BoxRec

While I'd agree that generally foreign fighters can't effectively become a big name in Britain, I think Katsidis may be different.
One advantage he has over all the guys named previously is the large amount of Australian expatriates in the UK. You have to think that's a very accessible market for your product(in this case Katsidis is the product).

I do think he'd initially need John Murray however, he's had 2 big fights in Britain(on ITV1 and Sky Sports1) at a decent viewing time and good media coverage. However those bouts have been quite far apart and for the most part people(outside of boxing fans) forgot who he was by the time he fought Mitchell. But another big fight in the UK, on prime time on SkySports against John Murray in a decent sized arena, with all the publicity that comes with it sometime in the next 12 months or so and I think Katsidis could become a very recognisable name. Especially if whoever promotes him keeps talking about potentially fighting Khan(with little intention to actually do so), using Khan Katsidis' name could be kept fresh in the British publics mind and with 3 big fights(and what would be 3 big wins imo) under his belt in this country I think he could potentially gather a decent following.

He'd never be as popular as a British fighter of the same talent, but I could imagine his exciting style earning him very good viewing figures and attracting reasonable amount of fans for fights with non British fighters(say ~3,000), with a large amount of that being Australians.
Of course he could flop like the rest, but I feel there's better opportunity here with Katsidis than there was previously with any of the other guys named.

There is a much bigger affinity with Australians / Kiwis and the UK than any other nation.

Sure they rip the piss out of the Brits and vice versa, but we immigrate and emigrate freely and share the same ideals generally.

That aside,

If he based himself here, he would be embraced and become a huge star on account of his fighting style, personality and attitude to fighting the best.

Plenty of Australian sports stars are well received in Britain so I guess Katsidis with his action destroy or be destroyed style could be successful as well.

i think he'll get beaten again soon enough. he's good but not THAT good. a good fighter can outbox or TKO him due to injuries.

the win over mitchell was a great result, but as much due to mitchell's defensive lapses after taking a couple of hard shots. mitchell, when shaken, ships more and more big punches, then tries to line his own shots up.

i think mitchell needs to look at some tomasz adamek fights. adamek isn't pernell whitaker, but the guy does everything right after he takes a massive shot. he holds, smothers, moves, does everything he can to clear his head. then he gets back to the boxing, and usually has the upper hand by the end of the session he's been hurt in. he's had to do this since moving up to the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, and his success vs massive punchers bell, banks and arreola is partly down to his cool head and quick thinking in a firefight.

Autobarn wrote:
i think mitchell needs to look at some tomasz adamek fights. adamek isn't pernell whitaker, but the guy does everything right after he takes a massive shot. he holds, smothers, moves, does everything he can to clear his head. then he gets back to the boxing, and usually has the upper hand by the end of the session he's been hurt in. he's had to do this since moving up to the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, and his success vs massive punchers bell, banks and arreola is partly down to his cool head and quick thinking in a firefight.

Agree with this, Mitchell just didn't have the experience of ever having to cling on in a fight before. Against Johansson he just met fire with fire and luckily it paid off for him, in the main I think cos Johansson was at the tail end of a few wars hmself so wasn't as durable as he once was. Mitchell hopefully can learn to ride the punches more and hold on better when hurt as that is clearly something he has never really had to do before.

after Saturday i i would say he is big in the UK.....when would have katsidis got a mention in British and Irish forum before his fight with Mitchell was announced? (other than the Earl fight). Someone mentioned that hes not signed to anyone Warren should snap him up imo.

deadpan wrote:Him and Hatton would be massive if Ricky Thirdperson spends a fraction of his Churchill moolah on a gastric band.

Ricky Hatton versus Michael Katsidis.......a "thank you" for the fans

Hatton would be a mad man to climb in there with Katsidis......if he didn't leave the ring looking like he did after Pacman, he'd leave it looking like he did after Thaxton or Magee.....which is why he wouldn't touch it with a barge-pole at this stage imo.

Didn't Hatton formally retire at a press conference 6 months ago anyway??