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Saturday's HBO Boxing After Dark event is being main evented by Juan Diaz vs. Micael Katsidis. Here is he recap of Katsidis' last match:

HBO Boxing After Dark Recap

March 22, 2008

Morongo Resort & Casino-Cabazon, California

Ring/Interim WBO Lightweight (135 pounds) 12-Round Championship Match:

Joel Casamayor (35-3-1, 21 KO's, 134.25 pounds) (Ring Champion) vs. Michael Katsidis (23-0, 20 KO's, 133.75 pounds) (Interim WBO Champion)

Casamayor won his Ring Championship by defeating the late Diego Corrales via split decision on October 7, 2006 at the Mandalay Bay. This is Casamayor's second defense of this title.

Katsidis won his championship when it was vacant by defeating Graham Earl on February 17, 2007 at The Arena in London, England. Katsidis came back from being knocked, when he got distracted and dropped his guard, to force Earl's corner to stop the match following round 5. This is Katsidis' second defense of this title.

Casamayor was an outstanding amateur boxer. He won the gold medal in boxing at 119 pounds for Cuba at the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympiad. The Cuban government rewarded Casamayor with a bicycle (not motorcycle) for winning the gold medal upon his return. Casamayor traded the bike for a pig to feed his family. He continued his stellar amateur career in Cuba at 125 pounds and qualified at that weight for the Atlanta Summer Olympics in 1996. Casamayor was one of the favorites to take the gold medal at the games. However, he defected to the United States right before the start of the Atlanta Olympiad.

He began his pro career a little more then 2 months after defecting with a knockout win 1:34 into round 1 over David Chamendis at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida. However, according to one boxing promoter, Casamayor did not make the mistake of many Cuban boxers who defect and continue to live in Miami. He moved out west to train and isolate himself somewhat from the vibrant Cuban community in south Florida. The promoter speculated that when the boxers come to the United States after having had almost no freedom at all for years under the Cuban boxing training system, and are thrown into the excitement that is Miami it can be too much for them to handle.

Casamayor's last match was a controversial split decision victory over Jose Armando Santa Cruz on November 10, 2007 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Casamayor was knocked down in round 1, but came from behind to win on the judges' scorecards, 114-113, 114-113, 113-114. Most people who watched the match believe Casamayor lost soundly. A rematch was ordered by the WBC who's Interim Lightweight Championship was at stake in the match, but Casamayor passed it up to take this match. No major television network wanted to carry the match. Therefore, Casamayor took this match for the better pay check. As a consequence Casamayor has been stripped of the title.

Casamayor is The Ring Magazine Champion at 135 pounds.

Katsidis was a stellar amateur boxer. He was able to represent the host nation of Australia in boxing at 132 pounds during the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympic Games.

If Katsidis wins, he would become the first Australian boxer in history to defeat a Cuban born boxer. That includes both Cuban amateurs and pros.

The Australian's last match was a 12-round unanimous decision victory over Czar Amonsot on July 21, 2007 at the Mandalay Bay. Prior to going the distance with Amonsot, Katsidis had knocked out his last 13 opponents, all in 9 rounds or less. Against Amonsot, Katsidis showed problems with cuts. He was opened up in 3 different places on his face. Katsidis was cut badly above his left and above and below his right eye. All 3 of the cuts were severe cuts and could re-open in this match giving him problems. However, Katsidis scored 2 knockdowns in the match, and delivered so much head trauma to Amonsot that he suffered bleeding on the brain and will hopefully never box again.

Katsidis is The Ring's number 6 contender at 135 pounds.

At 27-years-old, Katsidis is 9 years younger then the 36-year-old Casamayor. Katsidis holds a slight height advantage standing 5' 7.5" tall, while Casamayor is 5' 7" tall. The Australian has the reach advantage with a 23" arm length, compared to Casamayor's 22.5" arm length. Both boxers weighed 140 pounds on HBO's unofficial scales approaching match time. Casamayor will box out of the southpaw stance and Katsidis will box out of the orthodox stance.

Two of the judges are from California and the other is from New Jersey. The referee is Jon Schorle.

A left hook from Casamayor sends Katsidis to the canvas only 22 seconds into round 1. Casamayor also caught Katsidis with a left uppercut when the Australian was on his knees on the ground. Katsidis popped right back up and wanted to continue immediately to even things up, before the referee even had a chance to count to 1. However, the referee did not allow Katsidis to go chasing after Casamayor as he wanted, and forced the Australian to take the 8-count. Katsidis legs do not look solid when he is allowed to charge back into action with 2:24 to go in the round. Another left hand from Casamayor puts Katsidis down with 2:09 to go in round 1. That second time knockdown was more damaging. Casamayor connected solidly with the chin of Katsidis and the Australian's eyes do not look 100% clear getting up from this knockdown. However, Katsidis takes the referees count and is ready to charge back into action with 1:58 to go in round 1. There is no 3 knockdown rule in California. With 24 seconds to go in round 1, Katsidis throws a right elbow from the clinch, that luckily does not land clean on Casamayor or it would have cut him. Katsidis is every bit the awful defensive, brawling boxer HBO promised. On everyone's scorecard Casamayor wins round 1, 10-7. Katsidis is bleeding from his nose after round 1, and it looks broken. Katsidis is ducking into Casamayor's left hand in his attempt to dodge punches. It appears Katsidis did not spar with southpaws, because that is the first thing he would have learned in sparring.

In round 2, Katsidis has been cut below his left eye. That was one place on his face not cut during his last match. Casamayor wins round 2, 10-9. The veteran is now picking his spots to set up the seemingly inevitable knockout. Lederman scores round 2 for Casamayor, 10-9. Casamayor easily wins round 3, 10-9. After 3 rounds, Casamayor is ahead on my scorecard, 30-25. Lederman scored round 3 for Katsidis, 10-9, but has Casamayor winning the match after 3 rounds, 29-26. In round 3, Kellerman noted that Katsidis did not look like he was going after a decision win and is now committed to only brawling for a knockout. After round 3, Katsidis has swelling around both eyes, a cut has opened up under his right eye, and he is laboring to breath. Conversely, after round 3 Casamayor is unmarked, breathing at a relaxed pace, and perfectly calm.

A right-left combination from Katsidis has Casamayor hurt and in trouble with 1:38 to go in round 4. Great round 4 that saw Casamayor use every trick he had in his bag to stay standing. A notoriously dirty boxer, Casamayor used the intentional low blow to buy himself some time. However, Casamayor did not land the punch cleanly and was only able to earn a momentary break to receive a severe warning. Casamayor was looking to force Katsidis to take an injury time out, which would allow him time to recover, as well. The Cuban Olympian did still hold on and throw powerful counter punches to try to get Katsidis to slow down. Katsidis seemed to will himself through Casamayor's power punches in attempt to score the knockout creating great exchanges. Katsidis wins round 4, 10-9. Lederman scores round 4 for Katsidis, 10-9. Katsidis wins round 5, 10-9. Lederman scores round 5 for Katsidis, 10-9. A Katsidis right hand sends Casamayor down and through the ropes with 32 seconds to go in round 6. Boxing uses PWG's 20 count rule if a competitor goes to the floor, but the standard 10 count rule is in effect if a boxer is knocked down and lands on the apron. Casamayor only landed on the apron and was standing on the apron at 7. The referee counted to 8 and paused for Casamayor to come in the ring to continue. Casamayor may not have been in the ring by 10 if the referee had not halted his count momentarily. This appears to be a case of the referee using his discretion and it could become controversial, later. The action is resumed with 18 seconds to go in the round and Casamayor is still in trouble. Casamayor ends the round standing, but receives a late punch to the face from Katsidis after the bell sounds. Katsidis wins round 6 on Lederman and my scorecard, 10-8. After 6 rounds, Casamayor leads on my scorecard, 56-55. On Lederman's scorecard, after 6 rounds Katsidis is ahead, 56-55.

Katsidis wins a close round 7, 10-9. Lederman scores round 7 for Katsidis, 10-9. Very close round 8, but Katsidis probably wins it by going forward the entire round, 10-9. With 2:35 to go in round 9, Casamayor throws a left hand that hits Katsidis low. It does not hurt Katsidis, but after the apparently intentional low blow earlier and the fact this match has seen numerous fouls the referee takes a point from Casamayor. That low blow was not intentional, but Casamayor has been warned numerous times and the deduction seems fair for a match with this many fouls. A deduction to Katsidis to even things up should be coming shortly. Katsidis wins a close round 9, 10-8. After 9 rounds, Katsidis leads on my scorecard, 85-82.

A left hook from Casamayor sends Katsidis grabbing for the ropes and to the canvas 10 seconds into round 10. Katsidis looks nearly completely out of it when the referee allows him to continue with 2:39 to go in round 10. The referee hesitated a lot before letting Katsidis continue, and he might have been right to stop the match right there. Katsidis does not look good. The Australian starts getting the worse of an exchange against the ropes and the referee wisely steps in to save a still standing Katsidis with 2:32 to go in round 10. This match has been insane. The crowd at the arena is screaming itself hoarse following that incredible finish.

The official result as read by the official voice of the octagon, Bruce Buffer is: at 30 seconds of round number 10 the referee has called a stop to this contest making the winner by technical knockout, and now the new WBO Interim Lightweight Champion of the World and still The Ring Magazine Lightweight Champion of the World, Joel "El Cepillo" Casamayor. The win moves Casamayor to 36-3-1, with 22 of those wins coming by way of knockout.

The final punchstat numbers have Casamayor landing 163 of the 515 total punches he threw, for a 32% total connect percentage. Casamayor landed 102 of the 275 power punches he threw, for a 37% power connect percentage. Katsidis landed 144 of the 468 total punches he threw, for a 31% total connect percentage. The Australian landed 122 of the 391 power punches he threw, for a 31% power connect percentage.

Casamayor said in his post match interview that Katsidis was not a good puncher and that he actually went down largely due to a slip. That answer appeared to shock Kellerman, who was doing the interview, and seems shocking having watched the match and numerous replays of the knockdown. Casamayor said he did not want to face Nate Campbell who holds 3 of the official titles at 135 pounds. Instead Casamayor wants big money matches against Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao. To add some excitement to the event, Campbell is in attendance and trying to get into the ring where the interviews are being conducted to say he wants Casamayor.

Katsidis correctly said in his post match interview that he lost this match, because of his inexperience. The Australian did not question the stoppage and gave a very classy interview.

Casamayor looked exciting in this match. He already has a victory over Campbell, and another match with Campbell would be a high risk-low reward match for Casamayor. If Casamayor wins it is something he has already done and is expected to do. If Casamayor loses, that could be read as the sign he has gotten too old and his career as a top boxer is over. Casamayor may never get another big match were he to lose to Campbell. Barrera was retired by defeats from Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao, and would be unlikely to return for a match with Casamayor, because it is unlikely to generate enough money. The Pacquiao match has a chance to happen, though and could be very interesting.

Katsidis has a lot of potential. With more experience Katsidis could be an elite boxer. Katsidis was going to face Juan Diaz in what would have been an exciting match between two offensively boxers focused mainly on offense, however Don King decided to block the match. That match appears to be back up for consideration. The winner of a match between Katsidis and Diaz would deserve an immediate shot at one of the titles.