n what was almost certainly a wise move, 32-year-old “Earl Of Luton” Graham Earl has pulled out of his planned rematch with Australia’s Michael Katsidis. As soon as news broke of how Earl was in the running to face Katsidis in a return of their hugely exciting 2007 showdown (which Katsidis won via 5th-round retirement), fans almost everywhere were aghast. Quite simply, Earl looked a shot fighter in his post-Katsidis bouts, being blown away twice in two of the three fights he had. Yet Earl was insistent he was still in shape to fight, and a return with “The Great” was on for Australia later this year. Or at least it was. Fightnews.com has reported how, after a breakdown in contract negotiations between Earl’s camp and that of Katsidis, the Toowoomba warrior will now face Mexico’s Michael Lozada, 38-8(30). This fight will take place on August 13th and will almost certainly be a far more competitive affair than Katsidis-Earl II would have been. The really exciting news, though, is the plan Team-Katsidis has for the next fight for the thrill-a-minute lightweight who will make his 140-pound debut against 27-year-old Lozada: Erik Morales is being targeted as the next opponent for the 30-year-old former interim lightweight champ. Katsidis’ manager and trainer Brendon Smith told Fightnews how the Lozada fight will very much be a warm-up fight for Mexican legend Morales. Read more: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=28353&more=1
