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Katsidis, left, made his U.S. debut one to remember in a bloody fight with Amonsot in July 2007.

Katsidis ready for another brawl

When Australian brawler Michael Katsidis made his United States debut on the Bernard Hopkins-Winky Wright undercard in July 2007, he had a budding reputation as an all-action fighter.

Five months earlier, Katsidis had stopped Graham Earl in the fifth round in London to win an interim lightweight belt in a mayhem-filled slugfest featuring multiple knockdowns. The fight of the year candidate gained notoriety among hard-core American fans after being posted on the Internet. The 2000 Olympian, who walks to the ring in Spartan garb, was cultivating a cult following.

Then he made his American debut in Las Vegas in the HBO PPV undercard fight against Czar Amonsot. It was a rock 'em, sock 'em, bloody battle that turned out to be even more exciting than the Earl scorcher.

Katsidis scored knockdowns in the second and 10th round and won a unanimous decision in another FOY candidate, but he took massive punishment. He suffered three nasty cuts and emerged looking like he'd been attacked with a meat cleaver.

"It's like I'm at war when I fight," Katsidis said.

He had a gaping cut under his left eye. There were two worse cuts around his right eye. His face was a bloody mess and he needed 26 stitches to close the wounds.

One week earlier, Arturo Gatti, this generation's action star, had announced his retirement.

Katsidis (23-0, 20 KOs) seemed to walk right into his shoes.

During the fight, HBO broadcaster Max Kellerman, who was ringside, could barely contain his enthusiasm for Katsidis' mesmerizing style.

Now, eight months later, he is healed and ready to fight, and Kellerman can't wait.

"I certainly agree with the sentiment," Kellerman said of comparisons between Gatti and Katsidis.

"Katsidis is must-see TV. He is going to replace Arturo as must-see TV. You must watch him because of the way he fights. It's thrilling."

Katsidis returns Saturday night (HBO, 10:05 ET/PT) against lightweight champion Joel Casamayor (35-3-1, 21 KO's) at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, Calif. It will be the 36-year-old Casamayor's first bout since winning a questionable split decision against Jose Armando Santa Cruz in November.

The telecast will also feature live coverage of a super middleweight title eliminator between Librado Andrade (26-1, 20 KOs) of La Habra, Calif., and Germany's Robert Stieglitz (31-1, 19 KOs) and a replay of last week's epic rematch between junior lightweights Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.

But all eyes will be on Katsidis, who seems almost embarrassed by the comparison to Gatti.

"It's a great honor to be talked about like that," Katsidis, 27, said. "I think the fans are going to be excited again when they see me fight. I've seen Gatti's fight with [Micky] Ward. He's an all-out fighter, gives it his all. I like to do that plus give a little bit more. When there's nothing left, I always find more and go that one step extra. You have to be physically strong to do it like I do it, and mentally strong."

Katsidis, who has been living and training in Los Angeles for almost a year, said he healed quickly after the Amonsot fight but has been off for so long because a fight with then-titleholder Juan Diaz fell through.

He's looking forward to getting back in the ring.

"I'm in there to get the business done. I'm a fighter," he said. "There's no secret to my style. I get out there and get the job done. That's what I'm all about. People seem to enjoy it."

Katsidis' style doesn't lend itself to a long career, although Gatti did fight for 16 years. Katsidis said he doesn't worry about how one hard fight after another might impact his career, and his life.

"I don't think about my shelf life while I am in the fight," he said. "You can't think about it. I just fight the fight at the time and take it piece by piece. I'm built like a fighter. The damage happens. I heal quickly.

"Fans know when they watch me fight I bring real excitement. I go to war, put my life on the line. I'm real in that way. I just want to win the fight."

Lacy-Green?

Golden Boy's May 31 HBO PPV card headlined by Shane Mosley-Zab Judah is called "High Stakes" because of the urgency with which both need a victory. It's a theme that will be repeated on the undercard as evidenced by the junior lightweight match between ex-titlist Jorge Barrios and Rocky Juarez.

Another bout being discussed also fits the theme: super middleweight Jeff Lacy (23-1, 17 KOs) against Allan Green (26-1, 18 KOs).

Golden Boy matchmaker Eric Gomez said it's a fight Lacy specifically asked for and one the company has been talking about internally.

Coincidentally, Bobby Dobbs, matchmaker for Green promoter Tony Holden, called Golden Boy this week inquiring about the fight, so the sides are talking. Holden wants to make it.

"We have tried to make that fight for years," Holden said. "If [Lacy's] people are serious, then they need to call me."

Green is on suspension for withdrawing from an ESPN2 bout last month without explanation, but that can be cleared. Lacy, a former titleholder, looked shaky in his past fight, a decision against Peter Manfredo after returning from a year layoff because of an arm injury.

Whomever Lacy fights, he'll do so without longtime trainer Dan Birmingham. Lacy has returned to Roger Bloodworth, who trained him earlier in his career. Birmingham said the split was mutual.

"Jeff and I both needed a change and we parted on good terms," Birmingham said in an e-mail. "I wish him the best."

Bantamweight prospect Abner Mares (16-0, 10 KOs), so impressive in blowing out Diosdado Gabi in two rounds on last week's Pacquiao-Marquez II undercard, also could be featured on the Mosley-Judah PPV, Gomez said.

Khan thinks big

England's Amir Khan, the 2007 ESPN.com Prospect of the Year, has been on the fast track since winning a silver medal in the 2004 Olympics. The lightweight's goal is to be a world champion by the end of 2008. That's why Khan, 21, was paying close attention to Nate Campbell's upset of Juan Diaz two weeks ago to win a trio of alphabet belts.

"No one gave Campbell much of a chance, so it's a great achievement to have beaten Diaz and won those belts," Khan said. "But I don't think I'm too far off fighting the likes of Campbell, and hopefully, by the end of the year I'll be challenging for the titles. He's a great fighter, but at the end of the day, I want to test myself against the best. I just need a little bit more experience and then I'll be ready for anyone in the world."

Khan (16-0, 12 KOs) scored a shutout against ex-junior lightweight titleholder Gairy St. Clair on Feb. 2. Khan is scheduled to face Martin Kristjansen on April 5 in a title eliminator. The winner will become one of Campbell's mandatory challengers, which is what Khan wants.

Khan also has been engaged in a verbal battle with junior welterweight titlist Gavin Rees of Wales, who makes his first defense Saturday in Cardiff against Ukrainian mandatory Andreas Kotelnik (28-2-1, 12 KOs).

Rees (27-0, 13 KOs) said he would give Khan a "good pasting" after beating Kotelnik. Naturally, Khan is also interested in Rees: "I've never wanted someone to win a fight so much before. I badly want Rees to win so I can shut him up. He's been calling me out, and I'd love to take him on. I'll even come to Cardiff and beat him in front of his own fans. He's a good champion and is only one weight class higher than me, but I'll happily step up. I'll be too quick and punch too hard for him. I want to be a world champion before the end of the year, and Rees is a realistic target."