Boxing News Boxing News
In a thrilling turn of the tides lightweight dual title clash, Juan Manuel Marquez bested Michael Katsidis in a genuine Las Vegas war at MGM Grand.
Marquez started off sharply punishing Katsidis with crisp counters until the Australian broke through the champion’s tight defense and floored Marquez hard in the third frame.
Marquez beat the count and survived the followup assault, using his considerable experience to get through the difficulty but Katsidis had managed to gian the upper hand in shocking fashion.
Katsidis tried to walk through Marquez but the Mexican legend simply soaked up the punishment and began to rip snarling ripostes through the guard of the challenger, regaining the momentum in the second half of the bout.
The pair continued the toe-to-toe action but by the seventh stanza, Katsidis began to slow down and couldn’t keep pace, becoming a stationary target.
The end came at 2:14 of the ninth when Katsidis could no longer adequately defend himself, as Marquez retained the WBA and WBO belts.
After a brave effort, Katsidis sees his record lowered to 27-3 (22) while Marquez now has 52 wins, 38 early, to go along with five losses and one draw.
The chief support bout featured WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto, 27-0 (21), crushing challenger Freddy Hernandez, 29-2 (20), with a single right hand, poleaxing the challenger at 2:07 of the opening round.
In an upset, ex-WBA and IBF super bantam supremo Celestino Caballero, 34-3 (21), found the going at super feather to be tougher than expected as he was defeated in a split decision by former NABF lightweight and super feather titlist Jason Litzau, 28-2 (21), after ten rounds.
No longer towering over opponents, Caballero was unable to maintain distance as Litzau got on the inside and stayed there, thwarting the Panamanian’s attempts to box during all ten frames.
Litzau was awarded the decision by taking two cards, 97-93 and 96-94 while Caballero won one by a margin of 96-94.
