Michael Katsidis

I can't say that Katsidis belongs in the same category as names like Gatti, who demonstrated his spirit several times on the world level. I do think that his effort on saturday was worthy of those names. I think a rematch shouldn't be out of the question. At the very least Vazquez or Soto should give him a shot.

 

Well said.

 

It was definitely very touching.

I was rooting for him to KO Marquez.

Poor guy didn't even leave training to go to his brother's funeral.

 

it wasnt the last round , it was the 9th

 

Katsidis didn't fight a bad fight either imo, infact I thought he did everything he could, just that Marquez is a better fighter technically.

I thought if he kept going, that the 37 year old JMM might wear down, that even though Kats was losing the rounds, that he was taking a lot out of Marquez by making him fight at that pace, cause of his age, only as I say, for some reason he was able to stay with Kats all the way, despite his age.

One thing I would of liked Kats to do, was put the left hook into Marquez's liver then come over the top with the left hook, as I thought Marquez was open to that punch, but Kats did'nt throw it as! much as I thought he would of, particularly having scored the KD with that punch.

 

Katsidis not only has as much heart as anyone in the sport, he's also all class: gracious in victory and defeat. He fought his ass off last night and has nothing to be ashamed of. JMM is an atg and fought a brilliant fight. Katsidis is still world class and will rule when JMM finally steps down.

 

I'm starting to grow more of an appreciation for Katsidis everytime I watch a fight with him in it. Except for defense and ring generalship, he has all you could ask for in a fighter and gives it his all each time. Is it just me or did Larry Merchant seem like a jerk? "Do you think your brother would be proud of your performance?". For some reason I hated when he said that.

 

I agree with everything the OP stated, except for the part where Katsidis 'didn't look like his usual self'. I thought he looked every bit of his usual self, and he lost as a result of that. He has the bad habit of getting excited when he thinks he's winning or has his opponent hurt, and that leaves him open too many times. And of course, he had a truly great fighter in front of him who capitalized on every mistake he made.

 

Same here.

I thought that Merchant had this question ready from the start and he asked it to get that exact emotional reaction from Katsidis.

Can't really blame him for asking that, though, it's his job. Still, I didn't like it.

 

The question was definitely premeditated, and it was utterly tasteless. He didn't even have the decency to compliment Katsidis on a fight well fought. All he cared about was getting a big emotional event for the network. No class at all.

 

Agreed. I think it would've been better if he said something like, "You showed great heart as usual...". The guy lost his brother recently, let him be. Sometimes it's like Merchant always has to say the wrong things.

 

Very well written.. I thought it'd end after the knock-down (JMM looked bad) but JMM is just a legendary fighter and kept going his tactics - countering from defensive.

 

Katsidis with Freddie Roach would be a powerful combination

 

I agree completely and for all those same reasons I have a lot of respect for him, both as a fighter and as a man!