Marquez calls out Pacquiao for rematch -- CNN

CNN

Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez wants a third clash with Manny Pacquiao following Saturday night's successful defense of his WBA and WBO lightweight titles.

The 37-year-old stopped Australia's Michael Katsidis on a technical knockout in the ninth round in Las Vegas to take his record to 52-5 with 38 KOs.

The only draw of his career came against Pacquiao in 2004 when he retained his WBA and IBF featherweight titles, but he lost his WBC super featherweight belt in a controversial split decision to the Filipino in 2008.

"We know that Pacquiao has been avoiding us. We will put a lot of work into it, and a third fight is what the public wants to see," Marquez told reporters after beating Katsidis, whose brother Stathi -- a horse-racing jockey -- died last month.

"Yes he beat bigger fellows but they are all past their prime, while I beat younger and stronger boxers like Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis."

However, one stumbling block to a rematch is that Marquez wants it at the weight limit of 140-142 pounds, while Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach says he wants to fight at 147.

"I know he can make that weight as when he fought Margarito [this month], he was just 144 pounds. So if they insist in fighting at 147, like Freddie Roach has mentioned, they are again giving excuses."

However, Pacquiao doubts that the public wants to see him fight Marquez again, The Philippine Star reported on Sunday.

"Will they still watch it?" Pacquiao said in Manila.

The newspaper said Pacquiao's business manager Eric Pineda would accept the fight if Marquez promoted it.

"Manny thinks Marquez has a small fan base, that's why he doesn't want any hand in the promotion. All he wants is a guaranteed purse, and that Top Rank and MP Promotions won't be involved in the promotions. Then he will take the fight," Pineda said.

Following his win over Antonio Margarito two weeks ago, Pacquiao has been linked with a bout against American veteran Shane Mosley, who he has yet to encounter.

Pacquiao has this year juggled his political career with two successful fights, beating Joshua Clottey before stopping Margarito to become the first man to win world titles in eight weight categories.

Source: edition.cnn.com

Juan Manuel Marquez: I beat Manny Pacquiao twice -- Las Vegas Sun

By Brett Okamoto, Las Vegas Sun

From the bottom of his heart, Juan Manuel Marquez believes he’s beaten Manny Pacquiao twice.

But that will never be enough to the future hall of famer until three judges sitting ringside agree with him.

Just moments after turning in another terrific performance, stopping Michael Katsidis in the ninth round of their lightweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Marquez (52-5-1, 38 KO) emerged at the post-fight press conference wearing a shirt that proudly declared, “Marquez beat Pacquiao twice.”

He then made his case for a chance to do it again.

“It’s very clear I want to fight Pacquiao,” Marquez said. “I’ll consider any fighter if it’s not Pacquiao, but I feel I deserve to fight in the big fights.

“I feel like a broken record, but Pacquiao, Pacquiao, Pacquiao.”

Marquez and Pacquiao already have met in the boxing ring twice. Both times, Marquez left without his hand being raised.

The first meeting occurred at the MGM in 2004 and ended in a draw, despite Marquez being knocked down three times in the first round.

A rematch four years later at Mandalay Bay proved to be just as close, with Pacquiao slightly edging Marquez in a controversial split decision.

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer remembers sitting ringside that night and complaining about the results to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who represents Pacquiao.

According to Schaefer, the prospect of a third meeting between the two fighters was brought up immediately, however, talks have since stalled.

“I remember I was upset about the results,” Schaefer said. “Arum was there and I was asking for the rematch and he said, ‘it will happen, but these things need time to mature.’

“Well, I think it’s matured and the time is now to get this fight done. I realize everyone wants to see (Floyd) Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. But if that fight is not going to happen now, then first things first. I think Juan Manuel Marquez should get the fight.”

Although there had been little interest expressed by Top Rank and Pacquiao for a third fight with Marquez, that appeared to change as of late.

The Filipino fighter went on record to say he would take the fight, but doesn’t believe it’s a matchup boxing fans truly want to see.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, went on to say in reports that if a fight were to take place, it would have to be at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds — a number much heavier than Marquez’s ideal weight.

The demand by Roach would seem to be a fair one, if it weren’t for the fact that 147 pounds is presumably above Pacquiao’s comfortable weight as well. In a 150-pound catchweight bout against Antonio Margarito earlier this month, Pacquiao weighed in at just 144.5 pounds.

At the post-fight press conference, Marquez addressed the issue and said if Roach and Pacquiao refused to come down, it would only be an excuse.

Let’s face it, (Pacquiao) has never made 147 pounds,” Marquez said. “He’s fought at welterweight but only weighed in at 145 or 144 pounds. It’s just an excuse to get away from the fight.”

The two previous meetings between the two boxers were held at featherweight and super featherweight.

The Pacquiao ordeal overshadowed a terrific performance by Marquez, who out-landed Katsidis, 327 punches to 194, according to ringside stats.

Despite the fact the end of the fight could have been controversial — referee Kenny Bayless was quick to stop the action even though Katsidis never hit the floor — the damage Marquez caused was so convincing that no one seemed to care.

It was only the second time in Katsidis’s nine-year career he’s been stopped.

“I think the referee did a good job,” Marquez said. “(Katsidis) wasn’t throwing back the entire round. I was landing all my punches.”

Marquez now will hope the verbal punches he’s thrown will hit their mark on Pacquiao.

Whether Pacquiao harbors a secret agreement that Marquez won their first two fights, the sight of a T-shirt proclaiming so is likely something that will get his attention.

“That’s why I want the third fight,” Marquez said. “I thought I won the first fight and the second one as well — clearly.”

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com. Follow him on Twitter at LVSunFighting

Source: lasvegassun.com

Marquez stops Katsidis in bruising fight -- Miami Herald

By Sports Network

Juan Manuel Marquez retained his WBA and WBO lightweight titles with a bruising ninth-round technical knockout of Michael Katsidis on Saturday night.

Marquez bided his time in the decisive round before hitting Katsidis with a flurry of punches -- a series of uppercuts and straight rights that had the challenger backing away.

Finally, referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight at 2 minutes and 14 seconds, giving Marquez (52-5-1, 37 KO) a TKO over the rugged Katsidis.

"We knew it was going to be a difficult bout. It was so difficult he even surprised me," Marquez said afterward through a translator.

The surprise? Katsidis (27-3) knocked Marquez to the mat with a left hook in the third round after the champ left himself wide-open.

Not surprising? This was one heck of a fight.

The boxers landed a ton of throws in the punch-a-second action, with neither one backing down. They fought inside through eight and a half rounds -- one count had them landing a combined 82 punches in the seventh. Slow rounds saw them land 50 or 60.

Marquez looked like he was beginning to back off in the ninth round, slowing the fight down as he gained clear control over Katsidis. But he picked it up, perhaps sensing weakness from an opponent that had begun to stagger, and landed the decisive series of punches in quick succession.

Marquez, a 37-year-old veteran from Mexico, is angling to remain in the race to meet Manny Pacquiao again after losing their last bout in 2008 (he earned a draw in 2004).

He offered a simple explanation on Saturday for why a third fight hasn't happened already.

"Pacquiao has been avoiding us," Marquez said.

The MGM Grand crowd saw a much shorter fight before the headliners.

Andre Berto retained his WBC welterweight title with a first-round TKO of Freddy Hernandez, landing a right cross that sent the challenger to the mat.

Berto (27-0, 21 KO) stepped into the punch and snuck it through Hernandez's hands, which were up. It was only the ninth punch he landed in the bout.

After dropping quickly, Hernandez (29-2) got off the mat, but referee Russell Mora stopped the fight after just 2 minutes and 7 seconds.

"I just jabbed to the stomach and came up top with that right," Berto said after barely breaking a sweat in his first fight since a TKO of Carlos Quintana in April.

Source: miamiherald.com

Katsidis inspired by late brother in Marquez fight -- AFP

AFP

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Barely a month after the death of his older brother, Australian Michael Katsidis faces the biggest fight of his life on Saturday in a double world title showdown against Juan Manuel Marquez.

Katsidis decided to continue his Thailand-based training last month after the unexpected death of Stathi Katsidis, a 31-year-old Australian champion jockey from Brisbane.

"I will do this for Stathi, my family and myself," Katsidis said. "Stathi is inside me. We will fight this fight together. I know this is what he wants."

Katsidis, 27-2 with 22 knockouts, will face World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, 51-5 with one draw and 37 knockouts, in a possible launching pad fight for the Mexican.

Marquez and his promoters have talked up the possibility of a third fight against Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao, who won a 2008 split decision over Marquez after the two had fought to a draw in 2004.

The Asian star has talked down the idea of a third fight with a man who has not beaten him, but with unbeaten US star Floyd Mayweather facing legal charges and nixing an earlier fight bid, Marquez might be an attractive foe if he wins.

"This is going to be a very difficult fight," Marquez said. "I'm not taking anything for granted. I'm going to have to be at my best. We will give the fans a great show."

Marquez rebounded from moving up in weight and losing to Mayweather last year by decisioning former lightweight champion Juan Diaz last July.

"He?s one of the best in the world pound-for-pound," Katsidis said. "I?m ready for the challenge though. I don?t think he?ll be able to hold me off for 12 rounds."

Marquez, seven years older than his rival at age 37, has only three losses in the past 11 years, falling to Pacquiao, Mayweather and Indonesian unbeaten Chris John in 2006.

Katsidis suffered both career losses in 2008, being stopped by Cuban southpaw Joel Casamayor and losing a split decision to US veteran Diaz.

"Katsidis is a very aggressive fighter and has respectable power, but we're ready," Marquez said.

The card also includes undefeated American Andre Berto, 26-0 with 20 knockouts, defending his World Boxing Council welterweight title against Mexico's Freddy Hernandez, 29-1 with 20 knockouts.

It will be the fifth defense of the crown for Berto since claiming the vacant title by stopping Mexico's Miguel Angel Rodriguez in the seventh round in 2008. Hernandez has won 12 fights in a row over five years to set up his first world title bout.

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved.

Source: google.com

Michael Katsidis holds off fight -- Sydney Morning Herald

By Peter Mitchell, APP

Michael Katsidis' world-title bout in Las Vegas is on hold indefinitely to allow the Australian boxing champion to grieve his brother's sudden death, his US promoter confirmed.

Katsidis was training in Thailand at a Muay Thai fight camp to prepare for the much-anticipated November 27 slugfest with Mexican world titleholder Juan Manuel Marquez at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Casino when word came through his brother, elite Australian jockey Stathi Katsidis, had died.

"Our concern is for Michael as a person, rather than boxing," David Itskowitch, an executive at Oscar De La Hoya's Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions, told AAP.

Advertisement: Story continues below "We want him to be OK and I don't know if he can be OK because he just lost his brother."

Itskowitch said he immediately called the 30-year-old Toowoomba-born fighter in Thailand to pass on his condolences and spoke to the boxer's longtime Australian trainer, Brendon Smith.

"It was basically straight after they found out," Itskowitch said.

"Right now our concern is for Michael. Our concern is not for the fight.

"His well being is what is important."

If Katsidis decides he wants to go on to fight Marquez for the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organisation lightweight title belts, Golden Boy will support him, but Itskowitch says there is absolutely no pressure on Katsidis.

"When I spoke to Brendon last night I didn't say the word 'fight'," he said.

Marquez, who lost a split points decision to Manny Pacquiao two years ago, also sent his best wishes to Katsidis.

"Our condolences to Michael Katsidis and his family. Let's all pray for his brother's soul," Marquez wrote in a Twitter message.

Stathi Katsidis, 31, was found dead in his Brisbane home on Tuesday. Police have ruled out suicide and say there are no suspicious circumstances, although he did have a history of drug and alcohol abuse.

An autopsy will be held.

© 2010 AAP

Source: news.smh.com.au

Juan Manuel Marquez on Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan, Michael Katsidis -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

LAS VEGAS -- FanHouse was on hand for the post-fight press conference at the Mandalay Bay Hotel when WBO and WBA lightweight (135 pounds) champion Juan Manuel Marquez addressed members of the media following his HBO pay per view televised 12-round unanimous decision over Juan Diaz.

The 36-year-old Marquez (51-5-1, 37 knockouts), who is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, defeated the 26-year-old Diaz (35-4, 17 KOs) for the second time, adding to his February, 2009, come-from-behind, ninth-round knockout victory that was named Fight of the Year.

His right eye swollen shut from the action, Marquez, who turns 37 on Aug. 23, told the press that he would next like to have a third fight with seven-division titlist and WBO welterweight (147 pounds) champ Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), with whom he has drawn and lost a disputed decision.

Marquez also said that he would consider moving up to 140 pounds in an attempt to earn a fourth crown in as many divisions, possibly against WBA junior welterweight king Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KOs) an acheivement that would make him the first Mexican fighter to do so. Marquez said that he might also entertain a defense against No. 1 mandatory challenger, Michael Katsidis (27-2, 22 KOs) of Australia, who is the WBO's interim belt-holder.

Juan Manuel Marquez post-fight:


On how he felt about the fight in general.

I feel great about the fight. Obviously, Juan Diaz came in with a different strategy. He came in with a different strategy and I was prepared. I was prepared for anything. Obviously the fans enjoyed the fight. But I was prepared for that different strategy that Juan Diaz brought to the table, and obviously, I was victorious.


On what the difference was between the first fight and the second fight.

The first fight, Juan Diaz came in straight forward and pressed the fight. He was aggressive. But obviously in this one, Juan Diaz was thinking more. He was trying to box more. He changed up his strategy, so the fight was a bit more technical. Still, I was happy with my performance.


On Juan Diaz's valiant performance.

Obviously, Juan Diaz is a great fighter and like I said, he changed his strategy. He was about to go down two or three times. But he changed his strategy. He's a great fighter. I'll take nothing away from him and say nothing bad about him. He's a great fighter. But we prepared ourselves to face a tough Juan Diaz.


On the message that he believes that he sent by winning against a fighter who is 10 years younger than he is.

The message that I sent is that age doesn't matter. Age does not matter. There was a 10-year difference. And when you prepare yourself the way that I do, then age doesn't matter. It was a tough fight, obviously, especially after getting poked in the eye and with Juan Diaz changing his style.

But age doesn't matter, and I'm going to continue to fight and to keep pressing on and doing my best. So the message tonight was that age does not matter.


On when during the fight that he was thumbed in his right eye, which was completely swollen shut after the fight.

In the fourth and eight round I felt that thumb go into my eye. In the fourth and eighth round, I felt the sting of the thumb going into my eye.


On the possibility of a Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez III fight.

I'm right here. I'm right here. There's no hiding. There's no running. I'm right here. I'm waiting for him, you know? Our first fight, everybody saw what happened. And I'm right here. That's what boxing wants.

That's what boxing needs, and he needs to face a fighter that can beat him. I'm right here waiting for him, so whenever he's ready to knock on my door, you know, I'll be right here.


WBO interim champion Michael Katsidis, the mandatory challenger for Juan Manuel Marquez, stood up and asked if Marquez would be interested in defending the title against him.

Obviously, look, it's up to my promoter. Obviously, look, my priority right now is and always has been Manny Pacquiao. There's no ifs ands or buts -- I want to fight Manny Pacquiao. But I might have to defend my titles, and we have to respect that Michael Katsidis is the No. 1 mandatory challenger to fight for my titles.

So, obviously, if the Manny Pacquiao fight doesn't happen, then I have to defend my titles with honor and that's what I'll do. I just want to be involved in the best fights possible. That's the way that it's going to happen.


On what weight at which he would want to rematch Manny Pacquiao.

I'll fight Manny Pacquiao between 140 pounds and 142 pounds, 143, that's where I'll fight Pacquiao. No problem. I went all the way up to 147 and fought Floyd Mayweather. I'll tell you one thing, I went all the way up to 147 to fight the best fighter on the planet.

I hung in there for 12 rounds and fought with heart like I always do. If I want to fight Manny Pacquiao, fight me at a catch weight of between 140 or 143 with no problem.


On whether or not he will pursue a fourth world title in as many weight classes against WBA junior welterweight (140 pounds) champion Amir Khan if a Manny Pacquiao fight doesn't materialize.

There are a lot of possibilities that I have in front of me. Now, the doors are wide open. One of the challenges also is to move up to 140 and to be the first Mexican in boxing history to win titles in four different divisions. Four titles in four different divisions.

That's possible, but I have to look at my mandatory defenses, and I have to look at the Manny Pacquiao situation. I have to look at the fact that I want to make history by being the first Mexican champion in four different divisions.

But right now, first things first, I want to take it easy and put some ice on my face and enjoy the victory.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

JM Marquez the master over Juan Diaz as Amir Khan waits in the wings -- Telegraph

By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk

Juan Manuel Marquez still has it. In abundance. The Mexican master fought his way to a unanimous decision over Juan Diaz at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas in the early hours of this morning, to retain his WBA and WBO lightweight titles.

Clinical, rarely troubled, Marquez put on a top-level, counter-punching performance, to defeat Diaz for a second time, following his ninth round stoppage victory in February last year.

The memories of Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KOs) being dominated by the much bigger Floyd Mayweather Jnr – in September 2009 – eased away as Diaz (35 wins 4 losses) was picked apart by a fighter whose ambition shows no sign of decreasing.

It is now it is a question of what happens next…British WBA light-welterweight king Amir Khan was ringside, as was David Haye, the WBA heavyweight champion, who was working the corner for supermiddleweight George Groves, making his debut in the United States.

Diaz – known as Baby Bull – was forceful in the opening rounds, but as the fight progressed, Marquez’s superior ring skills began to tell, from round four the two belt world champion landing at will with left hooks and piston right hands. Diaz was in trouble in the middle of the fourth round, rocked by upper cuts.

Marquez, 36, who has held titles in three divisions, may now move up to light-welterweight, after the 116-112, 118-110 and 117-111 verdict.

Marquez said after the fight that his preference is for a third fight with Manny Pacquiao – with one draw and the Filipino winning by split decision in the other – yet the pound for pound king is due to fight at light-middleweight against Antonio Margarito on Nov 13.

Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, is looking at Khan as a possible opponent for Marquez in December.

Marquez said: “There’s a lot of possibilities, the door is open. One challenge is to move to 140 and be the first Mexican to win four divisions. My priority right now has always been Pacquiao. If I have to defend my title I will with honour. Against [Michael] Katsidis [who was ringside for th fight] ? That’s what I’ll do.”

Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk

Juan Manuel Marquez: Manny Pacquiao 'Doesn't Want it' -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

If WBO and WBA lightweight (135 pounds) king Juan Manuel Marquez successfully defends his crowns against Juan Diaz on July 31, he could face mandatory challenger, Michael Katsidis, of Australia, or try to become the first Mexican to earn a fourth crown in as many different weight classes by taking on WBA junior welterweight (140 pounds) champion Amir Khan.

First, the 36-year-old Marquez (50-5-1, 37 knockouts), of Anaheim, Calif., has a rematch with Diaz, whom he knocked out in the ninth round in February of 2009 in the Fight of the Year. Khan (23-1, 17 KOs) will be watching at ringside when Marquez takes on Diaz.

Meanwhile, the 29-year-old Katsidis (27-2, 22 KOs) is a WBO interim champion who is coming off of last month's third-round knockout over England's previously unbeaten Kevin Mitchell (31-1, 23 KOs).

"If Juan Diaz should win, then that would be again, a Fight of the Year candidate, and then there could be a third fight between Diaz and Marquez. So that a trilogy would make the most sense for those two guys in my opinion. If Marquez would win, then the question would be for him that he would have several options," said Schaefer.

"One of them would be to go after a title in a fourth weight class, and to be the first Mexican to do so," said Schaefer. "Another would be to try and fight Amir Khan. If he decides that he decides that he's going to stay at 135, then, obviously, the mandatory would be against Michael Katsidis, who, by the way, will be sitting at ringside on July 31 as well."

One match up that Schaefer all-but rules out for Marquez is a third bout with seven-division titlist, Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), owner of the WBO welterweight (147 pound) belt.

Marquez has battled Pacquiao to a draw, and, lost to on a disputed, split-decision, respectively, in May of 2004, and, March of 2008.

"For those of you media members who were there when Pacquiao and Marquez fought the last time in Vegas, where we all felt that Marquez should have gotten the decision, I pushed for the rematch and I was told, 'well, it's not right, the timing is not right.' I can assure you that the timing is never going to be right," said Schaefer.

"I don't think that Pacquiao is ever going to - or maybe [Pacquiao's promoter] Bob Arum -- is ever going to want to have another piece of Marquez," said Schaefer. "Because, even though I'm not a boxing expert, I have learned one thing: Styles make fights, and somebody might have somebody's number, and Marquez has Pacquiao's number. That's why I think that fight is never going to happen again."

But Marquez still is chasing that elusive third bout with Pacquiao.

"Bob Arum and Pacquiao are scared of me. Pacquiao and Bob Arum know who won the fights. Otherwise, why don't he fight me? He doesn't want it. I badly want the fight with Pacquiao, but he doesn't want it. He doesn't want to fight with me again. That's because everybody watching the two fights with Manny knows that I won," Marquez has told FanHouse.

"The first fight, they called it a draw. In the second fight, it was a split-decision. I think that I won the two fights," said Marquez. "I don't know what happened with the judges with the second fight and the split-decision. Everybody watched, and everybody saw that I won the fight."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Ricky Hatton needs a fight to overcome his demons, says CEO of Hatton Promotions -- Telegraph

By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk

Williams also claimed that if Hatton decides to make a comeback, he is still the biggest box office draw in the country, outside of a heavyweight unification contest between David Haye and one of the Klitschko brothers.

“The more time I spend with Ricky, the more I think he will fight again. I never thought I’d say this but I think it is safer for him to fight because he needs the discipline. He’s an ‘all or nothing’ guy,” said Williams.

Williams also disclosed that Hatton has been back in training in the gym, and took part in a charity football match last weekend between a celebrity England team and a Rest Of The World XI. “He was training last week as if he was in the first week of training with a fight coming up in three months’ time,” he said.

Hatton has not fought since he was knocked out in two rounds by Manny Pacquiao in a Las Vegas ring 13 months ago.

“If he had a fight in four months’ time, he’d have five per cent body fat and would be in phenomenal shape. He needs a target, he needs focus," Williams said.

“I would never push Ricky to fight, it makes no difference to me personally - I just get on with promoting his company. Boxing is an all or nothing sport, you do not have the benefit of being substituted or bowling slower, as with football or cricket, you cannot even play at a lower level.

"If you are not 100 per cent fit, the consequences can be devastating. Ricky has always said that only he will know if and when he will fight again. I will support whatever decision he makes.

"There are plenty of demons left there after the Manny Pacquiao fight, and in Ricky’s mind, there is unfinished business. He was definitely not prepared correctly for the Pacquiao fight.

“Michael Katsidis would be a perfect fight for him. He’s a big name and it would be a good fight for Ricky, and it would be a good fight in England that would work on Sky Box Office.”

Williams insisted Hatton is still the biggest box office fighter in England.

"I obviously spend a lot of time with him and this last 12 months we have visited America, South Africa, China and Australia. The amount of recognition and attention he gets is phenomenal," he said.

“Whatever happens he has achieved so much. If he never fights again, he will go down as one of the great British fighters, and the good thing is that he does not have to fight again for financial reasons, and not many boxers can say that.”

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Classy Michael Katsidis ends Kevin Mitchell dream -- BBC Sport

By Ben Dirs, BBC Sport

Kevin Mitchell's dream fight at Upton Park turned into a nightmare as he was dismantled inside three rounds by Australian Michael Katsidis.

Mitchell, 25, looked surprised by Katsidis' power in the first round and was immediately forced to backpedal.

The Dagenham man appeared to have settled in the second, finding his mark with some sharp combinations.

But Katsidis, 25, staggered Mitchell with a big left hand in the third and referee Dave Parris later stepped in.

"I knew he was a big puncher, I knew he was heavy-handed," said Mitchell.

"He lured me into an attack and bang, he caught me.

"I've been in with big punchers - Carl Johanneson, Breidis Prescott. He lured me into the shot, I walked into one and bang. You can't make mistakes like that, I made the mistake and that's that.

"It's a wake-up call, I've got to be more professional in what I'm doing and take more care of my work and be more aware of what I'm doing in the ring, I backed up and sat on the ropes like an idiot.

"I'll be back and I'll be strong and I'll be ready to fight him again, definitely. 100% I will win a world title, I promise you."

Mitchell was challenging for Katsidis' WBO interim lightweight crown in front of 14,000 vociferous locals at West Ham's ground, but it was the Aussie who seemed the more energised by the occasion.

Punk band Cockney Rejects were on hand to sing Mitchell into the ring with a raucous rendition of the old Hammers favourite I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles, but Katsidis, in his trademark gladiator helmet, looked noticeably bigger when they eventually came face to face.

And after a cagey opening, Mitchell seemed to be somewhat taken aback when Katsidis decided to break ranks, with the Englishman spending most of the rest of the round on the back foot and Katsidis landing some spiteful blows.

It was better from Mitchell in the second, the challenger using his jab and finding the target with some snappy combinations, but still Katsidis came pouring forward.

At the start of the third Katsidis seemed to back off slightly, which succeeded in luring Mitchell forward into a slugging match and allowed the champion to pounce.

Former British and Commonwealth super-featherweight champion Mitchell, who made his name as a slugger, had looked a more complete fighter in his last few fights, and the accepted wisdom was that he should avoid going toe-to-toe with Katsidis.

And sure enough, when the leather started flying it was the champion who came off best, staggering Mitchell with a cuffing left to the back of the head, a shot from which Mitchell never really recovered.

Mitchell fired back with a couple of combinations, but Katsidis just kept coming, backing his rival onto the ropes before landing with another clubbing left and following up with a sustained, two-fisted battery.

And with Mitchell no longer returning fire, Parris was left with no other option but to stop the fight one minute and 57 seconds into the round, an outcome that stunned the West Ham faithful into virtual silence.

Mitchell, who was previously unbeaten in 31 pro encounters, will now have to rebuild his career, with a much talked about domestic match-up against Amir Khan now a distant dream.

While he vowed to come back and win a world championship, the manner in which he was exposed by a fighter who had fought and come up short at the very highest level will raise questions about his ability to do so.

But promoter Frank Warren has backed his man to return from his first loss and follow Khan's example by bouncing back from defeat to win a world title.

"Can he come back? I think he can," Warren told BBC Sport.

"We saw what happened to Amir Khan 18 months ago, and it's all about him using the talents he's got and not letting his heart overrule his brain.

"If he does that again he won't win a world title, he's got to learn and he's young enough to do that. He's got to go back to the drawing board and if he can learn, I think he will win a world title."

Instead it is Katsidis, who stopped Luton's Graham Earl in five savage rounds when he last fought in London in 2007 and who improves to 27 wins and two losses, who can now look forward to some big pay days, with the WBO's full champion Juan Manuel Marquez still on his radar.

"It's fantastic, it's been an absolute pleasure. You've got 20,000 people here, I would just hope one day these people could come and support me," said Katsidis.

"I feel I'm the best I've ever been, we've worked hard and I've been away from my family and my new baby girl.

"I can't leave Britain anyway because of the volcano, so I just want to stay here. There's 20-odd thousand passionate people here cheering and supporting the sport I love.

"I'm just going to enjoy my title, I am the world champion."

Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Kevin Mitchell blasts Amir Khan -- Daily Star

DailyStar.co.uk

KEVIN Mitchell blames Amir Khan’s texts scandal on his Hollywood lifestyle.

And Londoner Mitchell blasted Khan for claiming he’ll be ready to take on the best in the business in a year.

Unbeaten Mitchell, 25, who fights Aussie Michael Katsidis for the WBO interim lightweight title at Upton Park in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Saturday, said: “He’s let the Hollywood lifestyle get to him. He’s even talking about fighting Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather next year.

“He’s not in their league. He’s just making himself look foolish and I feel gutted for him.”

Source: dailystar.co.uk