By Scott Gilfoid: Australian Michael Katsidis (28-4, 23 KO’s) is perfectly willing to travel to the UK just to get another chance to destroy Britain’s Kevin Mitchell (32-1, 24 KO’s) in another easy payday in front of Mitchell’s adoring fans.

Katsidis, 31, already destroyed Mitchell in the 3rd round last year in a fight where Mitchell seemed to lose his senses completely in the heat of battle and turned his back on Katsidis to try and escape the brutal beating. Thankfully, the referee halted the fight before Mitchell could get really get hurt.

Mitchell later blamed the loss on a number of personal problems effecting his life at the time. It looked to me like Mitchell was too weak to handle the faster, more powerful Katsidis in that bout.

Brendon Smith, the manager for Katsidis, said to frankwarren.tv “It’s plain and simple and I am not being disrespectful, but the England boys don’t want any part of Michael except for calling his name to promote themselves…He [Katsidis] will travel, but does anyone in England really want to fight him? That’s the big question.”

Oh, this is bad. All these fighters from England mentioning Katsidis’ name but none of them wanting to step it up and get in the ring with him. I smell fear. Amir Khan, John Murray, Graham Earl and Kevin Mitchell, all of them were mentioned by Smith as fighters that called Katsidis out but yet didn’t agree to fight him. What is it with these guys? Don’t they want to take on a guy that can punch? I guess I don’t blame Mitchell, because he was already blasted apart in three rounds by Katsidis but the other guys still have been knocked out other than Earl. At least Murray and Khan should step up to the plate.

If I’m Mitchell’s promoter I’m keeping him far away from Katsidis. The Australian is just too powerful and fast for him. He’s on another level. Mitchell does better being matched against slow guys like Murray. He’s more at his level. Put him in with domestic fodder and Mitchell will look like a world beater, but you put him in with a world class fighter like Katsidis, and he’ll look like a school boy getting beaten up by the swings during recess.