[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Promoter Frank Warren today won the purse bid WBO Interim lightweight champion Michael Katsidis’ defense against Kevin Mitchell. Warren’s bid of $515,000 beat the only other bid of $501,000 from Katsidis’ manager Brendon Smith from Ringstar Promotions. The clash will take place in Britain in May with the winner having to face Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez with 180 days. Londoner Mitchell is hot off a second round knockout of Ignacio Mendoza at Wembley Arena last month and defeated Amir Khan conqueror Breidis Prescott last December. Power-punching Australian Katsidis is well known to British fans after his five-round shoot-out against Graham Earl at Wembley Arena in February 2007 and has gone on to become one of the sports biggest stars. Warren said, “I’m delighted that I won the purse bids for this cracking contest and I’m sure it will be an explosive encounter. Both guys are come forward, all action, fighters throwing plenty of punches so it’s hard not to see this fight developing into real war.” Mitchell, 25, added, “Frank has done a fantastic job getting me the fight and bringing it to England. I know all about Katsidis, I’ve watched him over here against my then stablemate Graham Earl and I’ve watched all his fights on DVD. My trainer Jimmy Tibbs is the best in the business and he’ll work-out the plan to beat this guy. This is the kind of fight I’ve dreamed of since I was kid and now I’ve got it I can’t wait. The English and the Aussies have got a big rivalry and we kicked their arses last year to regain the Ashes, so I’m looking forward to kicking Katsidis’ arse to win the title.” [/FONT]
So JMM is heading back to 135. The winner has to fight him. I just hope JMM can make the weight healthy.
This is gonna be HOT! I can't wait. I'm struggling to beleive that Warren is putting his man in with a lively opponant. WAR MITCHELL
I like katsidis but mitchell is all wrong for him. If kat cant land some bombs early/often I see mitchell cruising to a 117-111 type UD.
Mitchell is totally overrated by his slobbering fans just like every other British fighter. He literally has 0 attributes that set him appart from the standard issue lightweight prospect. Katsidis is much improved and he was a handful to begin with, and is going to tear up Mitchell
We'll see. I overrated Hatton, I thought he was going to be a great. But I've got everyone else pretty much spot on, imo. Mitchell is exceptional, Katsidis is not. When Mitchell wins by stoppage, you'll say Katsidis was overrated. I'll agree with that, as he is. But Mitchell is excellent as well. And an exceptional vs chin out, tough as nails attitude but only fairly tough at world level chin (Hatton replica) means big Mitchell win. We deserve our attacks in the UK. Calzaghe is very, very good, but not a great. Benn and Eubank were never really the best i their divisions (watch em fight though, and you'll see why we loved em), Lewis was one of the great heavies - we ain't wrong about that, we don't defend Naz as we should given he topped a blue ribband division for five years, and I think yanks are bemused that we never talk about the one they did like - the should-be hall of famer Lloyd Honeyghan... but we have a great era now. Just look at the amateur results, that should show that we ain't bullsh*tting now. These guys have talent. Khan has every chance against the best, though the chin means he'll struggle; most of us Brits think that froch ain't gonna win Super Six, though he's gonna prove us right that he's underrated; if you think Haye is poor then you simply haven't watched enough of his fights - if solis gets himself in shape, Haye and the Cuban absolutely murder the Klitschkos, please watch more of Haye's fights; and Mitchell and Gavin are going to be not just world champs, but the TRUE champs of their divisions. Brits have been guilty of hyperbole. Hatton is the worst example. But Mitchell is the real deal.
I agree with a lot of your post. I think Lewis was a top 5 p4p heavyweight. I like Haye a lot although I think he slows down noticeably after a few rounds. I also think that the Brits have a good bit of talent coming up in the ranks. Cleverly is my favorite so far, he seems like a champion in waiting, especially considering how weak his division is at the moment. But Mitchell just seems so ordinary.He seemed really skittish against Prescott and really limited the engagements in that fight. He won't be able to do that against Katsidis. Katsidis is an animal that's all over backpedalling fighters from the opening bell. He's fast and he knows how to put leather on opponents and sap their will. And he's added improved D to his game. The only thing he's missing is power.
Well, we agree, apart from Cleverly and Mitchell. Mitchell has really good footwork, world level power (he ain't stopping everyone, but he'll always get respect, speed and footwork. I like Cleverly, but he's in our alphabet, not true champ range. I can see him winning a title on a given night - but he's ultimately a contender. He's better now that he plants his feet, getting real dig in his shots. Yet I think that's his weakness. He seems slower, his shots telegraphed. A really good - and I do mean REALLY GOOD - fighter will counter, maybe stop him. To my mind, Cleverly is a top 10-er, Mitchell a Ring champ. we'll see, but I'm glad someone agrees with what I say about this batch overall.
