The View From U.K Corner: Khan, DeGale, Mitchell, Katsidis, More!

By Boxing News - 05/16/2010 - Comments

Image: The View From U.K Corner: Khan, DeGale, Mitchell, Katsidis, More!By Sean Pollock: No matter what corner of the world you were watching from on Saturday night- it was a great night of boxing! We seen some classy exhibitions of ‘the sweet science’ and some ruthless displays of raw power, each as enjoyable as the other.

Destination- Upton Park, London, UK:

The night started well for Olympian James DeGale (7 –0-0) with a brutal KO in the 5th of Sam Horton (15-1-0) for the vacant ‘WBA International super middleweight title’ and he looks to be maturing nicely into the very competitive division. The stadium was then buzzing with anticipation for the main event after Derek Chisora (13-0-0) made light work with a 2nd round TKO of the Mike Tyson conqueror Danny Williams (41-9-0). William’s roller coaster career has now come to an end, and his days of mixing it with Klitschko and Tyson seemed a lifetime ago as he tragically collapsed to the ropes only for the referee to intervene and save further punishment.

‘The Great’ Katsidis, alone, in a throw back to Roman times, ready to enter the Coliseum dressed in full gladiator attire, eyes glaring through the slits in his majestic helmet- looking a force not to be reckoned with, he struck fear through a television to me, Kevin Mitchell must have been terrified. The biggest test of the unbeaten local lad Mitchell’s career and the bell rings… Katsidis threw bombs in the 2nd round and Mitchell seemed to shrink- and looked way out of his depth. Kevin tried to move and keep the Aussie off with his jab, but he was not to be denied- a final mammoth left hook caught Mitchell square on the jaw, a further flurry and the referee intervened in the 3rd- Katsidis was the new WBO interim champion.

First and foremost, Kevin Mitchell is without doubt a very good fighter. While his post fight interview seemed to hint that it was just one mistake that led to his first loss- I think it was a bit more than that. At that high of a level with a tough operator like Katsidis one mistake can cost you dearly…although I think the sad truth was Mitchell just isn’t world class. I know it’s easy to say that after somebody gets beaten, and I hope he proves me wrong, but when it comes to being under the spot light as the main event against a proven fighter, will he ever make the grade?

Destination- Madison Square Garden, New York, USA;

Without having to talk through the whole fight proceedings, in short, Amir Khan started tense- finished excellently. He showed his world class level and how he has advanced under Freddie Roach. Looking lightning fast and defensively ok, I think Khan isn’t too far off putting a legitimate challenge to the hard hitting Maidana or the classy Bradley and Alexander.

I’m not a Khan fan at all, I think he is a good boxer, but I’ve never been a fan of his attitude and cocky demeanor. Having displayed an embarrassing chin and being directed in an easy route to a world title he has a lot to prove to me and many of us U.K fans. Although his post fight interview was a mature and respectable one- he could have easily boasted- but he spoke of his team effort with Roach and even called out Maidana -who most think he’d rather vacate his title than fight- if the meeting actually occurs it’ll be a great match-up!



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