This is going to be a war!:fightme: I got Diaz by brutal decision. Both guys are coming off tough losses but Katsidis took the bigger beating dnd the fight will be in Houston. http://www.thechronicle.com.au/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3775793
I'm probably in the minority, but I don't really think this fight is necessary for either guy. It's commendable that they're both taking it after their tough losses, but given where they are in their careers I don't think this fight loses anything if they take a lesser fight back first and then meet next year.
I think they both figure the other is softened up and they want to come back strong. Both of these guys have fought way too much soft touches already and both need to make money now before thier brain damage kicks in.
I don't think anybody beats Katsidis easy. If you fight Katsidis you are going to know you have just been in a fight.
Katsidis is perhaps the most under-rated fighter on these boards. He has bashed everyone he has fought up until Casamayor, and if he didn't get cocky/stupid he would have won that one too. Yes his competition has been poor, but you can't ask any more then to dispose of them the way he has. The lessons he would have learnt from the loss will make him a significantly smarter fighter. Slick, cute boxers will give him problems, but straight ahead windmills (especially ones with no power) certainly won't. Katsidis by dominating KO within 6.
I don't think anyone who gets dropped by Graham Earl with 1 shot is underrated In fact Khan stopped that same guy in 1. I like his reckless bludgeoning style and I do think the Diaz fight should be an exciting fight..... With all those loopy shots he throws I am not sure how far he will get at 135.
Rewatch round two to the Earl-Katsidis fight. It's on youtube somewhere, because I posted it on here before the Casa-Kats fight. It's hilarious. Earl is battered around like a bag of straw in the wind until Katsidis is hit by a big, desperate shot from Earl. Katsidis sort of crouches down but neither hits the canvas nor touches it. Mickey Vann, the contemptible old goof, then gives Katsidis a count... :: I love Katsidis. His style is so exciting and he punches like a motherfucker. I was willing him to beat Casa, and after a terrible start, he almost folded the old bastard in half until he got stupid again and walked into the shot which ended the fight. Even after the two KD's, he was ahead on two of the three cards before he was stopped. Diaz has nowhere like enough power to stop Katsidis and nowhere near enough of a defense to not get hit. This will be a GREAT fight, but Katsidis lays Diaz out, somewhere around the 9th round. MTF
I've seen the fight, when he got hit with that shot his legs went out for a second, I was surprised a Graham Earl who is not a puncher could do that to Katsidis. This will be an awesome fight, as both fighters always have a crazy workrate. Diaz chin is better, but Katsidis definitely hits harder. One fight I am looking forward to
It's necessary in serving Golden Boy's purpose of staging their own lightweight tournament. But as far as it being Diaz-Katsidis and Casa-Marquez, rather than Casa-Diaz - you can either thank or blame Willie Savannah, who for whatever reason changed his mind on fighting Casamayor, at least in his first fight after the Nate debacle. I have my speculations as to why (and none have anything to do with their fearing Casamayor), but perhaps Karl can shed some light on the subject. (does he still post here?)
Logically Diaz should win, but I'm picking Katsidis. Nate just outmanned Diaz, and Diaz lost his heart. Diaz has always been hailed as tough, determined, relentless etc, but when someone stands up to him, and stands and trades, he loses heart, he's not as tough as people think. Katsidis if nothing else has good power, and a lot of heart, and is prepared to go to war. I think he beats Diaz by late stoppage.