It’s being rumoured the come-backing Ricky Hatton is strongly considering tough guy Michael Katsidis (28-6, 23 KO) for his November 24 comeback fight at the Manchester Arena.
An Australian of Greek heritage, the 32-year-old Katsidis is a former two-time Interim WBO Lightweight titleholder whose in-your-face, crowd pleasing style is, to some, reminiscent of the late Arturo Gatti.
In an amateur career which began at the age of eleven, Katsidis earned a stellar 75-6 record and served on the Australian Olympic team in the lightweight division at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
At one time, the Michael “The Great” Katsidis was a fighter with a bright future, winning his first 23 bouts. But, like Arturo Gatti, his technical limitations and athleticism would betray him against boxing’s elite.
Katsidis, who has campaigned most of his career as a lightweight, has lost 4 of his last 5 bouts which includes a thrilling, action-packed brawl with Juan Manuel Marquez in 2010. Katsidis floored the fight legend in Round 3 and appeared to have Marquez hurt on more than one occasion but the resilient Mexican weathered the storm to stop the courageous Katsidis in the seventh.
Despite not being able to crack the upper-echelon of the sport, Katsidis is known for being incredibly tough and determined, and is well-capable of upsetting any elite fighter who doesn’t bring his ‘A game’.