Michael Katsidis (28-4, 23 KOs) believes he is in tough against former junior lightweight titlist Ricky Burns (32-2, 9 KOs), whom he’ll face on Nov. 5 in London at Wembley Arena.
Katsidis who has been named the ‘Brit Basher’ by some has already defeated Graham Earl and Kevin Mitchell on British soil and will be aiming to add a third scalp to the list.
Burns has moved up to lightweight for the bout having relinquished his WBO 130-pound title, the belt he won last summer against Roman Martinez.
“He is very dangerous, the most dangerous opponent I could have faced,†said Katsidis about Burns.
Katsidis defeated Mitchell last May via third round knockout but admits that Burns will be a much tougher test. “Burns has better boxing ability than both Kevin Mitchell and Graham Earl. Earl has the biggest heart out of them while Mitchell is a little inconsistent. Burns will be the best I have faced in the UK.â€
“Burns is powerful and is a very consistent fighter. He has showed it in the past. It will be tough like I said he is more consistent that Mitchell and he is a better boxer than Earl, if we are to compare him with the English lads,†added Katsidis.
Katsidis is coming off an August win over Michael Lozada, having lost a point decision in April to Robert Guerrero.
“I was in great condition physically for that fight but mentally I wasn’t there. I only took the fight because I was relying on knocking him out. It obviously didn’t come off that way. He was lucky to get away with it. It is all in the past now,†proclaimed Katsidis.
Katsidis says a rematch with Murray is also a possibility in the future and it’s one he’d love to have, but is solely focused on Burns right now.
