By Jim Dower: WBO lightweight interim champion Michael Katsidis (27-2, 22 KO’s) can serve the role of a spoiler tonight at the same time he attempts to capture the WBA/WBO lightweight titles in the possession of champion Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KO’s) at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Marquez is looking to fight Manny Pacquiao, but he may be looking past the hard punching Katsidis in doing so. That could be a costly mistake by Marquez, because Katsidis is a lethal puncher and quite capable of beating the aging Marquez.
This is really toss up fight, because Marquez is showing clear signs of fading in the past year while Katsidis is getting and better. Marquez has a lot of pressure on him to win and win impressively against Katsidis. For his part, Katsidis only has to worry about winning. He’s not the one dreaming of getting a big money fight with Pacquiao, and he doesn’t have as much pressure on him because most people think that Marquez will win tonight. Katsidis is the naturally bigger fighter, as he’s fought at lightweight for his entire nine-year pro career.
In contrast, Marquez has fought much of his career at featherweight and only started moving up in weight four years ago as he’s followed Pacquiao from division to division to try and get rematches with him. Marquez’s best weight was featherweight, and he likely would have never left that division had Pacquiao but content to stay at that weight. As such, Katsidis will have the size and strength advantage in tonight’s fight, as well as the speed and youth advantage. Marquez is still a great counter puncher and very smart in the ring. However, Katsidis’ skill good even out Marquez’s advantages and make this a very tough fight for Marquez.
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