By Jim Dower: WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KO’s) will be defending his titles against WBO lightweight interim champion Michael Katsidis (27-2, 22 KO’s) this Saturday night at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is a bout that most boxing experts feel that the 37-year-old Marquez should win given his greater experience, better talent and superior counter punching ability.

However, Katsidis is seven years younger at 37, with better hand speed and superior power. Because of those advantages, you have to give Katsidis is a real chance at winning this fight. He’s peaking as a fighter right now, whereas Marquez appears to be showing signs of deterioration.

Marquez has been in seven consecutive hard fights in which he’s absorbed a lot of punishment in terms of head shots. Marquez lost a lopsided 12 round unanimous decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr. last year, and in his last bout, Marquez defeated Juan Diaz by a 12 round decision but faded late in the fight in July of this year.

Diaz took the fight to Marquez in the last three rounds of the bout and connected with a lot of head shots. Marquez is clearly showing signs of wear and tear on his body, and Katsidis might have enough power, speed and youth to take out Marquez.

Katsidis destroyed top lightweight Kevin Mitchell in a third round blowout in his last fight in May. Katsidis looked like a little junior middleweight in that fight, and appeared to have a considerable size advantage over Mitchell come fight time.

If Katsidis rehydrates up to 150+, he could have a huge advantage over the smaller Marquez. With Katsidis already being the bigger puncher, having a big size advantage over Marquez will be one more thing that the Australian has going for him in this fight.

Katsidis also has the superior stamina, as he seems to be able fight hard late in his fights without tiring. Marquez might not make through this fight in one piece if Katsidis is firing on all cylinders.

Marquez is hoping to beat Katsidis and look good in doing to in order to get a third fight with Manny Pacquiao, but this could be the end of any dreams for that fight happening if Marquez gets beaten decisively by Katsidis.