AMONSOT AIMS TO BECOME RP'S THIRD WORLD CHAMP TODAY
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 22 Jul 2007
ALA Boy Czar Amonsot of Tagbilaran City aims to become the third Filipino world title holder today when he challenges the undefeated WBO interim lightweight king Michael Katsidis in a 12-round scrap at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
The bout will be one of the three pay-per-view showdowns presented by Golden Boy Promotions and will be broadcast in the Philippines by television giant ABS-CBN starting at 9AM today.
The main event features Bernard 'The Executioner' Hopkins against Ronald 'Winky' Wright for the linear, Ring Magazine light-heavyweight championship of the world.
The other world title match-up pits one-time Manny Pacquiao opponent Oscar Larios against Japan-based Venezuelan Jorge Linares for the WBC interim featherweight crown.
AMATEUR BACKGROUNDS
Michael Katsidis, a former amateur standout who racked up a record of 75-6, had represented Australia in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, while Amonsot is also a former national amateur standout who represented Tagbilaran City in past national meets.
Both Amonsot and Katsidis easily made weight at yesterday's official weigh-in held at the fight venue, with the Filipino coming in at a super-fit 133 lbs, while Katsidis checked in at a perfect 135 lbs.
According to his manager Michael Aldeguer, ALA Boy Czar Amonsot 'feels fine and ready to go,' after several weeks of training both at the ALA Gym in Cebu and the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
Amonsot, according to trainer Villamor, logged more than 100 rounds of sparring for this fight, and is 'in the best shape of his life.'
After making weight, Aldeguer then treated Amonsot and trainer Edito Villamor to lunch at Nanay Gloria, a Filipino restaurant where Czar 'ate well.'
Also with the group was top Filipino promoter Sammy Gello-ani and cutman Tony Martin and his two sons, and Dr. Ed De la Vega, who made Amonsot's custom-made mouthguard.
Czar had a nice fill with carbohydrates and lots of fruits. He is reportedly eager to go and he definitely knows the significance of the task ahead. He is very calm and focused.
RECORDS
Amonsot (18-2-1, 10 KO's), who holds the WBO Asia-Pacific lightweight crown, was originally slated to see action in a Cebu City card last July 7, but had to pull out when the offer to fight Katsidis was put on the table.
Katsidis (22-0, 20 KO's), a swarming pressure fighter with power in both hands, took the WBO title with a fifth-round victory over Graham Earl in London last February 17, a fight so explosive many call it a hands-down Fight of the Year winner.
Amonsot (R) and Katsidis pose after yesterday's weighin.
Katsidis showing off his back tatoo.
GREEK ANCESTRY
"At the moment, my goal is to fight Czar Amonsot, I don't look any farther. That's what's going to make it a great fight. When I fight that guy he's going to be in for one helluva fight. The next guy after that can expect another helluva fight. You can guarantee who they put me in front of, I'm going to destroy," declared Katsidis, who is of Greek ancestry, in an interview with Maxboxing.com.
"I'm proud of my heritage, my father comes from a small place called Larissa, which if you've seen the movie 'Troy', was the homeland of Achilles," explained Katsidis in the interview. "And that's where my father was actually from. His father was incredibly strong. My grandfather could hold up three men on each arm. His strength was amazing. So I believe when you put on a helmet, it's a psychological thing that comes over. Because when you step in the ring you prepare to die and fight in battles," he added.
LOOKING PAST THE CZAR
Brendon Smith, who manages and trains Katsidis, seems to mirror the fact that they are looking past the Filipino fighter. "Katsidis The Great and WBA/WBO champ Juan Diaz have agreed on one more fight each before doing battle in one of the greatest match ups put together for a long time in the lightweight division. Brendon Smith trainer and manager of Michael Katsidis the Great is proud to announce that an agreemant has been made for the two hottest lightweights to square off very soon," revealed a report from Team Katsidis.
Amonsot, however, intends to target Katsidis' Achilles' heel especially if the fight goes into deeper waters.
AMONSOT IN BEST SHAPE EVER
"I like our chances because Amonsot is in his best shape ever and I was talking to some reporters and (GBP vice-president) Eric Gomez and they think it could be the fight of the night," informed Amonsot's manager Michael Aldeguer, who is in Las Vegas to provide moral support to the boxer along with top Filipino promoter Sammy Gello-ani.
According to Villamor, the WBO champion "is strong but he's not a thinking fighter and he does not have the style although he has tremendous pressure abilities and is such a terrific fighter."
147 LBS TODAY
Villamor noted that Amonsot weighed in at 147 lbs this morning, his usual training weight and that they have an antidote to Katsidis' pressure-fighting style.
"This is Czar's time to shine, as he aims to bounce back from a low point in his life. The championship is indeed a bonus if he pulls it off. He has already turned his life around."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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