The Dangers Of Boxing-The end for Katsidis

[THE THIRD MAN]

AS painful as the sound of the final bell has been, boxer Michael Katsidis is fully aware he has dodged a dementia-tipped bullet. Katsidis is a dynamo in the ring and until last week was desperate to resurrect a once glittering career that saw him grace some of boxing's biggest stages.
He dropped legendary Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, only to lose by TKO in the ninth round.
It was a month after his younger brother, Stathi, a champion Queensland-based jockey, died from a lethal cocktail of drugs and alcohol.
Katsidis dedicated the rest of his career to honouring Stathi's memory and was to begin the path back tonight at the Melbourne Pavilion in Flemington.
Then came the news that a medical had declared him unfit to take on Filipino Weng Haya.
Katsidis, 32, was shocked, his world shattered.

He felt and looked well and insiders said he had been training brilliantly at Johnny Lewis's gym in Sydney.
Yesterday, Katsidis admitted being confused after a CAT scan showed some scarring on his brain, insufficient to ruin his long-term health but a very clear warning that further punishment could be dire.
After all, two of the all-time greatest, Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson, were left as shells after too many fights.
Katsidis, whose entertaining style was "take a punch to land a punch", knew he risked a similar fate.
But it doesn't make retirement any easier and there are countries that would still allow him to fight.
"Boxing is my life, it's everything to me," he said. .
"It's just a very emotional time, but I love my family (wife Kumi and daughter Kalia Rose, 3) so I will pursue a media career to still be involved in boxing.
"Being man enough to withdraw from this fight was the bigger thing to do.
"I took on the world's best and entertained. I wanted to be the Aussie who got out there. Boxing is one man's will against another man's will, and we fight because we have something to prove.
"I wanted to prove an Australian's will can be the best and I'm very proud I proved that."
Michael "The Great" Katsidis now wants to give something back and advise fighters not to be afraid to lose, because as long as you lose in an entertaining fashion you will still feature on the big cards.
Tonight's card that was to feature Katsidis will go ahead with Fred Tukes and Samuel Colomban contesting the vacant Australian welterweight title and unbeaten prospect Michael Zerafa tackling Adrian Campbell for the WBA Asia Continental light middleweight title.
Light heavyweight Jake Carr, son of former Commonwealth champion Rodd Carr, is also fighting.

[armin]

Katsidis always brought it and gave us some memorable fights. In the burns fight you could see he wasn't quite the same, not to take anything away from burns but kats' punches just weren't the same, and then he lost to some no hopper. Wish him the best and good to see him go out with his health in tact for the most part.

[IamInuit]

There is a man that went out on his shield.

[0james0]

A legend of the sport. Love his kind of fighters.

[Dia bando]

This is boxing injury is common, this sport takes no prisoners, many have carried on far to long
Katsidis in the past would have probable, continued to box he gave a lot to the sport I'm glad
he can retire,still pretty much in one piece.
Good luck to Katsidis, may he live a full and happy life a true warrior.

[Dark Lord Al]

What are you looking atThe end

[roberto duran legend]

Glad Katsidis is out of boxing to be honest.He always took far to much punishment
against the top boys.Hope he does stay retired.

[Vendettos]

Tough guy. Making a smart decision.
Still sad to se him go.

[smashup]

Never forget that thriller against Graham Earl.... absolute belter while it lasted

This is sad but i guess goes with his style of fighting, he was in some fierce wars.

[p4pking]

This is boxing injury is common, this sport takes no prisoners, many have carried on far to long
Katsidis in the past would have probable, continued to box he gave a lot to the sport I'm glad
he can retire,still pretty much in one piece.
Good luck to Katsidis, may he live a full and happy life a true warrior.

'

This is very true, in past years fighters didn't have the benefit of MRI's and other comprehensive testing, and would have been allowed to fight anywhere even if they were known to have serious brain damage. It's nice to read that he knew to quit, as guys like him start to get really hurt once they lose a step. Even at his peak he was always taking major punishment, people like him more or less need to be saved from themselves. Always admired his drive and humility in defeat, a warrior no doubt.