Juan Manuel Marquez has fought almost 60 professional bouts including wars against Manny Pacquiao 
and Floyd Mayweather, but the Mexican boxing great admits he has never faced anyone like Australia's Michael Katsidis.
and Floyd Mayweather, but the Mexican boxing great admits he has never faced anyone like Australia's Michael Katsidis.
When the 37-year-old from Mexico City, rated the No.4 pound-for-pound boxer in the world by The Ring Magazine, will step into the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas just after midday on Sunday (AEDT) to defend his WBA and WBO belts against the Queenslander.And the Mexican is expecting to face a dangerous and explosive Katsidis driven by emotion.
Advertisement: Story continues below The Toowoomba-born Katsidis has dedicated the biggest bout of his life to his brother, top Australian jockey Stathi Katsidis, who died suddenly last month aged 31.
Katsidis contemplated abandoning the fight, but instead picked up his heavy heart and plans to honour Stathi by defying bookmakers and upsetting Marquez.
"Michael Katsidis is a very dangerous fighter," Marquez told AAP.
"He's different from any other fight I've had.
"He's strong, is a true warrior and throws many, many punches so I had to prepare myself very well."
That preparation included two sets of sparring partners for Marquez - strong boxers and fast boxers - with the two styles blending what Katsidis, who has knocked out 22 of his 27 victims, will bring to the MGM.
Katsidis mourned the loss of his brother by engaging in a tortuous training regime with long-time trainer Brendon Smith in a primitive Muay Thai fight camp hidden away in a jungle area of Thailand.
The secluded camp has become Katsidis' pre-fight base, helping him to four straight victories since back-back losses in 2008 against elite fighters Juan Diaz and Joel Casamayor.
Katsidis, 30, has been tight-lipped about his brother's death and fronted a press conference at the MGM on Tuesday with a publicist from his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, by his side.
The publicist warned journalists not to quiz Katsidis about Stathi.
When a question came close, Katsidis was as intimidating as he is in the ring.
"I'm here to talk about the fight only," he told an American reporter.
"Anything to do with any of that, please respect me and my family."
Marquez, a world champion at three different weight divisions, showing the class that has made him one of Mexico's favourite sportsmen offered his sincere condolences to Katsidis instead of probing it for a weakness.
"I wanted to say that I'm sorry for him and his family and that life continues," Marquez, who has a 51 win, 37 knockout, five loss, one draw professional record, said.
Marquez is tipped to be Pacquiao's next opponent, with the boxing stars engaging in two thrillers.
The first was a controversial split-decision win to the Filipino in 2008 and the second a draw in 2004 when Marquez rebounded from being knocked down three times in the first round to almost pulling off a victory.
When reporters peppered Marquez about a possible Marquez-Pacquiao III, the Mexican did not need a publicist by his side to fend off irritating questions.
"It's all about Katsidis, not Pacquiao" Marquez told reporters.
"Nobody else."
© 2010 AAP
Source: news.smh.com.au
No comments:
Post a Comment