Katsidis still King with knockout over Mitchell
A crushing left hook, followed by a blur of unanswered brutality, was all it took to inflict the first defeat of Mitchell's seven-year career and continue Michael Katsidis' reign as WBO interim lightweight champion.
For Mitchell, what should have been the perfect night quickly turned into a nightmare; in the most hostile of surroundings, it was the Australian who produced the goods when it mattered most, silencing a crowd of over 15,000 that was almost religious in its support of his opponent.
As expected, there was no quarter given, no ground ceded; an almighty scrap that burned brightly and fleetingly. Katsidis' triumph came despite losing the first two rounds on the cards. Katsidis rocked the local hero with two fierce left hooks in the first round and looked the much more confident of the two, throwing sharp, short left hooks that severely hurt the Brit almost every time it landed.
Katsidis continued to rain down punches; relentless flurries of Antipodean fury that Mitchell was unable to escape from or weather. Katsidis took control in round three, almost felling Mitchell with a wicked left hook. Mitchell's knees wobbled, but he gamely struggled on. But with adrenalin coursing through his raking arms, Katsidis closed in for the kill. A flurry of punches that left Mitchell clinging to the ropes convinced referee Dave Parris to bring the fight to a halt, to groans so loud they shook the old ground to its hallowed rafters.
For Mitchell, dreams of world domination will have to wait. On the other hand, bright lights and continued big paydays await his Aussie conqueror. Denied a world title fight against Joan Guzman through injury, and against Diaz by disagreements with HBO and Don King, Katsidis gleefully took the opportunity to return to England for the first time since his all-out war with Graham Earl.
At this stage fights against Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez, the WBO lightweight super champion, former unified lightweight champion Juan Diaz and WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan look the most likely options. Whatever transpires, one thing is for certain; when he speaks, America will now listen. The outback brawler is one step closer to becoming a Broadway draw.
It was a traumatising defeat for Mitchell, who will now have to go back to the drawing board, but not without signs of encouragement. Mitchell's trainer Jimmy Tibbs had transformed the street fighter into a streetwise boxer with a number of impressive scalps on his record. He will doubtless return, but against the ruthless Katsidis a little of the backstreet spirit was badly needed.
Katsidis proved to be too powerful for the upstart Brit. This was a devastating loss for Mitchell so it will be interesting to see if he can rebuild. Katsidis could be a major player in the lightweight division after this win despite his two losses to former world champions Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz. Katsidis has good power and his boxing seems to be improving with every fight.
Given his current form, Katsidis would be given more than a strong chance against any lightweight in the world at the moment.