7/4 – Michael Katsidis (29-6, 24 KO’s) vs. Graham Earl (26-4, 12 KO’s) II – Rumours International, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
These two didn’t wait for Friday to get the fists flying. At the fights final press conference they exchanged some heated words, followed by a challenge to a street fight in the parking lot, followed by an attempt by both fighters to engage which was broken up by surrounding personnel. Suffice to say, these guys don’t like each other a whole lot, and the actions resulted in promoter Brendon Smith saying that he would have security present for the weigh in stating, “…we are having a job keeping them apart!”
After a two year retirement, Katsidis returned in March to score an easy third round stoppage of Eddy Comaro, dropping him twice. This Friday at the same venue, the former lightweight world champion has the opportunity to pick up a fringe world belt when he faces the U.K.’s Graham Earl for the vacant WBU (German version) light welterweight title. Katsidis’s bouts are often known to erupt into fireworks, and given the press conference; this one should be no different. Earl, a former lightweight title holder for the Commonwealth (British Empire), BBBofC (British) and WBU, hasn’t fought since 2009. His last bout was a six round decision over a 16-125-7 opponent, and he had been stopped early in his three bouts prior, including a fifth round RTD loss to Katsidis in the pair’s first match up where Earl was behind on points.
7/5 – Brian Minto (39-7, 25 KO’s) vs. Joseph Parker (8-0, 7 KO’s) – Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau City, New Zealand
Minto’s known to put on a good show, and does a good bit of traveling to put in work. His last bout earned him the WBO Oriental heavyweight title when he stopped Shane Cameron via RTD 7 in December after being deducted points in the fifth and sixth rounds. Along the way he’s fought and lost to Chris Arreola, Marco Huck, Artur Szpilka and Michael Sprott to name a few.
Parker is new to the game, and holds the New Zealand and PABA heavyweight titles. The big name on his limited ledger is against former WBF heavyweight title holder Frans Botha, who was 44 at the time.
7/9 – Alfonso Gomez (23-6-2, 12 KO’s) vs. Ed Paredes (35-3-1, 23 KO’s) – Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
“Contender” alum Gomez headlines the Golden Boy Promotions card Wednesday night. He made a name for himself on the show with his gritty performances against bigger fighters and after the programs conclusion, managed to score victories over a faded Arturo Gatti, Jesus Soto- Karass, and Jose Luis Castillo. He was unsuccessful in two tries at the world title level; stopped by Miguel Cotto in 2008 and again by Canelo Alvarez in 2011 before Shawn Porter took a close decision in 2012. This is Gomez’s first fight since then.
Paredes has fought on Telemundo and ESPN multiple times, and is undefeated since a 2009 decision loss to Carlos Molina. He’s held the NABA, WBO and WBC Latino welterweight titles and holds a win over former world champ Vivian Harris who recently scored a few upsets of his own.
7/9 – Joseph Diaz (10-0, 7 KO’s) vs. TBA
U.S. Olympian Diaz is scheduled to fight on the card, as of now no opponent has been named. Making his pro debut at the end of 2012, the super bantamweight prospect has kept busy fighting seven times in 2013 and twice already this year.
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