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Michael Katsidis insists he does not want to fight Ricky Hatton, saying the potential riches from the bout come a distant second to his dream of having a world lightweight title belt around his waist for a third time.
Katsidis, a two-time WBO interim champion, was strongly linked to be Hatton's first opponent in his comeback, before the 'Hitman' revealed he would meet Vyacheslav Senchenko at Manchester's MEN Arena on November 24.
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With Katsidis a popular fighter in the UK, due to his stellar performances in defeating Graham Earl and Kevin Mitchell, he seemed a natural foe for Hatton as the Mancunian plots his way back to the top of the boxing world.
The Toowoomba fighter (28-6, 23 KOs), whose last fight in the UK was a disappointing 12-round points reverse to current WBO champ Ricky Burns, says he was not contacted by Hatton about fighting in November and would not have welcomed the bout anyway.
"I'm staying at lightweight rather than taking fights with guys like Ricky Hatton in a higher weight division," Katsidis told Grandstand's Behind the Ropes program.
"That's an important part of my plan. I'm a natural lightweight and I remain a force to be reckoned with in that division.
"That's where I fight my strongest. I'm going to do whatever it takes to be a three-time champion at lightweight.
"Not to say that fight can't happen eventually (but) first I can become the legitimate lightweight champion of the world."
One man Katsidis would be interested in fighting is Gavin Rees, the former WBA light-welterweight champion, who is ranked number two by the WBA and in the top 10 by the WBC and WBO.
Rees is next scheduled to fight at London's Olympia on December 8, but an opponent is yet to be confirmed.
"We'd look at that - they'd have to give (my manager) Glen Murray a call and then we can see what happens," Katsidis said.
"I particularly like fighting in the UK. They're passionate there. Whether you're from another country or not they respect gladiators.
"I have a great fanbase in the UK. The fans want exciting fight and I want to bring it.
"I'm a guy who likes to take on the very best. Doesn't matter where it is. I've proven that many times. "
Katsidis' back-to-back defeats to Rees and Albert Mensah have led many to question whether the Australian's brutal style of fighting has left him a spent force at the age of 32.
He strongly refutes this charge, insisting a change in training regimen has revitalised him.
"I'm training the house down. With sports science and training techniques these days athletes continue longer," Katsidis said.
"We have ice baths, stretching programs, dieticians, these are all things I've never done before. Now I'm getting better work than what I've had before.
"Everything's going well - I feel as well if not better as I did when I won my first lightweight title in London.
"You can't be past it if you're fighting an exciting ten-round fight.
"In any other sport, even in other combat sports a loss doesn't mean you're past it."
Topics: sport, boxing, australia
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