Katsidis Issues Challenge To Pacquiao
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 05 Jun 2009
Australian Blood and Guts Warrior Michael ?The Great? Katsidis wants to fight Manny Pacquiao here in Manila. He made the announcement Friday morning during the Sportswriters Communicators Organization of the Philippines (SCOOP) sa Kamayan press conference in Manila.
Katsidis made the challenge without any disrespect for the Pound-per-pound king. ?Everyone has aspirations, everyone has dreams and I want to be part of something big?. Katsidis is not doing this for the money. He will fight for a low price as long as the event will push through.
He wants to fight at the lightweight division because he believes this is Pacquiao?s best weight. He has issued challenges to Juan Manuel Marquez and Ricky Hatton. Marquez has opted to fight Floyd Mayweather and Hatton?s career has been put on hold.
?Can you imagine Mayweather coming to the Philippines to fight Pacquiao? No he won?t.? Katsidis said, ?But I will.?
His financial backers, notably Sportsbet (sportsbet.com.au) are willing to negotiate. When asked about his battle plan, he said he will fight Pacquiao the way he fought another Filipino southpaw, Czar Amonsot.
If that is the case, fans can expect an exciting blood bath if Pacquiao decides to accept the challenge.
Cebu based promoter Sammy Gello-ani, who co-promotes Katsidis here in the Philippines attended the event together with Australian manager Brendon Smith and boxing trainer Nonito Donaire, Sr. who worked as Katsidis? cutman in Cebu last January. Katsidis won the vacant WBO Oriental-Pacific Lightweight title with a ten round unanimous decision win over Angel Hugo Ramirez of Spain at the Cebu Coliseum. In his last fight two months ago, he beat former IBF Lightweight champ Jesus Chavez by 8th round TKO.
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