Boxing Betting: Tough Burns to crumble under Katsidis onslaught

Boxing Betting / Alex Steedman / 31 October 2011 /

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Ricky Burns prepares for his big fight

"Burns will have to produce the performance of his life to hear the final bell, never mind win."

Alex Steedman selects the best bets as a hard hitting Aussie bids to break down a tough Scots cookie this Saturday...

The Aussies love smashing up Poms for sport but Michael Katsidis gets paid for the pleasure and the Queenslander has made a habit of it too. Ricky Burns is next up for him on his return to Blighty this weekend.

Englishmen Graham Earl, and more recently Kevin Mitchell, have both fallen before the energetic, thumping fists of Katsidis [1.53] and there's little doubt that he represents a significant rise in class for Burns. Katsidis has lost four times in the four years since the barnstormer with Earl, including two defeats since he beat Mitchell last May. But those losses have come against elite fighters like Juan Manuel Marquez and next best thing Robert Guerrero. Katsidis mops up and usually stops those floating below that level where Burns is at.

With 23 stoppage wins from 28 victories, Katsidis is heavy handed for a little guy ([1.8] KO/TKO/DQ) and he's particularly effective with left and right hooks. Better still, Katsidis is quick on his feet and on the back of intensive, alternative preparations in Thailand, he impressed by cutting ring space down when hammering Mitchell. Much was made of Mitchell's issues going into that bout but Katsidis looked sharp and may have delivered the same result regardless. Make no mistake, Burns will have to produce the performance of his life to hear the final bell, never mind win this.

Ricky Burns (2.64) is the boy next door made good; the polite, smiling Scotsman with the milk bottle skin and everyday attitude. But the tattooed torso hints at something else with Burns and that is his other era toughness. Burns is one tough cookie, a point underlined and emphasised throughout his astonishing, performance-of-the-year, world title win over Rocky Martinez last September. Martinez was considered the KO artist from hell but Burns boxed, brawled and eventually outfought him to win. It was stirring, edge of the seat stuff but Ricky might need some of that and more to prevail here.

This is Burns' first fight up at Lightweight, a move that was inevitable given his height and size. He will tower three inches above Katsidis and Burns certainly has the ability to keep the Aussie at distance, courtesy of a four inch reach advantage. Burns has an excellent jab and his fate may well be determined by its effectiveness. Certainly Katsidis can be clumsy and flat footed or square-on when up close so there is a hope that he can be frustrated. But as Guerrero, Marquez and Casamayor proved, you need dig inside the gloves to dissuade Katsidis. The latter two were troubled and got off the floor to prevail. Unfortunately, I don't think Burns has the necessary power to keep his man at bay.

Pom pummeller, basher of the Brits, call him what you will, Michael Katsidis has an army of admirers in the UK and he's likely to wow a few more with his efforts this weekend.

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