Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada lightweight boxing champion Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KOs) will fight Michael Katsidis (27-2, 22 KOs). Going into a bout, which will be televised in the United States by HBO, Marquez is a three to one betting favorite to defeat Katsidis.
Going into the fight, there are five things to consider before making your pick between Mexico’s best, Marquez, and Australia’s rock ’em, sock’em robot, Katsidis.
Skills to pay the bills
Make no mistake about it, Marquez’s boxing abilities are vastly superior to Katsidis’. Developing his trade over nearly twenty-years inside Igancio Beristain’s La Romanza Mexico City gym and putting in 423 rounds of professional experience, along with appearing in twelve world title bouts, Marquez is ready for anything that Katsidis can bring to the ring Saturday night.
A technically brilliant counter-puncher, Marquez seems tailor-made for Katsidis, who is mainly a seek and destroy fighter with poor footwork and an inability to mix up his offense.
Where is Marquez’s focus?
Marquez may have the skills to pick apart Katsidis with his counter-punching, but where has his focus been during the training camp in preparation for this fight?
Every Friday during camp, Marquez has made his scheduled appearance on ESPN Deportes Golpe a Golpe – a Spanish language boxing news and analysis television program. During his spots on Golpe a Golpe, and in other media reports, it is clear that Marquez seems preoccupied with Manny Pacquiao.
Stated over, and over, and over again, Marquez has mentioned that he is willing, ready, and desperate to tangle with Pacquiao for a third time before he walks away from boxing.
Of course, when probed, Marquez says he is not looking past Katsidis, but if we listen to what he is saying, Marquez is in a Pacquiao state of mind.
The death of a brother
Right smack dab in the middle of Katsidis’ training camp his brother, Stathi, was found dead as result of a possible drug overdose. Unlike other modern day fighters who have pulled out of major fights due to tragedies, Katsidis choose to fight and dedicate the fight to his brother.
The loss of a fighter’s family member in close relation to a major bout could be the inspiration which drives a one-dimensional gladiator into victory over one of the sport’s best matadores.
Then again, it could serve as an emotionally draining distraction that derails Katsidis’ crack at glory.
Father time
As stated earlier, Marquez has fought 423 times since his debut in 1993 and in 57 professional bouts. When he steps between the ropes against Katsidis, Marquez will be 37 years old and fighting as a lightweight for only the fourth time in his career.
Sooner or later, a naturally bigger, stronger, younger fighter with less wear and tear will defeat Marquez and send him reeling into retirement faster than the Mexican can say, “Manny Pacquiao.”
Katsidis’ power punch and chin
Katsidis’ usual mission order, hitting and not caring much about being hit, has served him well and been successful over the course of his career. Of his 27 victories, 75% of them have come by knock-out, but in battles against true world class fighters, Katsidis’ offense has stalled.
In fights against Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz, Katsidis has a record of 0-2, being knocked out once against the crafty Cuban Casamayor and dominated by Diaz.
I predict…
Juan Manuel Marquez will thread the needle one more time against a younger, less experienced, and less skilled opponent. Look for “Dinamita” to ice Katsidis somewhere between the 6th and 9th round as the Australian is unable to put his offense in motion or ward off Marquez’s attack.
After the fight, expect for Marquez to call out Manny Pacquiao, once again.
