Michael Katsidis celebrates after defeating Kevin Mitchell in an Interim WBO Lightweight Championship fight at the West Ham Football Stadium in east London in 2010. Source: AFP
QUEENSLAND's brave former world boxing champion Michael Katsidis has been forced out of his next fight and is likely to announce his retirement on medical advice.
MRI and CAT scans conducted in Sydney have forced Katsidis, 32, from Toowoomba, out of a February 21 fight in Melbourne.
He twice won versions of the world lightweight title and was regarded as one of the most exciting brawlers in boxing.
Katsidis had just switched to a new trainer, Australia's most successful fight mentor Johnny Lewis in Sydney, and had his heart set on becoming Lewis's seventh world champion.
"Michael was crying over this news," a dejected Lewis said.
"It's heartbreaking.
"He wants to speak to his family first before announcing anything but really I'm glad the tests have stopped him fighting before something really bad happened.
"Boxing is a tough sport and it's no good taking chances with your health. Michael is a great bloke with a wife and young daughter and he has so much in his life to be happy about even though this chapter of his boxing career is closing."
It is a double blow for Katsidis whose brother, star jockey Stathi, died at his Hendra townhouse after an all-night bender in 2010.
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