Scott Graveson
It was always a pleasure to watch you Michael, though would you give up the memorable wars with the likes of Graham Earl and Czar Amonsot in exchange for a long reign as a world champion who few fans would remember?
I think the answer is obvious, well to me it is anyway: I fight to be remembered. I think the opening speech when I walk out to fight is very fitting to my character.
Aaron Ormrod
Your fights seem to end up as all-out wars more often than not – in which fight did you feel the most tiredness or pain the following day?
I was in a lot of pain after the Juan Diaz fight; my adrenalin was that high that they didn’t need to use anything to numb the pain. I broke my right hand in the second round of that fight and being that my best defence was to attack, I was wearing shots I otherwise would not wear…and I still had to try and use my right hand the rest of the entire fight.
Ste Tezza
Earlier on in the year boxing fans across the world were gutted to hear the news that you were forced to retire and cancel your fight against Weng Haya of the Philippines due to brain scan results. Can you tell us what it was that the doctors found to make them advise you to retire, and does your decision to continue indicate that circumstances changed?
It was a misdiagnosis – the original examining doctor had not seen the scans prior to show the healing of a broken eye socket from my 2009 title bout against Vincente Escobedo. Just recently the doctor’s diagnosis was an error. Some say this was a blessing in disguise. It really hurt me losing the one thing I truly loved doing and now I have the opportunity, I will take it with both hands and if I cannot become better than before then I will not continue.
Super_hoops1967
What does life hold for you after boxing – will you get involved in training or promoting? Whatever happens, I want to thank you for making so many fights so damned entertaining. Thank you and all the best for the future.
It is an interest to promote fights – I like what Oscar de la Hoya has done for the sport. Regardless of which country I am based in, I think we could always do with fights that give the sport of boxing the credit it deserves: Mano-a-mano, one man’s will against another’s… I like to think if boxing as beautiful brutality!
Dave Murphy
This is going to be a very tough and personal question to ask, but I know when you retired before you mentioned your young daughter being a factor in your decision. Since you brought it up at the time, it would be impossible for me to not bring her up now: can you return to the ring without being able to have that in the back of your mind?
Without being negative or wanting to make you uncomfortable, I think the cynic would ask: “How can a guy who was involved in the Czar Amansot tragedy not be able to walk away from the sport (or be able to stay away) when he confesses he’s accomplished all he ever wanted to do in his career?” I’m not asking that myself – I understand you’re compelled by your love of the sport, but no doubt that’s going to be a question a lot of people will be wondering about. How would you react to that?
You finished your career losing four out of your last five fights, including to a guy Albert Mensah, who to be honest you likely would’ve defeated in your best days, and on an ESPN-level that ranks well below what you were fighting on at your peak. The road back appears such a rough one, are you even thinking of a long-term plan at this point, or will just getting back into the ring with any opponent suffice?
Thank you for your questions. Have you ever seen the movie Rocky? It’s a beautiful movie about a man who once said: “It’s not about how hard you hit, but how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” Boxing attracts many different types of fans; some consider Rocky’s statement stupidity.
And then you mention my daughter… There are risks in each of our lives every day and you may put it that the risks with what I choose to do are far greater than the norm. I wasn’t born to be that way. Don’t think I don’t know there are great sacrifices to do what I have to do. It’s such a great feeling to be on top of the world, and to do it at ease and to know you can do better is worth doing.
Opposed to that, knowing what I know and not doing anything about it would hurt me in more ways. I’m very excited coming back into the sport with an older head; I’ve weighed up risks and past experiences and I know what I need to do. I may fight for a long time I may not, that is not my plan. My plan is to finish on my terms doing what I do at my best.
Obviously had the diagnosis been accurate, my judgement of achieving all I could have dreamed of would have changed – I’m realistic in what I hope to achieve. The day I know I cannot be better than I’ve ever been is the day I give up the sport.
Ryan Kinzett
You were known and loved worldwide for your warrior-like style in the ring. Has that always been your style throughout your amateur and pro career, or did you modify your style at all?
I was aggressive from a young age – I was 11 years old when I had my first fight. I was so scared I couldn’t throw more than a straight left until I got hit hard; it was the third round when this happened and then I unleashed a series of punches to end the fight and got the win. It was the first step in shaping my style; aggressive from the opening bell.
You had a great amateur record of 75-6 and even represented Australia at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. You lost by the narrowest of margins (9-7) to Nurzhan Karimzhanov in the second round – how did you handle that defeat and did it motivate you to achieve more as a pro?
Australia has always been years behind the Europeans and countries such as Cuba when it comes to the amateurs. I wanted to be professional because my aggressive style suited.
Which win or performance of yours are you most proud of and why?
I always say my fight with Juan Manuel Marquez; not because it was my best performance, but to be able to perform as I did having lost my brother just weeks before that fight, I was particularly proud of that. Performance-wise though, I will add it was quite thrilling to put Kevin Mitchell out in three rounds at his home ground of Upton Park, West Ham in front of 18000 of his countrymen.
You’ve often been compared to other warrior-like boxing legends such as Arturo Gatti or Rocky Graziano. If you could have fought any legend from the past or present, who would you have most liked to fight and why?
Yeah I would have liked to have fought someone like Roberto Duran or Arturo Gatti. Those guys loved to fight – they didn’t want to show boat or just do enough, they actually thrived for the fight that I would have enjoyed.
Which fighter did you miss out on fighting during your career and wish you could have had the opportunity to fight?
I’ve still got the best to come. I want Ricky Burns, Juan Diaz and Juan Manuel Marquez – we have unfinished business.
James Tonks
You have recently come out of retirement; can you tell the readers when, where and against whom you will be fighting next?
I’ve yet to say exactly where I will be fighting but getting very close to making that decision. I’ve had offers to fight Kevin Mitchell in England, also a fight in Vegas. To give my best before taking on the world, I would like a couple fights here in Australia first. Unless the fight is so lucrative I can’t refuse, I can most definitely say I’ll be fighting here in Australia first.
Follow Michael Katsidis on Twitter @michaelkatsidis, to tweet Michael with all your requests and shout outs use hashtag #katsidisthegreat.
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