Team Katsidis to Khan – "Show us your balls"
Brendon Smith, trainer and manager of Australian WBO interim lightweight champion Michael Katsidis contacted exclusively to this reporter to dispute UK newspaper reports that Katsidis was reluctant to agree a fight with current WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan, who is pencilled to defend his title in London on 31st July at the O2 Arena.
Smith stated;
"We need to put the record straight here – Khan is ducking Michael, not the other way round and we are prepared to come to the UK and defeat Khan in front of his home fans. It appears that after Michael dismissed Kevin Mitchell in style these UK fighters have temporarily lost their balls…for the record, Michael Katsidis is available."
A fight between Katsidis and Khan has been in negotiation for over eighteen months, when Katsidis first won the interim WBO lightweight title and when Khan had a voluntary defense after he easily disposed of Dmitriy Salita in Newcastle, England.
"Richard Schaefer has talked to us about this fight and Golden Boy would love to put this fight on. Amir Khan looked impressive against Malignaggi but rest assured Katsidis is a class above and will beat Amir in his own country.
Having already successfully fought in England twice in front of capacity crowds well into the thousands; Katsidis along with Smith are not reluctant to travel to England to defend their crown once again. Both of Katsidis' performances in England (stoppage victories over Graham Earl and Kevin Mitchell) have been some of the best of his career, so a chance to fight on the biggest stage in the Commonwealth against one of their best fighters would be an offer that could not be turned down.
"We came to London in front of 15,000 fans for the Kevin Mitchell fight and this showed Michael's boxing heart and boxing courage – he is a boxing warrior who wants the fight with Khan and later in the year he can take on the winner of the Juan Manuel Marquez versus Juan Diaz fight for the full WBO 135 pound title."
It has been widely reported in England that Joel Casamayor has been offered a lucrative $500k to come to the UK and fight Khan on July 31st. However, Pay-Per-View distributer Sky Sports rejected the fight, claiming that it was not sellable and would not do well, especially during the months of the World Cup.
With his impressive third round win against Kevin Mitchell last month for the interim title Katsidis is confident of creating another upset in the UK.
Smith added, "I feel sorry for the English boxing fans who would love to see this fight but are not being told the truth. Michael is ready for the fight but Khan is trying to make out that we don't want it – he is probably scared we knock him out like we knocked Kevin Mitchell out – Amir Khan show us your balls."