By Scott Gilfoid: Australian Michael Katsidis (28-4, 23 KO’s) faces Ricky Burns on Saturday night for the interim WBO lightweight title at the Wembley Arena in London, England. Winning that fight isn’t enough of a feather in the 31-year-old Katsidis’ cap. He wants to next take on the retired Ricky Hatton if he can get him to resume his career.

Speaking on the BoxNation television program, Katsidis said “I don’t want to look past Ricky Burns, and no disrespect to the bloke, but I am going to win this title. I am going to beat him and then I want to bring out the best English fighters ever. Ricky Burns is Scottish, and for one, I want to bring England one of their own and one of the biggest fighters they have ever hand, and that’s Ricky Hatton. We can meet halfway on the weight.”

I think it’s a waste of breath for Katsidis to be thinking of a Hatton fight. It’s not going to happen. Hatton has been out of the sport for too long, he’s gotten too fat and he’s not going to want to make a comeback to fight a dangerous fighter like Katsidis. There’s no real payoff for a Katsidis fight. Katsidis has already been exposed by Juan Diaz, Robert Guerrero, Joel Casamayor and Juan Manuel Marquez.

What would Hatton gain by coming back to be yet another one to beat him? There’s nothing to gain and a lot to lose for Hatton. Katsidis needs to think in terms of reality by looking to try and get a fight with Brandon Rios, Marquez or one of the fighters at light welterweight. There are really no big fights at lightweight other than Rios. Katsidis was already beaten by Marquez, so he can forget about that. It’s an empty division devoid of big stars. If I was Katsidis, I’d toss the WBO belt in the garbage and move back up after he takes care of Burns.

My worry for Katsidis is that he may need a knockout to get the win over Burns, because the fight is being held in the UK and that’s Burns’ home. Katsidis is the visiting fighter and he may have to crush Burns to walk out of there with the WBO interim strap.

I think Katsidis would beat Hatton if the fight were to be made. Hatton looked terrible in his last four fights before his retirement and you can imagine how the time off has hurt him even worse.