Katsidis v Jesus Chavez
Posted: 11 Feb 2009, 20:28
MICHAEL Katsidis has charged back into the big time by landing a lightweight world title eliminator against Mexico's former two-division world champion Jesus Chavez in Texas.
The WBO-sanctioned bout on the April 4 promotion will be one of four major lightweight fights, with Joel Casamayor and Edwin Valero among the other boxers scheduled to appear.
Former WBO interim lightweight champion Katsidis returned to winning form against Angel Hugo Ramirez in the Philippines last week following successive losses to Casamayor and Juan Diaz.
Queenslander Katsidis, who was ranked sixth by the WBO before winning their Asia Pacific lightweight title last week, was poised to fight in Australia for the first time in almost three years until he was offered a place on a card which will be televised worldwide.
His trainer and manager Brendon Smith revealed he had spoken to some Australian businessmen in Melbourne about his charge fighting in the Victorian capital or in Brisbane.
He said Katsidis had also been offered a fight in California against former IBF lightweight world champion Julio Diaz.
"This is our home and ideally Michael does want to come back and fight here in Australia,'' Smith said. "But this card in Texas is being shown on (American cable television network) HBO and around the world, so naturally at the moment that's the best option on the table for his career.''
Katsidis, 28, boosted his professional record to 24-2 (20 KOs) with his unanimous ten round points win over Ramirez in Cebu City. Chavez 36, has a record of 44-4 (30 KOs).
He went nine rounds with former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather in 2001 and subsequently won the WBC super featherweight title in 2003.
He lost that crown to Erik Morales after one successful defence and won the IBF lightweight title in 2005, before losing that in his first defence.
"He (Chavez) is a very good Mexican fighter and it will be a great fight for Michael,'' Smith said. "Michael has had ten rounds in the Philippines against Ramirez, so it's wonderful timing. You will see the best of Michael as you can't beat activity.''
Smith said Katsidis would train in Thailand before heading to the United States three to four weeks before the fight.