Katsidis returns Mar. 14 in Australia

Photo courtesy of HBO.

Katsidis returns Mar. 14 in Australia

Former interim lightweight titlist Michael Katsidis will return to the ring following a nearly two-year layoff it was announced by Brendon Smith, the trainer and promoter who has rejoined forces with the Aussie.

Katsidis (28-6, 23 knockouts) will top a bill in his native Australia on Mar. 14 at the Rumours International in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia in what is expected to be a scheduled ten-round bout.

Hailed as the Australian Arturo Gatti when he emerged on the scene following a fringe Fight of the Year candidate against Graham Earl of the UK in 2007, Katsidis participated in a number of classic bouts over the course of his run as a top lightweight.

Katsidis was hardly in a dull fight, but could benefit from the break much the way the real Gatti did following a number of ring wars early in his career as a junior lightweight champion. Like Gatti, Katsidis possesses a face that cuts and bruises when he wakes up in the morning, and the time off may have helped him to heal a bit from his wounds.

During his time as a member of the Golden Boy Promotions stable, Katsidis engaged in memorable fights with greats like Juan Manuel Marquez, Joel Casamayor, Juan Diaz, Robert Guerrero, and Ricky Burns. Katsidis’ biggest wins are over Vicente Escobedo, former titlist Jesus Chavez, Kevin Mitchell, and Czar Amonsot during a run in which he was televised on HBO or HBO-PPV seven times.

Katsidis will likely face a tune-up level opponent as he looks to get in the mix in the 140 pound division later in the year.

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega

-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com