ROCKY CALLS AN EARLY NIGHT

 

Michael Katsidis won the WBO Interim lightweight title at Wembley Arena on Saturday night (Feb 17-18) with a brutal stoppage of Graham Earl.. The Number 1 contender from Luton was retired by his corner after five rounds.

Earl’s trainer, Johnny Eames, had attempted to throw in the towel as early as the second round but brave referee Mickey Vann had rejected the submission.

Katsidis attacked from the first bell and hurt the crowd favourite with a couple of right uppercuts and some withering body shots. Earl fought back well but a big right hand put him on his backside for a count of eight. Seconds later a fiery combination put the Brit down again and he did well to see out the opening round.

Katsidis was rampant again in Round 2 and floored the former bank manager with another smashing right to the head. Earl’s corner had seen enough and threw in the towel. Referee Vann ignored it and waved ‘fight on’ whereupon Earl staggered Katsidis with a big right hook of his own.

“I turned to look at the towel,” Rocky told reporters after the fight, “And he’s whacked me with his best punch of the night!” Rocky took an eight count but was soon back onto the attack and had Earl pinned to the ropes by the end of the round.

There was toe-to-toe action in the third with more hurtful body shots coming from the Toowoomba fighter. A point was deducted for an alleged low blow but points were never going to matter in this scrap. Rocky’s superior strength told as he pounded Earl in the fourth and fifth rounds. The Englishman was cut over the left eye and looking well beaten as Katsidis began to plant his feet and tee off.

It was no surprise when Earl elected to not come out for the sixth round.

Graham Earl was taken to hospital by ambulance while Rocky collected his first world title belt, albeit for an interim title. Current champion Acelino Freitas from Brazil changed his mind about retiring in the hope of landing a big payday in a Superfight. If he doesn’t defend the title, Katsidis automatically becomes champ.

“Our American matchmakers seem to think this performance tonight has sealed Freitas’ retirement,” Katsidis said. And they could be right.