Katsidis stops the train

CEBU – In his first visit to a country he has championed internationally, Michael “The Great” Katsidis took his first step in the climb back to acceptance among the most feared boxers in the world, though not in the manner he desired.

Katsidis won the vacant World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific lightweight title by chasing down a reluctant Angel Hugo “El Tren” Ramirez for 10 rounds at the Cebu Coliseum here. At the end of the fight, Ramirez had more marks on his back (from rope burns) than on his face. He did survive, but it was not as exciting as expected.

“This fight was crucial for Katsidis, if he wants to break back into the level of the elite boxers of the world,” explained Australian boxing commentator and ring announcer Matthew Campbell. “He wanted to win this fight, and in a big way to prove that he is among the world’s best.”

The Greek-Australian, who always sports a Spartan centurion’s helmet when walking to the ring, was all business from start to finish.

Unfortunately, “El Tren” had left the station, backpedaling relentlessly, save for sporadic attacks that rarely had any follow-up.

Katsidis downed Ramirez with a couple of punches to the head in the second round, and thrice in the fourth, though it was starting to look as if Ramirez automatically fell to his knees when he was in trouble.

This tactic succeeded in getting Katsidis a point deduction after hitting Ramirez when he was kneeling on the canvas.

“I have to apologize to the crowd,” said a disappointed Katsidis. “He’s a great boxer, but tonight he just kept moving.”

It came to a point in the eighth round that Katsidis stopped chasing Ramirez and just stood in the middle of the ring. Spectators howled for action, until referee Bruce McTavish ordered the boxers to mix it up.

The main event of the card entitles “War” and broadcast live to Australia and on a slightly delayed basis over ABS-CBN and The Filipino Channel, was Ramirez’s first fight in Asia, and first outside of Europe and Latin America. He had to cross three different time zones to get here. Originally from Argentina, Ramirez has primarily been fighting out of Cataluña in Spain. Katsidis, for his part, has been living and training in the resort town of Pattaya, Thailand, which has the same time zone and same weather as the Philippines.

“I’m happy to have fought here, and I love the Philippines,” said Katsidis, who wore Philippine colors at the World Cup of Boxing last year. “I’ve captained your boxers, and have great respect for them, and the people here have just been great.”

It was Katsidis who started his career like a freight train, tallying 24 straight wins - 20 by knockout - until he ran smack into Cuban Joel Casamayor. Prior to that, Katsidis had won a close decision over Filipino Czar Amonsot at the Mandalay Bay in July of 2007. Slugging it out with Casamayor for the interim IBO lightweight title, Katsidis paid dearly. A bleeder, his face was sopping red mess as he went down twice in the first round and once in the eighth. Although he floored Casamayor once in the eighth, as well, he was eventually knocked out in the tenth round. Casamayor, who would later be knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez in the latter’s first bout as a lightweight, tore Katsidis’ face open with well-placed jabs.

It was an emotionally devastating defeat for the 28-year old veteran, who aside from Vic Darchinyan is currently the most popular Australian in the sport. But he hoped to get back on track against Juan Diaz six months later. Unfortunately, the fight at the Toyota Center in Houston (home venue of the Houston Rockets), did not turn out as planned. Diaz won the vacant IBO lightweight title with a very close split decision.

“A win is a win,” Campbell added. “Katsidis was very prepared for this fight; he was in great shape, but he didn’t get the knockout. There were some things he learned tonight.”

Katsidis is in talks to fight Julio Diaz in California in April, with the hopes that a knockout there will catapult his name back among those discussed in world title fight negotiations. The bumps in the road have been painful, but Katsidis feels he can get back what was taken away soonest.