LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Juan Manuel Marquez, 37, rightfully may have chosen an easy path against the all-time less defensive fighter, Michael Katsidis of Australia, for the WBA Super World lightweight title and WBO lightweight title bout, this Saturday, November 27, at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Offered as vacant and available for contest, Marquez owns both titles after knocking Juan Diaz out in round 9 during their first encounter early last year in Houston, Texas, and successfully defended the same in their rematch last summer.
This time, it looks like after several failed attempts of chasing Pacquiao around simply to bid for a third encounter in the ring, Marquez, a technical fighter, may have opted to choose an easily hittable fighter in Katsidis, whose only blemishes are those marked by two losses all in 2008 from the hands of Juan Diaz by split decision and Joel Casamayor by TKO in round 10. For Katsidis, his natural advantage over Marquez is that he has been a natural light weight fighter since the start of his professional career in boxing, except of course his lone fight in the light welterweight against Fred Kinuthia in 2004 at 139? pounds. But, ring intelligencewise, Marquez is superior and quicker. As far as oddsmakers are concerned, they sure would look for an upset come on fight night. However, the chance of Katsidis winning the fight may just be unremarkable. His aggressive, orthodox stance of less angular attacks subjugates him to a well-grounded footwork of Marquez and attribution, originally an accountant by profession, with well-calculating aggression and great counter-punching skills, which Katsidis has less of both. Yes, Katsidis may have the heart to win but not enough to withstand the Aztec-blooded Chilango’s determination. Odddsmakers have them both, as of this writing, at 5/2 in favor of Marquez if by decision or technical decision and 6/1 still in favor of Marquez if Kasidis were to win by decision or technical decision, to say the least.
