Australia’s Michael ‘The Great’ Katsidis (28-4, 23KO’s) has never done things the easy way, and once again travels half way around the World to fight, this time to face Scotland’s Ricky Burns (32-2, 9KO’s) at the Wembley Arena in London on Saturday night in a bout to decide the WBO interim lightweight championship.

Katsidis has already challenged for the title twice in his last three fights, and despite losing in both finds himself once again with an opportunity to take home the title he has already held twice before. The problem with Katsidis is that when he comes up against the very best he usually comes out on the losing side, often gallantly.

Apart from a fairly routine third round KO of Michael Lozada in his native Queensland in August, Katsidis has been finding it hard to find a win, being defeated by Juan Manuel Marquez (LTKO9) and Robert Guerrero (LUD12) in back-to-back fights for the very same title he challenges for against Burns on Saturday.

Burns is on a roll and even though his last bout ended farcically after opponent Nicky Cook bowed out with barely a punch being landed inside the first round, is in the form of his career. It really began when he wrested the WBO super-featherweight crown from Roman Martinez back in September ’09. Burns was a big underdog for that fight and pulled of a huge upset over the Puerto Rican champion, defeating him over twelve rounds with a close but unanimous decision.

Burns went on to make three defences of the title, although has now vacated to move up in weight as he was struggling with the 130lb limit and says it affected his performance. Nevertheless Saturday he still faces the sternest test of his career so far, of which he’s only too aware.

“I couldn’t have got a harder fight if I tried but these are the fights I wanted because you have to beat the best to be the best,” Burns told Sky.

“People are writing me off and I know this is going to be the hardest fight of my life, but it will bring the best out of me. The first couple of rounds are going to be a key factor because he’s a pressure fighter and I can’t have him chasing me around the ring for 12 rounds.”

In truth Burns may well not last twelve rounds if he tries to stand and fight with the bigger, stronger Katsidis. There are few if any fighters in the sport today that put pressure on their opponent like Katsidis and unless you have some razor-sharp skills will get swallowed up by the Australian’s strength and determination. Luckily for Burns his forte is counter-punching and using the ring to keep his opponent off balance, which would seem the obvious tactic that he’ll need to employ to have a chance of winning.

There is a chance but it’s difficult to look past Katsidis for this one. He has already travelled to London twice before and wrecked mayhem, defeating both Graham Earl and Kevin Mitchell in tough, hard fights, and Burns should be his third victim if all goes to plan. It comes as no surprise that Katsidis likes it in the UK.

“When I go for a run here (England) I feel like the air is fresher and cleaner,” he said. “I feel like I can breathe a lot more, so that enables me to train for more rounds.

“I feel like I have a new lease of life when I’m in England. I get a lot more out of my training when I’m here. I love the people here and the place. Boxing in Britain is great.”

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