Against Michael Katsidis tonight at Casino Morongo in Cabazon, CA, Joel Casamayor (36-3-1, 22 KOs) used his experience to conquer the too-eager-for-his-own-good Katsidis (23-1, 20 KOs) as the 27-year-old brawler charged after Casamayor in the opening seconds of round ten and ran into a left that dropped him face first into the ropes. Although Katsidis beat the count, he had no legs, and a flurry by Casamayor convinced the referee that Katsidis had had enough. The fight ended at :30 of round ten.
Casamayor foreshadowed Katsidis’ undoing by dropping him twice in round one with counter left hands. Soon after, Katsidis started keeping his right hand high, negating the Casamayor left. Katsidis coupled his improved defense with constant pressure. Punches to Casamayor’s body set up a right that sent the 36-year-old through the ropes in round six.
Never too old to learn, Casamayor boxed from on the outside from round seven on. When he did get inside, he held Katsidis close, taking away the younger man’s body work that had been so effective earlier in the night. HBO televised the fight on its Boxing After Dark series.
Casamayor retains his Ring Magazine and linear lightweight championship.
