Odd that the fight is three days away yet barely a word mentioned on the forums (at least in page one discussion, which goes back a day or two). First significant stateside action offered by HBO or Showtime in well over a month, thought more boxing fans would be amped for the fight. Who do you like? Do you like the fight at all (and/or its co-feature Juarez-Barrios)? Does the winner get the winner of next week's Casa-Marquez showdown? Speak, speak!
I like Diaz in this fight. If there was ever a guy Diaz could KO it's Katsidis. Although I don't think it happens anyway, but there is a chance when a guy has a chin like Katsidis. Diaz via UD is the likely outcome. I just see Diaz doing more and I think he's got a solid chin so Katsidis' power won't be a factor. I do not think the winner of this fight should get a crack at the Marquez vs Casa fight. The winner of that fight needs to fight the winner of Campbell vs Guzman first so we can clear up the title picture.
I agree, but I'm being realistic about it - Diaz, Katsidis, Casa and JMM are all made men in the Golden Mafia. It's a far easier fight to make than Nate, who even with three belts still doesn't register with the networks, or Guzman, whose style is an acquired taste (and one that doesn't translate to lofty paydays).
Shit it's 3 days away? Weird, given the lack of buzz about it, I assumed it was still weeks away :: I don't know who to pick. I don't really like Diaz, and wasn't surprised that he got bashed by Nate. I prefer Katsidis, but Katsidis is more vulnerable, and more raw. If Katsidis has the mental and physical strength to keep up the pressure like Nate did, I think Diaz folds again, but there is also a big chance that Diaz is just a bit too experienced and seasoned for Katsidis.
Katsidis late TKO. I'm going with my gut on this one. The power will be too much for school boy in the end. Its been AWHILE since Ive been looking forward to a B.A.D fight as much as this one!:bears:
I think Casa's counter-punching ability and south-paw stance are being overlooked in the evaluation of Katsidis's chin. Casa's not known as a puncher, but he's hurt plenty of people. And he's a sharp puncher. My guess is Katsidis will have a much easier time dealing with Diaz's brawling style and that his ferocity will work for him in this fight as opposed to working against him as it did against Casa. I'm still not sure though that he won't be out-worked. Diaz's chin seems very reliable and his defense is underrated when you consider the number of punches he throws and the fact that he hardly ever takes a step back. I can't imagine anything less than a great fight. As for a prediction, I guess I'll go with Diaz by decision, but I'll probably be rooting for Katsidis.
If Katsidis is smart, he'll work Diaz's body early and often. If he can hurt Casa to the body, he can certainly hurt Diaz to the body. If Kat goes to Juan's body, I'm confident its gonna weaken Diaz. That'll make Juan more vunerable to Kat's power shots to the head.
Mentally I dont see it being a problem. I think Kat is mentally a tough guy and will fight his ass off til the end. Its phyically(his chin) that makes this a tough pick. Whereas for Diaz, its the opposite. Physically Juan takes a good punch, but mentally, I have my doubts about him winning out in a grueling war. Juan doesnt have the "willing to die" mentality that a guy like Katsidis has.
Juan is a psycotic punching machine who is going to beat Kat down and stop him late. This will be a war if attrition and Diaz will emerge the winner based on his better boxing skills, speed, and the better chin....Katsisdis is a dead man walking.
this is going to be a great card. (the following is an extreme DonnyBrook, and I take full responsibility as well as a devout understanding of what my flip-flopping/no-side taking does to not only the good of others, but the good of myself.) I'll take Diaz and Barrios personally, but I think either fight could go either way.
REED's Rolling w/Katsidis... Sure, his Chin is SUSPECT, but Diaz Punches like his Hands were Dipped N COTTON CANDY... Even Casa NEVER EARNED Katsidis' RESPECT w/his Own Power (Which is SUPERIOR to Diaz's)... This Fight will B a WAR...Each Guy will have his Moments, but N the End, Katsidis will STOP Diaz Late (9th or 10th Round)... His MANIC Style, SUPERIOR Power & Bodypunching will B the Difference... REED:mj:
i would've picked diaz over old ass casamayor. i like katsidis, but he's just not very good. it might be fun while it lasts, but i see diaz dishing out a beatdown. it would be nice to see juarez finally win a belt, but it wouldnt surprise me if it ended up in a draw. juarez is like the featherweight version of viloria. not very good.
agREED on Juarez-Barriosm which has the potential to be a good fight, but I fear will be a letdown. I've always been a Juarez fan (albeit a very frustrated one in recent years), but his fights tend to get stuck in one gear. Barrios is a wild fighter, but not a very skilled one. He could fuck around and win on activity alone, but I really don't like his chances coming off a long layoff and two detached retinas. Not sure I completely agree with you on Katsidis, though I do agree with the outcome. I have to admit, Katsidis showed me more than I initially thought of him heading into the Casamayor fight. The flaws he had were ultimately what cost him, but he's far less caveman than I had always believed to be the case. And that said, yes both are coming off of devastating losses (and their first loss, to boot). But a one-punch knockout loss is easier to shake off than a thorough, extended beating, which is what Campbell-Diaz became. Katsidis recovered from what looked like an early disaster and had completely taken over the Casa fight, but got careless and ultimately got caught. Diaz was to the point where he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but in the ring in the later rounds against Nate, and showed next to nothing in the way of dealing with adversity. I'm still picking Diaz, but it'll be interesting to see how much pain both fighters are willing to deal with in order to secure a win.
Barrios seems like a guy who could easily fall prey to one of Juarez's deadly left hooks. Whereas the guys he's lost to have been defensively gifted and in Soto's case spectacularly durable, Barrios will be there for Juarez to slice that killer hook of his right across the chin. I can't see him not landing it at least once every other round, and one of those times, I think it will tell.
But Kat is so easy to hit and he will be standing right in front of Diaz...Diaz will take his head off his shoulders mortal combat style.
which is quite possible. the guy probably sheds pounds just from bleeding. katsidis is a fierce fighter, but has shitty defense and his whiskers ain't great either. diaz has vastly improved since his fat days and actually has some good wins unlike the greek.
I think prime Barrios beats prime Juarez pretty easily. Katsidis can do what Nate did only worse. Bad fight for Diaz to come back with, very bad fight.
A stoppage is one thing...."Diaz will take his head off his shoulders mortal combat style" is another.
and that's great if we were discussing this in the Mythical Matchups forum. ::... but the fact is that both are on the wrong side of their respective primes as we approach September 6, 2008.
I hate to Donnybrook but I am going with Diaz and Barrios. Poop/Barrios. I just think Barrios will outwork him. Poop fights like he will get arrested if he punches his opponent. He is way more talented and if he had half a nut he'd win. I am guessing he still won't nut up. Katsidis is a bum. He is not a world class fighter. However, I would be more than 90% sure that diaz stops this bum if not for the thrashing he got last time out. Plus, Double L picked Diaz. I have this now 60/40 for Diaz. ::::
He has enough power to stop anyone in the division if they stand right in front of him with their chin in the air. He will catch Kat between his shots and knock his head off mortal combat style I garauntee it.
REED is CONFUSED about Something... EVERYBODY Seems to B Using the Casamayor Fight as Evidence of Katsidis' LACK of a Chin...But NONE of the Guys BANKING on that Want to Acknowledge that Casa Hits HARDER than Juan Diaz does... MORESO, Casa is a BETTER Defensive Fighter than Juan Diaz, which Means Katsidis will TOUCH Diaz EASIER than he Touched Casamayor... REED:hammert:
I think Casamayor's KO over Katsidis was more to do with cathing him perfect. Casamayor's experience played a big factor in that fight. I think Diaz will beat Katsidis UD