Faulks Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Michael Katsidis holds off fight Peter Mitchell October 20, 2010 - 4:34PM AAP Michael Katsidis' world-title bout in Las Vegas is on hold indefinitely to allow the Australian boxing champion to grieve his brother's sudden death, his US promoter confirmed. Katsidis was training in Thailand at a Muay Thai fight camp to prepare for the much-anticipated November 27 slugfest with Mexican world titleholder Juan Manuel Marquez at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Casino when word came through his brother, elite Australian jockey Stathi Katsidis, had died. "Our concern is for Michael as a person, rather than boxing," David Itskowitch, an executive at Oscar De La Hoya's Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions, told AAP. Advertisement: Story continues below "We want him to be OK and I don't know if he can be OK because he just lost his brother." Itskowitch said he immediately called the 30-year-old Toowoomba-born fighter in Thailand to pass on his condolences and spoke to the boxer's longtime Australian trainer, Brendon Smith. "It was basically straight after they found out," Itskowitch said. "Right now our concern is for Michael. Our concern is not for the fight. "His well being is what is important." If Katsidis decides he wants to go on to fight Marquez for the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organisation lightweight title belts, Golden Boy will support him, but Itskowitch says there is absolutely no pressure on Katsidis. "When I spoke to Brendon last night I didn't say the word 'fight'," he said. Marquez, who lost a split points decision to Manny Pacquiao two years ago, also sent his best wishes to Katsidis. "Our condolences to Michael Katsidis and his family. Let's all pray for his brother's soul," Marquez wrote in a Twitter message. Stathi Katsidis, 31, was found dead in his Brisbane home on Tuesday. Police have ruled out suicide and say there are no suspicious circumstances, although he did have a history of drug and alcohol abuse. An autopsy will be held. [url]http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/michael-katsidis-holds-off-fight-20101020-16tqy.html[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faulks Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 Gutted about this but not surprised really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_budweiser Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 not surprising at all , he needs time to grieve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheelchair Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 A shame for Michael. In a weird way, the 2010 cancelled fights curse strikes again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faulks Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 Looking at things from a selfish view im glad it was announced now as the odds are i was booking it this weekend. Was ment to last but my pal was wobbling a little. I know a load of Ozzies i met at a previous Vegas fight who have booked up to go so was going to go out for the weekend and meet up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAZZ-MCFC Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 it doesn't actually say anywhere though that Michael wants to postpone or cancel? it's just his team are saying they're unsure if Michael wants to fight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faulks Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 Yeah sorry just a mooch round and this might be just rumours at the moment. We'll see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_budweiser Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Yeah sorry just a mooch round and this might be just rumours at the moment. We'll see im sure you'll get the first update on whats happening on his site faulks http://www.katsidisthegreat.com.au/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapevine241 Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 sad to hear about his brother, but i wish he would keep the fight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshDevilRob Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Some Aussie newspapers are saying the fights off but basically running the same story that Faulks posted. It seems he was close to his brother and with 6 weeks til the fight he's gonna be out of training and mourning his brother, so I would expect a replacement opponent to come in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemurphy Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 I was kind of surprised, I thought still having 6 weeks time to prepare between the death and the fight would maybe be enough to still go through with it, even with the time he'll have to take off this week obvioiusly. But certainly if there was ever a reason to cancel, then this would be it, and I'm sure the fight is the furthest thing from his mind right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemurphy Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 A shame for Michael. In a weird way, the 2010 cancelled fights curse strikes again. We've had it all this year.....everything but good fights that is. Wonder if these big fights we have in the last two months all come off, or if the Curse rubs them out too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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