Kevin Mitchell?s Lightweight world title aspirations were left in tatters as he suffered an emphatic knockout defeat at the hands of Michael Katsidis.
The referee brought a halt to proceedings only seconds into the third round after Mitchell suffered a series of solid punches from the dogged Ring Ranked No.1 Lightweight Katsidis.
A packed house at Upton Park were left licking their wounds after a week which has also seen their beloved West Ham Football club sack their manager Gianfranco Zola.
Surprisingly the Londoner seemed in control for the opening two rounds. Sitting behind the jab and nullifying most of the Australian?s headstrong bursts. Most had expected Katsidis to adopt the front foot and pressure Mitchell at every turn but he seemingly has scant regard for following convention and instead allowed Mitchell to adopt the role of the pursuer.
Mitchell and his team seemed confused by the Katsidis game plan and during the third round whilst attempting to initiate the action he was caught with a big right hand. Katsidis then pounced on his adversary launching into a flurry of hooks and crosses. The Dagenham fighter looked dazed and was unable to stop the punishment himself, forcing the referee to intervene.
Despite Mitchell?s 31-fight career, which ironically eclipsed that of his more ring-hardened competitor, he looked inexperienced and naive throughout. The most obvious example being his refusal to clinch of smother to buy himself time.
Katsidis had only been beaten by world champions and the fight was a test of Mitchell?s credentials as a world-class fighter. It was a test that looks to have come too soon. Perhaps Frank Warren?s seeming obsession with handing his fighters glorified journeymen before thrusting them into battle with world-class foes needs to be examined.
It was Mitchell’s first defeat in his 32 fights and he said: “I knew he was a big puncher and he did well. He lured me into the attack and bang he caught me. My tactics were box and it was working but I walked on to one.”
Katsidis meanwhile, insisted he would “enjoy being world champion”, and seems destined for an explosive clash with the Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.
