katsidis new dad, waits on Marquez AFTER calling out Filipino great Manny Pacquiao, WBO interim lightweight world champion Michael Katsidis, a proud new dad, says he is close to fulfilling his dream of bringing a big fight to Australia. Katsidis is a proud new dad after his Japanese wife Kumi gave birth to their first child, Kalia Rose, in Las Vegas in the early hours of Tuesday morning. It was a perfect ending to a strong year for Katsidis, who won all three of his fights and regained the interim WBO title he lost last year. He has repeatedly challenged Pacquiao and is likely to face Pacs great rival Juan Manuel Marquez next. The 29-year-old Australian said attending his wife's labour had been more nerve-racking than fighting. ``It's been a big night, this is the biggest test that I've had right here having this baby, I'm a proud dad now,'' Katsidis said from the Las Vegas hospital. Katsidis intended returning to training almost straight away. ``With this new incentive it just makes me a little bit hungrier, so there's no reason to stop,'' Katsidis said. The Sydney 2000 Olympian is still waiting to hear whether WBO lightweight super champion Marquez will make a mandatory defence against him in the new year. His manager and trainer Brendon Smith said they were still waiting to find out whether Marquez would fulfill that obligation or decide not to fight Katsidis, in which case he would be stripped of his title and the Australian would be recognised as the full champion. Smith revealed he had held talks in Los Angeles on Monday with Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya and company vice-president Eric Gomez. He declined to go into details, but Katsidis said there was plenty of exciting opportunities for him in the coming year. ``Marquez is mandatory at the moment, I'm always interested to fight the best,'' Katsidis said. ``It's always been a dream of mine to bring the best in the world to Australia and I think we're getting very close to that.'' Asked if there was a good chance he would end his self-imposed seven-fight three-year exile from an Australian ring in 2010 Katsidis replied: ``I think there's a very strong chance, I'm getting very close to that point now.'' He will return to Australia early in the new year to introduce his baby daughter to the rest of the family. 9 Dec 2009
The problem with bringing a fight to Australia is the time difference with the US. With Kats' relationship with GBP and HBO...how are they going to do a ppv in Oz? In saying that, Kats isn't contracted to either HBO or GBP. So if he could get the necessary backing from corporate sponsorship, he could do his own promotion and Sky would air it. But it would cost the Bank Of England to pay Marquez to fight here. He'd want top dollar. So a Kats v Marquez fight is next to no chance of happening down here imo. It could head line a HBO card and therefore it stays in the US. But...JMM did fight Chris John in an Indonesian car park for 30k. LOL.
I remember Fenech v Nelson II was in the afternoon here so as it could be shown on US tele. Perhaps this would go the same route if possible? Or even delayed like Green v Jones was. That would be an event and a half...
Tszyu Leija was the last fight that was held here that was televised live in the States. It was lunchtime Sunday which is when all the big fights are on here so really it's LESS painful than doing it in the UK where you need to fight at 2am to make normal broadcast times in the states. It's not that hard. To tie this and the "I can't believe he got up from that punch" - The Muhammad Abdulaev right hand on Phillip Holliday on the undercard of Tszyu deserves a mention.The ref stopped it but he went down like he'd fallen off a moving train.
^ Yep. I cant see why it cant be done and Sunday arvo is a great time for people to watch fights over here, whilst still being primetime in the U.S.
it would be great to have that here why hasnt he had any fights here for a couple of years is it there is no $ for him here?
I guess so.would be great to see him get a big fight here.his style is fan friendly and he would become the most popular fighter in the country if he wins.
