By Michael Taylor: A few weeks ago Juan Manuel Marquez told the public that he would be returning to Las Vegas on May 1st. No opponent had been named, but there were big possibilities that he would clash with Ricky Hatton at Light Welterweight in a summer showdown. Golden Boy Promotions had told boxingscene that Michael Katsidis had told them he would give Marquez more time to fight Ricky Hatton. Katsidis is the World Boxing Organization interim lightweight champion making him the number #1 contender for Marquez’s WBO Lightweight title.

Marquez would have to defend against Michael unless Katsidis said they could fight another fight first. Despite what had been said, it wasn’t true. This means that if Marquez fights Hatton he will be stripped of his title. We don’t quite know how much Marquez wants to hold onto his belt, if he doesn’t care too much then I’m sure the Hatton fight will still be available. If he wants to keep it then the Hatton fight will have to wait.

Katsidis is a brawler and can be very exciting to watch, but isn’t a class opponent and when up against better opposition usually comes up short. Juan Diaz last defeat was to Juan Diaz via split decision in September 2008. Diaz has since lost to Marquez earlier this year and to Paulie Malignaggi. Marquez would be the clear favourite and would get almost everybody’s vote to win this fight.

Obviously HBO would prefer Hatton-Marquez, it would sell much quicker and would be a bigger attraction, but most boxing fans know that a fight like Katsidis-Marquez would be a good one to watch, and would be extremely exciting, maybe next years fight of the year candidate.

Katsidis has made it clear he wants to fight when interviewed by Boxing Scene, saying, “I am sure Juan Marquez wont be a w**ker about all of this. I know he would not be trying to get another grant from the president. I don’t believe it. He does not come across as that sought of bloke and I am sure he is not a greedy man. But if I am wrong, and he does not want to fight in the lightweight division and wishes to up and campaign in the higher weights, then he should do the right thing and let it go so the rest of us lightweights can get on with it. If he fights up in weight one more time, we all know he is not coming back to lightweight after that. He may even retire. That is another reason why I do not believe this rumour, as what an awful long hold up in the lightweight division it would create. I know the WBO, promoters, managers and boxers in the division and the public would not want this to happen. So just a little massage to Juan from me! You were granted once to go up in weight to fight, now do what you are supposed to do and fight me or let it go, plain and simple! We have enough w**kers in the world mate, don’t become one yourself and be the champion you are. I look forward to saying hello may 1st.”

Katsidis isn’t too bothered whether he fights Marquez or not, but that’s the type of fighter he is, just put them in front of him and he’ll take them. I suspect Marquez has a lot of thinking to do, whether to leave Lightweight and take a bigger money fight with Hatton, or stay and take on Katsidis and hold onto what he fought so hard to get.