Displaying guts and a big fighting heart, Czar Amonsot overcame two knockdowns to stay on his feet in losing a unanimous 12-round decision to unbeaten WBO interim lightweight champion Michael (Rocky) Katsidis of Australia at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas yesterday morning (Manila time).
Amonsot, 21, was dropped by a right cross to the jaw in the second round and a flurry in the 10th but finished strong to gain the respect of the sell-out crowd that was held in suspense from the opening bell.
But he paid a hefty price for his gallant stand. Amonsot complained of a headache in the dressing room after the bout and was brought to a nearby hospital for a CT-Scan which detected a small clot in his brain, prompting Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer to declare “his career is probably over.”
Katsidis, 26, hardly looked like the winner in the end. He was cut above the left eye and under the right. The champion could barely see out of his blackened, swollen left eye. In contrast, Amonsot was virtually unmarked.
However, there was no doubt who deserved the verdict. Katsidis was more aggressive, hit harder and threw a larger volume of punches to withstand Amonsot’s courageous challenge.
Amonsot apologized for losing and hoped the Lord will give him another chance at the crown.
“I spoke to Amonsot on the phone,” said ALA stable owner Tony Aldeguer, whose son Michael is the fighter’s manager, from his home in Cebu. “I told him I’m proud of him because he gave his best. He felt he let down his countrymen. I assured him he had nothing to be ashamed of because he fought with a lot of heart.”
Amonsot is confined in the ICU and a brain specialist is expected to deliver a full diagnosis of his condition today.
“It’s not a life-threatening situation but I will be the first to end Amonsot’s boxing career if there is even a small chance of danger to his life in the event he continues fighting,” said Aldeguer. “My son is with him in the hospital and will not leave his side until doctors release him. Any pronouncement of whether he should retire or not is premature at this point. Let’s wait for the doctors’ analysis.”
Amonsot was initially booked to arrive in Manila tomorrow morning but now, nothing is definite until doctors clear his departure.
Katsidis, a two-fisted slugger, took the early lead when he forced Amonsot into a brawl. Amonsot landed a pair of vicious right uppercuts to start the second round and got careless as he was dropped coming in. But the Bohol southpaw rebounded to frustrate Katsidis by fighting from a distance, landing snappy jab-straight combinations to keep it close. In the seventh, Katsidis fell from a clubbing right to the side of the head but referee Jay Nady ruled it a slip.
For a while, it seemed like the fight would be stopped after Nady summoned ringside physician Jeff Davidson to examine Katsidis’ cut over the left eye, aggravated by a butt in the ninth. Katsidis was allowed to continue and with a sense of urgency, stormed out of his corner smoking to floor Amonsot in the 10th. The Australian, bloodied and battered, eventually ran out of gas as Amonsot took the last two rounds easily. But it was too late for the Filipino to overhaul Katsidis’ lead.
Despite the two knockdowns which gave Katsidis an automatic four-point advantage, it wasn’t a cakewalk for the champion who raised his record to 23-0, with 20 KOs. Judge Patricia Jarman saw it 114-112 and would’ve scored it a draw if Nady ruled a knockdown in the seventh. Judge Ruben Garcia scored it 116-110 and judge C. J. Ross, 115-111. The STAR had it 115-111 for Katsidis.
The setback dropped Amonsot’s record to 18-3-1, with 10 KOs.
“My consolation is Amonsot turned Katsidis into a running bull because he ran away in the last two rounds,” said Aldeguer. “The fans went up to Amonsot and congratulated him for a brave effort. They recognized what he did in the ring. Imagine how close the scores would’ve been without the knockdowns. I’m not discouraged by the loss. We’ll keep on trying to win titles for the Philippines. I think Amonsot made a good account of himself. He did some showboating but that was necessary to distract Katsidis.
Amonsot is a reborn fighter. Even Freddie Roach is impressed with his boxing skills and footwork.”
Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim, who was in Las Vegas for three days last week to encourage Amonsot and was back in town to watch the fight on TV, said the fighter did the country proud.
“Amonsot was only the third fighter to go the distance with Katsidis and that’s a credit to him,” said Lim. “He’s still young. He’s got a bright future. He needs to put more punches together, not just 1-2s. We’ll refine his training approach and introduce more techniques. His attitude is good and his heart is in place. But everything depends on what the doctors will recommend. His health is the primary consideration.”
Lim said Golden Boy matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz is convinced if allowed to fight again, Amonsot will someday become a world champion.
“Sampson told me he thinks Amonsot is still a little raw and will need two, three or maybe even four more fights before he wins a world title,” said Lim.
A lawyer, Lim was also in Las Vegas to renegotiate the contracts of several Filipino fighters with Golden Boy. He said he worked out a three-year extension of Boom Boom Bautista’s contract. Both Amonsot and Bautista are from Bohol, Lim’s home province.
