By Jason Kim: WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KO’s) defends his titles next month against the tough and hard hitting WBO lightweight interim champion Michael Katsidis (27-2, 22 KO’s) on November 27th at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada. This bout has more importance for the 37-year-old Marquez than just him defending his two titles against the 30-year-old Katsidis. It’s also very important for Marquez if he wants to get a third big money fight against Manny Pacquiao. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum doesn’t want to match his fighter Pacquiao up with Marquez unless Marquez proves himself against a top welterweight like one of his Top Rank stable fighters Joshua Clottey. Marquez isn’t interested in fighting a welterweight just to get a third shot at Pacquiao.

That’s the bout that Marquez really wants because it’s the fight that will give him a chance to avenge his controversial 12 round split decision loss two years ago in March 2008. It’s also the fight that will give Marquez the biggest payday of anyone in the sport. Marquez already fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. last year and lost a lopsided 12 round decision in the process of getting a big payday. But for Marquez to even have a hope of fighting Pacquiao again, he’s going to have to find a way to handle the powerful Katsidis.

That’s not going to be easy, because Katsidis has the power advantage and is in the prime of his career fight now. Marquez is on the downside of his and perhaps has been fading for the past three years. Katsidis is catching Marquez at the perfect time of his career. Katsidis also will no doubt have the size advantage over Marquez. Although both of them will make weight at 135, Katsidis puts on a lot of weight after the weigh-in and could wind up a welterweight or junior middleweight in size by the time he re-hydrates after the weigh-in.

Katsidis looked huge by fight time in his last bout against Kevin Mitchell last May. That size advantage obviously helped Katsidis in quickly overpowering Mitchell and stopping him in the 3rd round. Marquez won’t be much heavier than 135 in the fight next month. He’s adversely hurt when he puts on weight over 140. He doesn’t fight as well because he doesn’t have as big a frame as Katsidis. As such, you can count on Katsidis being the much bigger fighter on November 27th.