Popular boxer Michael Katsidis has recruited big names Jeff Fenech and Vlad Warton in a new-look team intended to regalvanise his career.
Katsidis ended his long-term partnership with trainer and manager Brendon Smith following his last fight, a loss to Scotland’s Ricky Burns last month.
The former WBO interim lightweight champion will no longer prepare for fights in Thailand, as he has for several years, and will train close to his home and family in the United States instead.
The 31year old Katsidis (28-5, 23 KOs) still has to settle on a promoter and fulltime trainer after doing some work at the gym of famous trainer Freddie Roach in California.
He was excited by ideas generated in meetings with former triple world champion and trainer Fenech and promoter Warton.
“It’s about getting the best performance out of me and being able to actually bring those world titles home,” Katsidis told AAP. “These people (Fenech and Warton) have been there and they are the ones that can make it happen.
“It won’t be long before I know whether or not these two can make things happen and if they can’t and it looks like it’s not going to happen, I’d be very surprised.”
Fenech said he thought there were a few adjustments he could make to make big-punching Katsidis a better fighter.
“I’d come over here (to America) and help him get ready for his fights,” Fenech said.
Warton helped establish the MMA XPlosion organisation after spending several years as promoter of Australia’s former undisputed light welterweight world champion Kostya Tszyu.
“I’ll look at acting as a manager-adviser (to Katsidis), which I’ve got plenty of experience with and delivering him the most out of what’s left of his career,” Warton said. Katsidis wants to fight again by early April at the latest.
He hasn’t ruled out accepting an offer to fight famous Mexican Erik Morales, the WBC light welterweight champion.
“That would be a great fight. It suits me to a tee and at 140 pounds I’m a lot stronger, I can hit,” Katsidis said. He didn’t want to dwell on his split with Smith, preferring to look to the future.
Smith said he was proud of what he had achieved with Katsidis and wished him luck for the future.
“I’d just like to see him succeed and have a happy life,” Smith said.
Source: AAP