Mitchell vs. Katsidis to take place at Upton Park
March 17th, 2010
By William Mackay: The May 15th clash between World Boxing Organization lightweight interim champion Michael Katsidis (26-2, 21 KO’s) and number #1 ranked challenger Kevin Mitchell (31-0, 23 KO’s) will be taking place at Upton Park, in West Ham, London. The location of the fight will benefit Mitchell, a Brit, and there could be as many as 25,000 fans coming to watch the bout. Obviously, Mitchell is more than pleased, because even though he’s not the champion, he’ll get to fight at home in front of a large crowd because his promoter Frank Warren won the purse bid for the fight.
Against Breidis Prescott last year, Mitchell boxed the entire fight and through sporadic pot shots to get the win. It wasn’t pretty, but Mitchell got the win in any event. However, it’s doubtful that Mitchell can count on doing to same against a skilled fighter like Katsidis because the Australian is quicker on his feet than Prescott, better at cutting off the ring and very difficult to box. Katsidis crowds his opponent, forcing them to fight whether they want to or not.
Katsidis has lost to Juan Diaz and Joel Casamayor in the past, but fought both of them very tough despite losing. Mitchell may have little choice but to fight in the trenches if he wants to beat Katsidis. Running and throwing pot shots, which worked for Mitchell up to a point in the Prescott fight, won’t likely be effective against Katsidis. He’s too fast to be boxed from the outside. As such, Mitchell better hope for his sake that his chin is tough enough to absorb the monstrous shots that Katsidis will be hitting him with.
The crowd could help Mitchell keep his motivation up, but if Katsidis tags him with something too big, we could see Mitchell kissing the canvas once or twice and maybe getting stopped. In Mitchell’s fight against Carl Johanneson in Marcy 2008, Mitchell took some heavy punishment in the fight, and appeared to be knocked down in the 6th.
The referee didn’t rule it as a knockdown, but he might as well have done so for all Johanneson cared, because he was all over Mitchell for the remainder of the round, badly hurting him with big shots over and over again. Mitchell continued to take punishment in both the 7th and 8th rounds before eventually taking out a tired out Johanneson in the 9th.
Johanneson is a decent puncher, to be sure, but he’s not in the same class as Katsidis in terms of punching power and I can see Mitchell having a lot of problems against the Australian unless Mitchell opts to run all night long like he did in his fight with Prescott. Even with that, I doubt will be enough to slow Katsidis down for more than a few seconds. Mitchell’s only real chance of winning, I think, is if his chin can hold out and he can possibly squeak out a close, probably controversial decision.
Tags: 16 Responses to “Mitchell vs. Katsidis to take place at Upton Park”
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mitchell has never been down as a pro or amateur an can slug or box whichever he needs to katsidis can slug an after three or four rounds slows down he still slugs but leaves hisself more open i like katsidis he is a great fighter but ican honestly see him bein given a beating here it will take mitchell two rounds to adapt to his style then when that is done the show begins i think mitchell will put katsidis down in the first three rounds an then like similar in his last fight stand an box he will win round after round unless we all see something that none of us have yet an that is mitchell hitting the canvas because then we do not know how an if he gets up if he can hold his self up this is a great match up an i find it hard to say but mitchell tko within 8 or 9 rounds if not the first
Im a big Mitchell fan, but i seriously cant see him beating katsidis. I was disappointed to c him run from prescott all nite, it was actually a broing fight! Katsidis has too much experience n boxing knowledge……
It will be close but only on the scorecards. Mitchell doesn’t have the skills or the balls to win this fight. Katsidis is one of the best conditioned fighters in the world and will simple cut of the ring, force the fight and land too many big shots for Mitchell to last 12 rounds. Mitchell won’t fight, he will run and Katsidis will catch him. If he runs Katsidis will stop him in 8 rounds. If he stands and fights it will be over before the end of the 4th.
Mitchell is nowhere near the level of opponent that Katsidis is used to facing. He is a Nuffie who has fought nobodies and ring in’s his whole career. For all the guys thinking Mitchell is world class, how is it his win loss record is so good yet there is not 1 guy he has beaten who has maintained a ranking inside the top 50 in the world?
Mitchell all the way for me!!!
anyone who thinks this fight isnt gonna be close has probably only seen one of these 2 fight.
This is gonna be close!!! And a very very good fight. CANT WAIT!
Katsidis will win this one. Probably wont be close.
mitchell says hes ready for war shame he wasnt against presscott
cant wait for this fight its going to a great one.
look at the shots that casamyour downed katsidis with in the first round. ur saying mitchell isnt capable of throwing that? katsidis is so suseptable to the strait wen he cums charging in it just takes fast hands and good power and hes going down,,,,, your going on about mitchells chin but what about katsidis?????
against prescott he had a 2 inche reach disadvantage! but with kats he’ll have a 1 inche advantage. he wont need too run all night he can just keep the head movement and catch kats wen hes throwing!
This is going to be funny when Mitchell soundly beats Kastidis.
Mitchell is a great counter puncher, has power and can box very, very well. If Katsidis under-estimates as much as you are then he will be in a for a big shock. Though Katsidis is a boxer and has done his homework so I think he will have a lot more respect for Mitchell then you have.
I see this being a tough fight and a good match-up. To close call which makes for an exciting night.
Katsidis will give mitchell a beating to rival that of the beating he gave to earl and that was in his hometown also!!
Well for a start the fight will be IN Upton Park not AT Upton Park, the venue is actually called the Boleyn Ground. Also I think that Mitchell was very impressive against Prescott and the fight will be a close contest between two talented fighters.
wicked quick trip over the river cant wait!
he’ll box the ears off katsidis (who got put down by graham earl). We’ll have to see but i can seea comfortable UD.
I think you underestimate Mitchell and overate Katsidis
What about Katsidis chin its by no means solid
I think its Mitchell big shot and with his new team he looks completly different compared to Johannson fight which was 2 years ago
Mitchell by late TKO