Q&A Michael “The Great” Katsidis
Posted: 23 Jul 2009, 12:02
Q&A Michael “The Great” Katsidis
We recently caught up with Lightweight contender and former champion Michael “The Great” Katsidis 25-2(21). The Australian born fighter has been in Larissa, Greece which is the home of his ancestors as a special guest. The thrill a minute battler is regarded as by some as the heir apparent to Human Highlight reel Arturo Gatti. He sprung to prominence in 2007 when as an unbeaten contender he won the world title in London with an electrifying bludgeoning of the game Graham Earl. That performance pricked enough ears that he got a prime spot on the Hopkins-Wright card against Tough Filipino Czar Amonsot in a wild affair Katsidis dropped Amonsot twice and won a unanimous points decision though he incurred two brutal cuts. Those cuts kept him out of the ring for 8 months when he fought his toughest foe to date Joel Casamayor. This time Katsidis wasn’t able to find a way to win and was stopped in the tenth of an exciting encounter in which he actually had Casamayor down in the sixth. An all action battle with Juan Diaz followed again Katsidis lost, this time a narrow split decision. Though he now had two loses on his ledger he had shown that he deserves to be amongst the top Lightweights on the planet. The loses had done more for his image than many wins can do for a fighter. Team Katsidis now happy that they belong with the elite at 135, they helped retool and rebuild Katsidis firstly with a ten round points win in the Philippines then he came back fight in America as part of the Lightweight lightening card when he stopped solid veteran Jesus Chavez in seven. Here’s what Katsidis had to say on various subjects.
Hello Michael, welcome to 15 rounds. com
Anson Wainwright - Do you have any news of when and where and possibly against whom you maybe back in action?
Michael Katsidis - There are currently two pending challenges that you may already know about. Pacquiao and Hatton. Meanwhile there are a world of opportunities now sitting pretty at no.1 in the WBO. I’m not locked in to fight just now but I am very soon I believe I have an answer as to when I fight again.
Anson Wainwright -It has been reported that you turned down a fight I think it was against Rolando Reyes, what is your side of things?
Michael Katsidis - The last time I was scheduled to fight Rolando Reyes was for my debut bout in America over 3 years ago. Since then I have fought in 4 world title bouts and have been the lightweight champion of the world. I don’t believe there is anything in that fight for me as far as the majority of people wanting to see that fight opposed to who I have already fought.
Anson Wainwright -You have mentioned that you have been contacted by Ricky Hatton for a fight this fall in Britain, can you tell us anymore?
Michael Katsidis - This fight is still pending. I hear a lot of questions from people in regards to when and where this fight will happen. An astounding amount of people asking these questions are all from England. They all know he is having a homecoming fight but I believe he still has to move on from his loss to Pacquiao, make a decision and take a step to go forward. He knows I come to his backyard to do this, his dad even mentioned he wants the fight, when is the question.
Anson Wainwright -Would moving up to Light Welterweight not take away your strength and play into Hatton’s hands?
Michael Katsidis - I am strong either way, I believe this fight will be a battle of wills.
Anson Wainwright -You suffer from cuts, have you ever seen a doctor and tried different things to prevent this happening?
Michael Katsidis - This is boxing and like Ricky Hatton said ‘this isn’t a tickling contest’ you fight, and things happen. Truth be known I have only cut in two fights 3 fights of my career spanning of over 100 amateur and professional fights. So no I haven’t seen a doctor about this.
Anson Wainwright -Your based in Pattaya, Thailand. Can you tell us a little about your decision to base yourself there?
Michael Katsidis – I’m not based in Pattaya permanently, I have been preparing at different locations but have used Thailand in parts, namely Pattaya and Phuket. Where we choose our training camps are based upon the time of year climate conditions and various elements that come into the sport of boxing which as most in the sport may know can change at any time
Anson Wainwright -How did you get into Boxing?
Michael Katsidis - I started at the age of eleven. I had endless amounts of energy and nowhere to channel it. Then I found boxing. For weeks I went to the gym and admired how dedicated everyone was to the sport. I remember hearing a trainer tell a young kid the same age as myself, ‘your going to be a tiger’. I interrupted and asked if he could turn me into a tiger too! Not long after that I came across Brendon Smith and trained along with his team of boxers. 18 years later we are still doing the same thing.
Anson Wainwright -How do you enjoy spending your time away from Boxing?
Michael Katsidis - I like spending time with family. I think family is the greatest link to our past. Mostly I enjoy watching my brother at the race track. I’m proud to say he is one of Australia’s leading jockeys.
Anson Wainwright -Your heritage is something you seem to be proud of. You wear a Spartan Helmut to the ring and have a tattoo on your back of the Vergina Sun. Can you tell us a little about it?
Michael Katsidis - I wear what I wear to the ring to pay tribute to my heritage. Both my brother and myself have been very gifted from such a young age. I wear the sun of Vergina and feel the passion from so many people all over the world when I am victorious. It all adds to making what I do so special. You have to love your work and this is how I do it.
Anson Wainwright -You’re beaten all comers except the very best when you lost entertaining fights with Juan Diaz & Joel Casamayor. Is that something that drives you on, to be able to fight one of those guys and get the win against them?
Michael Katsidis - I know within myself I beat Juan Diaz on that night. There was 18,000 strong crowd that night all in favour of Diaz in his hometown. You could of heard a pin drop during that fight at times, it was so quiet when I advanced. I know I am a better fighter and now I am more experienced and are more skilled, I’m coming into the best stage of my career now having gained so much from those big fights. What drives me is knowing what I am capable of and how easily I can do it. little I say matters, now all that is left is to stay the cause and time will tell.
Anson Wainwright -Finally do you have a message for your fans?
Michael Katsidis - Never forget where you come from and be proud of who you are, if you want something bad enough you can have it. It is my duty to stand testimony to that. Im going to win the world title again.
We recently caught up with Lightweight contender and former champion Michael “The Great” Katsidis 25-2(21). The Australian born fighter has been in Larissa, Greece which is the home of his ancestors as a special guest. The thrill a minute battler is regarded as by some as the heir apparent to Human Highlight reel Arturo Gatti. He sprung to prominence in 2007 when as an unbeaten contender he won the world title in London with an electrifying bludgeoning of the game Graham Earl. That performance pricked enough ears that he got a prime spot on the Hopkins-Wright card against Tough Filipino Czar Amonsot in a wild affair Katsidis dropped Amonsot twice and won a unanimous points decision though he incurred two brutal cuts. Those cuts kept him out of the ring for 8 months when he fought his toughest foe to date Joel Casamayor. This time Katsidis wasn’t able to find a way to win and was stopped in the tenth of an exciting encounter in which he actually had Casamayor down in the sixth. An all action battle with Juan Diaz followed again Katsidis lost, this time a narrow split decision. Though he now had two loses on his ledger he had shown that he deserves to be amongst the top Lightweights on the planet. The loses had done more for his image than many wins can do for a fighter. Team Katsidis now happy that they belong with the elite at 135, they helped retool and rebuild Katsidis firstly with a ten round points win in the Philippines then he came back fight in America as part of the Lightweight lightening card when he stopped solid veteran Jesus Chavez in seven. Here’s what Katsidis had to say on various subjects.
Hello Michael, welcome to 15 rounds. com
Anson Wainwright - Do you have any news of when and where and possibly against whom you maybe back in action?
Michael Katsidis - There are currently two pending challenges that you may already know about. Pacquiao and Hatton. Meanwhile there are a world of opportunities now sitting pretty at no.1 in the WBO. I’m not locked in to fight just now but I am very soon I believe I have an answer as to when I fight again.
Anson Wainwright -It has been reported that you turned down a fight I think it was against Rolando Reyes, what is your side of things?
Michael Katsidis - The last time I was scheduled to fight Rolando Reyes was for my debut bout in America over 3 years ago. Since then I have fought in 4 world title bouts and have been the lightweight champion of the world. I don’t believe there is anything in that fight for me as far as the majority of people wanting to see that fight opposed to who I have already fought.
Anson Wainwright -You have mentioned that you have been contacted by Ricky Hatton for a fight this fall in Britain, can you tell us anymore?
Michael Katsidis - This fight is still pending. I hear a lot of questions from people in regards to when and where this fight will happen. An astounding amount of people asking these questions are all from England. They all know he is having a homecoming fight but I believe he still has to move on from his loss to Pacquiao, make a decision and take a step to go forward. He knows I come to his backyard to do this, his dad even mentioned he wants the fight, when is the question.
Anson Wainwright -Would moving up to Light Welterweight not take away your strength and play into Hatton’s hands?
Michael Katsidis - I am strong either way, I believe this fight will be a battle of wills.
Anson Wainwright -You suffer from cuts, have you ever seen a doctor and tried different things to prevent this happening?
Michael Katsidis - This is boxing and like Ricky Hatton said ‘this isn’t a tickling contest’ you fight, and things happen. Truth be known I have only cut in two fights 3 fights of my career spanning of over 100 amateur and professional fights. So no I haven’t seen a doctor about this.
Anson Wainwright -Your based in Pattaya, Thailand. Can you tell us a little about your decision to base yourself there?
Michael Katsidis – I’m not based in Pattaya permanently, I have been preparing at different locations but have used Thailand in parts, namely Pattaya and Phuket. Where we choose our training camps are based upon the time of year climate conditions and various elements that come into the sport of boxing which as most in the sport may know can change at any time
Anson Wainwright -How did you get into Boxing?
Michael Katsidis - I started at the age of eleven. I had endless amounts of energy and nowhere to channel it. Then I found boxing. For weeks I went to the gym and admired how dedicated everyone was to the sport. I remember hearing a trainer tell a young kid the same age as myself, ‘your going to be a tiger’. I interrupted and asked if he could turn me into a tiger too! Not long after that I came across Brendon Smith and trained along with his team of boxers. 18 years later we are still doing the same thing.
Anson Wainwright -How do you enjoy spending your time away from Boxing?
Michael Katsidis - I like spending time with family. I think family is the greatest link to our past. Mostly I enjoy watching my brother at the race track. I’m proud to say he is one of Australia’s leading jockeys.
Anson Wainwright -Your heritage is something you seem to be proud of. You wear a Spartan Helmut to the ring and have a tattoo on your back of the Vergina Sun. Can you tell us a little about it?
Michael Katsidis - I wear what I wear to the ring to pay tribute to my heritage. Both my brother and myself have been very gifted from such a young age. I wear the sun of Vergina and feel the passion from so many people all over the world when I am victorious. It all adds to making what I do so special. You have to love your work and this is how I do it.
Anson Wainwright -You’re beaten all comers except the very best when you lost entertaining fights with Juan Diaz & Joel Casamayor. Is that something that drives you on, to be able to fight one of those guys and get the win against them?
Michael Katsidis - I know within myself I beat Juan Diaz on that night. There was 18,000 strong crowd that night all in favour of Diaz in his hometown. You could of heard a pin drop during that fight at times, it was so quiet when I advanced. I know I am a better fighter and now I am more experienced and are more skilled, I’m coming into the best stage of my career now having gained so much from those big fights. What drives me is knowing what I am capable of and how easily I can do it. little I say matters, now all that is left is to stay the cause and time will tell.
Anson Wainwright -Finally do you have a message for your fans?
Michael Katsidis - Never forget where you come from and be proud of who you are, if you want something bad enough you can have it. It is my duty to stand testimony to that. Im going to win the world title again.
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