In what is by far the biggest break in his budding career, the resurgent Boholano ring star Czar Amonsot will challenge reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight champion Michael “Rocky” Katsidis in a 12-round war promoted by Golden Boy Promotions on July 21 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Amonsot-Katsidis tiff will be on the undercard of the battle royale between super middleweights Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins and Winky Wright.
“Amonsot is fighting Michael Katsidis for the WBO world title on July 21 in Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas in one of the undercards of Hopkins vs. Winky Wright title fight,” confirmed ALA Boxing Gym top honcho Antonio “Bidoy” L. Aldeguer.
Initially, Katsidis was set to slug it out with the unbeaten two-time WBO champion Joan Guzman of the Dominican Republic last May 26, but Guzman backed out of the fight after sustaining a shoulder injury during training.
Although it’s just his wards first crack at world glory, Aldeguer said he is very confident the pride of Tagbilaran City Amonsot can pull through the toughest hurdle of his life.
“Amonsot is a changed person. This is a God-given opportunity we couldn’t pass away. He’s ready. He’s in good condition. He’s in the best shape of his career and I think he has a good chance of winning the championship,” said Aldeguer.
With this recent development, Aldeguer said Amonsot will no longer defend his WBO Asia-Pacific lightweight belt against Indonesian Hero Katili supposedly on July 7 in Cebu to give way to a more prominent and lucrative rumble with Katsidis.
Amonsot, however, must be wary of whom he’s going up against. The 26-year-old Katsidis is an extremely dangerous foe with a perfect 22-0 record dotted with 20KOs.
Katsidis, who hails from Queensland, Australia, seized the WBO crown after Graham Earl retired at the end of the fifth round during their February 17, 2007 encounter at the Wembley Arena in London, England.
Amonsot, on the other hand, basked in glorious return from the most embarrassing defeat in his career, losing his WBO Asia-Pacific super featherweight title knockout in just 47 seconds to Indonesian Simson Butar Butar before his stunned hometown fans on September 23 last year at the Island City Mall carpark in Tagbilaran.
Amonsot though redeemed lost pride and glamour by defeating Korean Da Woon Jung to wrest the WBO Asia Pacific lightweight plum in his previous ring appearance last February 9 at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul, South Korea. The win improved his win-loss-draw record to 18-2-1 with 10KOs.
