World championship boxing returns to London this weekend when Ricky Burns battles Michael Katsidis for the interim WBO lightweight title at Wembley Arena.
This bout has split opinion right down the middle. Can Burns compete with the power on show at a higher weight? How much does Michael Katsidis have left after a gruelling career? Questions that can only be answered by both men in the squared circle. Bookmakers also struggle to separate the pair. Odds compilers make the Australian a 4/7 favourite and there are whispers within the industry that they have once again underestimated the man who halted Kevin Mitchell in savage fashion last year. The 31-year-old has endured some tough nights since however and looked to have lost a lot of heart when going down to Juan Manuel Marquez and Robert Guerrero in quick succession. Many ringside experts believe “The Great” took too much punishment during those crushing defeats and that his best days are now firmly behind him.
The 5ft 7inch orthodox boxer boasts a 72% KO average from 32 outings and another inside-the-distance positive is offered at 6/5 (Betfred). Only five of his 28 wins have come on the judges’ scorecards and that is reflected in Skybet’s 4/1 quote for Katsidis on points.
Scotland’s Ricky Burns has been here before. The Coatbridge technician captured the imagination of a nation when inflicting a first career defeat on the seemingly unstoppable Roman Martinez just 13 months ago. “Rickster” entered that challenge as a virtual no hoper in many eyes but climbed off the canvas to dish out a boxing lesson to the Puerto Rican and earn himself a WBO super-featherweight honour. The 28-year-old won’t have the backing of such a passionate crowd this time out and there is as much as 13/8 (Stan James) about him pulling off the impossible, again.
Burns has stopped each of his last two opponents, but they were little, if any, opposition and certainly not in the same class as Katsidis. Skybet go 10/1 about the Scot winning by KO/TKO, while a points verdict seems a lot more likely and can be backed at 5/2 (Victor Chandler).
This fight looks quite simple to break-down. If Burns wins he should do it over the duration, whereas if Katsidis is successful it is expected to be by stoppage. There are no doubts surrounding Ricky Burns’ boxing skills and if Katsidis is in fact past his prime, Ricky will take him to pieces and embarrass the once proud, heavy-handed warrior. However, there has been very little to suggest that Katsidis has fallen out of love with the game and he has said before just how much he enjoys boxing in Britain, and seems to keep some of his best efforts for us. Burns was a big super-feather but won’t be able to keep the Aussie off all evening at lightweight. I expect the title to board a plane.
*Watch the action live on BoxNation (Sky 456)
