Crossroads battle? No. Titanic clash? Probably

Rafael

By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: September 5, 2008

Al Bello/Getty Images

Michael Katsidis won't have to look far to find the hard-charging "Baby Bull," Juan Diaz, above.

Diaz, Katsidis ready for battle

No longer undefeated, Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis both now know the feeling of losing, and neither likes it.

On March 8 in Cancun, Mexico, Nate Campbell did a number on a distracted Diaz to outpoint him in a slugfest, stripping him of his perfect record and three lightweight title belts.

Two weeks later, in Cabazon, Calif., it was Katsidis who saw his unblemished record go down the drain against recognized champion Joel Casamayor. Katsidis suffered three knockdowns and scored one of his own in the brawl before Casamayor, trailing on the scorecards, stopped him in the 10th round.

Typically, top fighters look for a soft touch in a comeback fight, not wanting to risk a second consecutive defeat while also trying to restore the confidence that can be chipped away from the trauma of defeat, especially the first one.

However, Diaz (33-1, 17 KOs) and Katsidis (23-1, 20 KOs) are not typical fighters. Neither wanted an easy fight. They wanted a serious challenge as soon as possible.

That's just what they have in front of them, and if their track record for producing all-action fights is any indication, it's boxing fans who will win when they meet in a scheduled 12-rounder Saturday night (HBO, 10:15 ET/PT) at the Toyota Center in Diaz's native Houston.

"I believe this will be one of the greatest fights," said Brendon Smith, who trains and manages Katsidis. "It could be the start of a trilogy. This has nothing but a great fight written on it. But we come to win. Michael is a dangerous man at this moment. I believe this fight will be brutal. I wish Juan Diaz a safe journey and recovery from the fight."

Diaz said despite each of them coming off a loss, it doesn't detract from their fight.

"A lot of times the people in the sport dismiss you just because you have one or two losses," Diaz said. "They want you to be undefeated to be considered a superstar. In football, teams lose and still make it to the Super Bowl. Just because you lose a couple of fights doesn't mean you can't give good fights and still win a big fight. We're exciting fighters."

In the co-feature during HBO's free preview weekend, Houston's Rocky Juarez (27-4, 19 KOs) faces ex-titleholder Jorge Barrios (47-3-1, 34 KOs) of Argentina in a 12-round junior lightweight bout that was originally slated for May 31 but postponed when the Shane Mosley-Zab Judah main event was canceled. Because of an eye injury and the postponement, Barrios hasn't fought in 17 months.

Michael Katsidis

Craig Bennett/FIghtWireImages.com

Michael Katsidis, right, is focused on one thing: getting past Diaz.

Although both are at high risk for another defeat, Diaz, 24, and Australia's Katsidis, 28, don't view their fight as a so-called crossroads bout.

"Maybe it's a crossroads for our egos," Diaz said. "As far as a do-or-die fight, I don't see that. I think we are the most popular lightweights in the division besides [Manny] Pacquiao because of how we fight and we're going to fight like that again.

"I still wanted Katsidis after I lost. How could get I get motivated for a tune-up? A tune-up fight after being a champion would be a step down. To get over the loss, I picked Katsidis because I know he's fast, strong and a well-conditioned fighter. So if I'm not physically and mentally ready for this fight, he'll put me on my butt. I have no doubt about that. One of the things that made me get over my loss and everything that went on in down in Mexico is knowing that I'm fighting Katsidis. I don't want another loss on my record. That motivates me."

Said Katsidis, "I don't about all that crossroads stuff. All I know is I've got a big fight coming up. The only thing that concerns me is that there's a great potential for one of us to get seriously hurt on Saturday night. So there is no crossroads if one of us gets hurt. I am only thinking about winning. I'm not looking at it any deeper than that."

Each man has seemingly dealt well with his loss.

Although Diaz credited Campbell for the win, he chalked up his defeat to a myriad of distractions he had the week of the fight. Trainer Ronnie Shields suffered a broken leg in Mexico, which caused problems in the corner. The biggest distraction was Diaz and manager Willie Savannah's nasty, public feud with promoter Don King, with whom their contract was ending. After the fight, they left King and signed with Golden Boy.

"We're just going about our business like that Cancun thing didn't happen," said Savannah, who admitted he was paranoid by every move made by King and his staff while in Mexico. "It was like you wake up from a nightmare and the nightmare is over. We put Cancun behind us as much as possible. I see more motivation in Juan than I have ever seen before. He's always been a winner, amateur and pro, and all of a sudden the thing in Cancun reared its ugly head. Nate fought the best fight he's ever fought in his entire life. It's not Nate's fault we were distracted by Don King, but that's out of our mind."

Katsidis views his loss to Casamayor merely as a learning experience.

"I relate boxing to life. I don't have a plan for boxing; it has a plan for me," Katsidis said. "It was a lesson, not a mistake. I learned so much from that fight. There is so much I can improve on. It was a tremendous experience in my life, and now this fight is a great opportunity and I will make the most of it. But after the loss, there were a lot of restless nights. I know this is a big opportunity, especially coming off a loss."

Neither wants another.

Golden Boy moves

As expected, Golden Boy announced that it signed junior welterweight prospect Victor Ortiz (21-1-1, 16 KOs), who had previously declared bankruptcy and had his contract with Top Rank thrown out. Ortiz, who got an injunction last spring and was allowed to fight on Oscar De La Hoya's May 3 undercard, will make his first appearance under the new contract against an opponent to be named in a 10-rounder on the televised undercard of next Saturday's Joel Casamayor-Juan Manuel Marquez HBO PPV fight. Previously, Ortiz, 21, was unhappy with manager Cameron Dunkin, who sold the contract to Shelly Finkel.

Victor Ortiz

Chris Farina/Top Rank

Going Golden: Things are looking up for Victor Ortiz.

"I see a lot of qualities in him that I had as a young fighter and know that Victor will do big things in and out of the ring," De La Hoya said.

Added Ortiz, "I'm really happy to be under Oscar De La Hoya's and his team's guidance. I'm going to do everything it takes to become boxing's next big star and one day fill Oscar's big shoes."

Also appearing on next Saturday's card, but not on the telecast, will be Philadelphia junior welterweight prospect Danny Garcia (6-0, 5 KOs). After a trip to last year's U.S. Olympic trials finals, Garcia turned pro and was fighting about once a month. However, he's been out of action since May with a broken thumb. Now he's ready to return in a six-rounder.

Someone who won't be on the Casamayor-Marquez undercard is Andrei "Pit Bull" Arlovski, the former UFC heavyweight champion who was considered for a spot on the card. He is considering a boxing career and has trained with Freddie Roach, but Arlovski passed on turning pro next week because of an MMA bout scheduled for Oct. 11 against Josh Barnett on the Affliction card. Arlovski didn't want to risk injury, according to Golden Boy, which said he probably would have his first boxing match next year.

Kirkland headlines 'FNF' finale

Big-punching junior middleweight James Kirkland (22-0, 19 KOs) headlines the season finale of ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights" this week in his hometown of Austin, Texas, where he faces Ricardo Cortes (22-2-1, 15 KOs).

James Kirkland

Chris Cozzone/Fightwireimages.com

"Don't call me 'Mike Tyson'!" James Kirkland doesn't like being compared to Iron Mike.

Kirkland, 24, who will be in his first bout since severing ties with promoter Gary Shaw in June, has been compared by some to a smaller version of Mike Tyson because of his ferocious style and look in the ring (black trunks, no socks, no robe).

But the confident Kirkland, who made a big splash on HBO in May when he drilled Eromosele Albert in the first round, doesn't like the comparisons to the former heavyweight champ.

"Tyson had some gifts, power, movement, some things he can do in the ring," said Kirkland, who is trained by Ann Wolfe, the retired former standout women's champion. "But I'm better than Tyson. I can box, move, the whole nine yards. My style's like his -- I'm coming straight at you -- but when I meet someone that can counter that style, I will still find a way to knock you out. Tyson was a one-dimensional fighter. So when someone compares me to Tyson, I say, 'Thanks, but I'm better than him.'"

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.
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QUICK HITS

Wright

• Winky Wright (51-4-1, 25 KOs), out of action for 14 months since losing a decision in a 170-pound fight to Bernard Hopkins, could challenge middleweight titleholder Arthur Abraham of Germany in early 2009, Wright told ESPN.com. He said HBO is holding a date for him in the first quarter, probably in January, and that the focus has been on Abraham, who wants to fight name opponents in the U.S. "Definitely, that is what we're talking about," Wright said. "That's what HBO wants. They want me and him to fight. That is cool. As long as I am getting paid. He's a champion, let's go fight, so I am cool with that. I want it. I want people to see me fight the best. I want to show Winky is still one of the best fighters out there. I'm going to go out beating a few of these dudes." Abraham (27-0, 22 KOs) will defend his belt for the eighth time Oct. 4 against Raul Marquez (Integrated Sports PPV). Chris Meyer of promoter Sauerland Event said he's spoken to Golden Boy about putting Abraham-Wright together, although they aren't committed yet because Abraham needs to beat Marquez and then they want to see what happens Oct. 18 with Hopkins-Kelly Pavlik because Abraham most wants to face Pavlik.

Williams

• The plan for welterweight titleholder Paul Williams has been to fight a middleweight nontitle bout against Andy Kolle Sept. 25 and then return to welterweight to defend his title Nov. 29 on HBO. However, with no notable opponent available or willing to fight Williams at welterweight and little interest in his mandatory against Michael Jennings, promoter Dan Goossen is looking at alternatives. He's been talking to promoter Artie Pelullo about having Williams challenge Verno Phillips for his junior middleweight belt in the November bout, which HBO would approve.

Duddy

• Now that John Duddy's potential fight with Phillips is dead, plans are in the works to match Duddy, who is dropping down from middleweight, with Ronald Hearns, the son of Thomas Hearns, in January on Showtime, Hearns promoter Lou DiBella told ESPN.com. Both have business to attend to first, however. Hearns (19-0, 15 KOs) fights in New Hampshire Sept. 17 followed by a "ShoBox" appearance Oct. 24 on the Lucian Bute-Librado Andrade card in Montreal. Duddy (25-0, 17 KOs) plans to fight in his native Ireland. If they come out of the fights unscathed, DiBella said Showtime wants the fight, which could be a title eliminator. He said he would meet with Duddy's handlers Tuesday to close the deal.

Manfredo

• After first-season "Contender" star Peter Manfredo Jr. (31-5, 16 KOs) knocked out third-season participant Donny McCrary in the second round Aug. 22, he called out third-season tournament winner Sakio Bika (26-3-2, 16 KOs). Manfredo is getting his wish. In his hometown of Providence, R.I., Manfredo is slated to face Bika in a super middleweight fight Nov. 13 on Versus, the network that picked up the fourth season of "The Contender." Two other notable fights are also in the works: Jaidon Codrington (18-2, 14 KOs), who hasn't fought since Bika stopped him in the November finale, against New Zealand's Daniel McKinnon (12-3-1, 6 KOs), and ex-super middleweight titleholder Anthony Mundine (33-3, 23 KOs) of Australia in his U.S. debut against former "Contender" participant Miguel Espino (19-2-1, 8 KOs). "That's the card we're trying to finalize," said Tournament of Contenders promoter Jeff Wald, who is working on the show with co-promoter Jimmy Burchfield. "We're excited about this card and our new home on Versus," Wald said.

Cintron

• Manager/trainer Emanuel Steward and former welterweight titlist Kermit Cintron have parted ways, Steward told ESPN.com. Steward, who worked with Cintron (29-2, 27 KOs) for the past couple of years and guided him to a title, said they split a few weeks ago. "I'm not with Kermit anymore," Steward said. "It was a mutual understanding. It was not any one thing. For the benefit of both of us, we said let's go our separate ways and we parted with a handshake. I wish him good luck. He can always call me for anything." Cintron lost his belt via sixth-round knockout to Antonio Margarito in April. Since then, Cintron also changed promoters, getting released by Main Events and signing with Lou DiBella.

Klitschko

• Representatives for unified heavyweight titleholder Wladimir Klitschko and mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin are negotiating a Dec. 13 fight that would likely take place in Germany. If they don't reach an agreement, a Sept. 16 purse bid is scheduled. Klitschko adviser Shelly Finkel is skeptical that they'll make a deal. "We're still negotiating but it looks like it will probably end up in a purse bid," he told ESPN.com. "I thought we were close, but there are issues." Regardless of who wins a bid, HBO has the fight penciled in as its final fight of the year.

Jones

• Let the hype begin: Light heavyweight champ Joe Calzaghe and ex-champ Roy Jones will embark on their press tour (with HBO's "24/7" cameras in tow) to promote their Nov. 8 showdown at Madison Square Garden beginning Sept. 16 in New York. They'll follow with an appearance Sept. 17 in Los Angeles and then it's off to London and Cardiff, Wales, Sept. 18-20.

Valero

• After four defenses, Edwin Valero (24-0, 24 KOs) vacated a junior lightweight title Wednesday, sending the WBA a letter relinquishing the belt he won via 10th-round knockout of Vicente Mosquera in August 2006. Valero, a Venezuelan based in Japan, is moving up to the loaded lightweight division, in which he had been a top candidate to face Manny Pacquiao in the fall had Pacquiao not signed to fight Oscar De La Hoya. According to the WBA, the vacant belt likely will be filled by the winner of a bout between European champion Sergey Gulyakevich (24-1, 12 KOs), whose only loss came via technical decision to future titleholder Alex Arthur in 2006, and Jorge Linares (25-0, 16 KOs), a close friend of Valero's who is also promoted by Teiken in Japan. Linares recently vacated a featherweight belt to move up to junior lightweight.

Calderon

• Junior flyweight champion Ivan "Iron Boy" Calderon is done for the year because of the cut he suffered during his seventh-round technical decision win against ex-champ Hugo Cazares in their Aug. 30 rematch. Calderon suffered the deep cut from an accidental head butt and needed 19 stitches, according to Miguel Diaz, Calderon's cutman. Calderon had hoped to get in another fight this year, but that plan is out the window now. "It was bad, real bad," Diaz said. "I could see down to the bone."

Briggs

• A proposed Shannon Briggs-Andrew Golota heavyweight fight, which promoter Don King wanted to put on his Nov. 7 card in earthquake-recovering Chengdu, China, isn't going to happen. Briggs, idle since losing a title to Sultan Ibragimov in June 2007, hasn't been training. "I'm just getting back in the gym and I am not prepared physically for a fight like that," Briggs told ESPN.com. "I have not been in the gym. I also need representation. I don't think it would be a smart thing to do a deal with Don without representation. But Golota is a fight I've wanted and have talked to Don about. I just won't be ready for a fight of that magnitude after such a long layoff." Golota is slated to appear on the card, which is being staged in conjunction with the WBC's annual convention. Marco Antonio Barrera could have his first fight on the show since signing with King.

Lopez

• Junior featherweight titleholder Juan Manuel Lopez (22-0, 20 KOs), who scored an electrifying first-round knockout of Daniel Ponce De Leon in June to win the belt, makes his first defense Oct. 4 in his native Puerto Rico against Mexico's Cesar Figueroa (30-6-2, 23 KOs). Lopez is pleased to be at home for his first defense. "I'm very happy because I'm going to defend my title for the first time in Puerto Rico, my country. I'm going to win for my people of Puerto Rico," he said. Figueroa is experienced but has lost to his best opponents: Ponce De Leon (sixth-round knockout), Humberto Soto (seventh-round knockout) and Robert Guerrero (fourth-round knockout).

QUOTABLE

Mayorga

"This is going to be a short fight, like in the amateurs, only three rounds. This will be Shane's permanent return home [to Los Angeles]. There won't be a lot of blood because I'm going to beat him good and fast and tell him to go home permanently. Shane is washed up and he's got nothing left." -- noted trash talker Ricardo Mayorga, throwing his typical prefight bombs, this time at Shane Mosley, whom he will meet in a junior middleweight bout Sept. 27 (HBO) in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, Calif.

QUOTABLE

Mosley

"If he goes more than three rounds he'll be winded and I'll knock him out. I respect him, but he's kind of crazy and that's why it will be an entertaining fight for three rounds, because he always comes to fight and so do I." -- Mosley, responding to Mayorga's smack talk and doing a little of his own.