosting WSB in the iconic Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex will surely create a real buzz around the event, the world-class facilities are perfect for a spectacle of this magnitude”.
Sheth is also thankful for the continued support and efforts of the Maharashtra State Government, helping to ensure the spectators, WSB and AIBA witness an event to remember. “Indian Boxing Federation (IABF) and Maharashtra Boxing Association (MBA) are doing every bit to make sure WSB is a great success in India”, he declared.
IABF joint secretary Jay Kowli felt the Mumbai Fighters boxers would have a massive advantage by making the training base their home venue. “The boxers will feel completely at home after almost a month of training on-site. Furthermore, the facility is extremely impressive from every point of view. I strongly believe the Indian team will make the most of this advantageous situation”.