28 Facts About Michael Katsidis

Michael Alan Katsidis is an Australian former professional boxer who competed from 2001 to 2017.

Michael Katsidis held the World Boxing Organization interim lightweight title twice between 2007 and 2010, and challenged twice for the lineal lightweight title in 2008 and 2010.

Michael Katsidis attained a scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport.

Michael Katsidis made his professional debut on 1 December 2001 by stopping Danny Wilson in the third round for the Queensland lightweight title.

Michael Katsidis would go on to score another nineteen wins, nearly all by knockout, while amassing a further three lower-level titles: the Australian light-welterweight, WBO Asia Pacific lightweight and IBF Pan Pacific lightweight championships, respectively.

In 2001, Michael Katsidis was convicted for assault after getting involved in an altercation with a man and breaking his jaw.

Michael Katsidis pleaded not guilty, maintaining self-defence, but was sentenced to eight months in prison between 2002 and 2003, six months of which were spent at the high-security Woodford Correctional Centre north of Brisbane.

The conviction later made it difficult for Michael Katsidis to obtain a visa to the United States, which was refused twice in 2005 and 2006.

Earl's comeback would ultimately be short-lived, as Michael Katsidis recovered swiftly and finished the round strongly.

Michael Katsidis was scheduled to face then-WBO super featherweight champion Joan Guzman on 26 May 2007, but the latter withdrew from the fight due to a hand injury.

Michael Katsidis later defended his WBO interim lightweight title against Czar Amonsot on 21 July 2007 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The ten-round contest was won convincingly by Michael Katsidis, despite appearing to be gunshy at times, coupled with Ramirez's unwillingness to engage.

Ramirez was knocked down four times, while a point was deducted from Michael Katsidis for hitting Ramirez when he was floored from a slip later in the second round.

One day prior to Guerrero's withdrawal, Michael Katsidis had turned his attention towards old nemesis Juan Diaz, with both expressing an interest in a potential rematch.

However, in the closing seconds of both rounds, Michael Katsidis was able to launch a charging attack and finish strongly at the bell.

Michael Katsidis was in attendance for the aforementioned event in order to scout out the winner and primarily to assert his claim to be next in line against Marquez.

Michael Katsidis managed to recover swiftly, building up a lead on all the judges' scorecards and gradually neutralising Katsidis' aggression with accurate counterpunching at close range.

Michael Katsidis' next fight took place on 9 April 2011 against Robert Guerrero, in a rescheduling of their cancelled fight from March 2010.

Guerrero was able to maintain a safe distance by consistently landing accurate punches with his jab and straight left hand, to which Michael Katsidis had virtually no answer at any stage in the fight.

Michael Katsidis later stated that from thereon he would stay at lightweight, which he felt was his natural weight class.

In July, Michael Katsidis expressed his desire for a farewell fight in his hometown of Toowoomba, where he had not fought since 2006.

Michael Katsidis stated that he was medically clear to fight, while having other aspirations outside of boxing.

Michael Katsidis suffered his seventh career loss when he was knocked down and stopped in the second round.

Michael Katsidis is of Greek descent, and often paid homage to his heritage by wearing a Corinthian helmet when entering the ring, as well as his trunks often resembling a warrior's skirt.

In February 2009 Michael Katsidis married Japanese native Kumiko Hosako during a ceremony in Bangkok.

In 2015, Michael Katsidis was charged for possession of an ice pipe.

Michael Katsidis was fined A$400 and a conviction was recorded.

Michael Katsidis was sentenced to two years in prison with immediate parole in 2021, after pleading guilty for possession of meth during a 2019 police raid.