By Scott Gilfoid: Number #1 ranked WBO lightweight contender Kevin Mitchell (31-0, 23 KO’s) vows to make World Boxing Organization lightweight interim champion Michael Katsidis (26-2, 21 KO’s) pay for not showing him the proper respect three years ago when the two fighters met, according to Sportinglife. Mitchell met Katsidis three years ago when fighting on the undercard of Katsidis’ 5th round stoppage of Graham Earl on February 17th, 2007. Mitchell apparently came up to Katsidis and paid him a compliment for having fought well against Earl.
However, Katsidis didn’t compliment Mitchell in return and didn’t seem to give Mitchell the reaction he was looking for from Katsidis. Mitchell said “I’ve always remembered that and it’s stuck with me to this day. His fight against Earl was one of the best I have ever seen, and I went up to him to tell him that. But rather than show me the kind of respect fighters usually have for each other, he looked at me like I was a nobody. I couldn’t believe it. I was just a young kid who wanted to big up a fighter who’d just put it all on the line. I’ve met a lot of champions in my time, and his behavior that night was the worst I’ve come across.”
I wonder if it has ever crossed Mitchell’s mind that Katsidis might not have known who he was at the time that he approached him. I can see it. Mitchell, looking all of 22, walks up to a guy that just fought a five round war and compliments him. Katsidis was probably having his backside kissed over and over again after that fight by a throng of fans, and then Mitchell walks up. I can see where Katsidis might not have recognized the guy and just out of ignorance didn’t give him the reaction wanted.
Mitchell has become better known lately, but I wonder if Katsidis really knew who he was back then? How can you blame a guy because he didn’t show you the reaction you wanted when he just finished brawling with some guy for five rounds? Katsidis took some shots in that fight and I can understand why he might not be showing courtesy to everyone that approached him after the bout. Probably distracted and thinking about other stuff. Back in 2007, Mitchell was still mostly fighting guys from local British boxing scene and hadn’t started to really take on fighters from around the world.
Mitchell, still upset about Katsidis not showing him the proper respect, said “Until that moment, I was one of his biggest fans, but afterwards, I was desperate to knock him out. Right there and then, I thought to myself ‘you’re going to pay for that.” Oh brother. Why should Katsidis have recognized Mitchell when he was still not fighting world class opponents? What do you expect from the guy? It isn’t like Mitchell was fighting in Australia where Katsidis lives. I could see Mitchell being upset about Katsidis not showing him respect – or whatever he was looking for – in that circumstance, but to be upset about him not getting excited about a fighter that had been fighting almost all his fights in the UK at that point seems a little bizarre.
Even now, Mitchell is still fighting most of his fights in the UK and has not been venturing to other parts of the world to fight, with the exception of his bout against Walter Estrada. I’d say his best opponent to date is Breidis Prescott, and I wasn’t impressed in the slightest with that win by Mitchell. In fact, I had Prescott winning that fight by eight rounds to four. Mitchell ran from Prescott in every rounds, occasionally stooping to throw a pot shot before resuming his running. I saw this as a controversial decision and didn’t see anything from that victory that would make me think that Mitchell can beat a fighter like Katsidis.
I hope Mitchell does go and try to knock Katsidis out, but if he does that, I see Mitchell knocked into oblivion by Katsidis. I think Mitchell will start off trying to pay Katsidis back for this long ago slight, but as soon as he tastes Katsidis’ power, my guess is Mitchell will be off to the races, sprinting around the ring all night long in a fight that will be painfully boring to watch. But I really hope Mitchell just stands and trades with Katsidis and gives the fans something to remember for as long as it lasts.
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