Michael Katsidis won't be looking for easy opponents and would love to fight again in Australia after suffering a split-points loss to American Juan Diaz in their IBO lightweight boxing world title fight in Houston yesterday.
Queenslander Katsidis, 28, stormed home over the final stages of the 12-round contest, but finished behind on two of the three score cards.
Two of the three American judges scored in favour of 24-year-old Diaz by margins of two and four points, while their compatriot had the brave and bloodied Katsidis ahead by two.
It was a second straight loss for Katsidis (23-2) following his defeat by Cuban legend Joel Casamayor earlier this year. But the competitive Australian bristled at a US television interviewer's suggestion he might want to fight softer opposition after tackling two of the world's premier lightweights.
''No ... either go hard or go home,'' Katsidis said.
Houston native Diaz (34-1), who lost his three lightweight world titles to compatriot Nate Campbell earlier in the year, did most of his good work in the middle rounds.
Katsidis was cut over the left eye in the second round and under his right in the fifth and could hardly see out of the right in the closing stages of the contest.
A post-fight X-ray at a local hospital revealed Katsidis had sprained his hand in the fourth round.
While Katsidis and his trainer Brendon Smith thought the Australian had done enough to win the fight, the Toowoomba boxer was philosophical rather than bitter about the result.
''I'm not too disappointed. It's not as if I'm not going to be able to sleep at night after that one,'' Katsidis said.
''The Casamayor one was disappointing because I had it in the bag but here I did the best I could and I can keep my head held high after this fight.''
Katsidis was also buoyed by the encouraging post-fight reaction from former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield and promoter and boxing superstar Oscar de la Hoya.
''I think I got a lot out of that fight. As we walked out, Oscar de le Hoya pulled up in his car and got out and said 'man, you can box really good','' Katsidis said.
''He said it could have gone either way and thought I did an excellent job. He's very excited about how my boxing is developing. That was the thing that made my night.''
Katsidis has had his past four fights overseas and hasn't fought in Australia since July 2006, but revealed he would like a contest on home soil.
''I'd love it if they could put a fight together in Australia for a few months' time, bring out one of the Mexican fighters,'' Katsidis said.
Renowned for his all-action style, Katsidis didn't try to blast Diaz out in the early rounds.
Well-schooled Diaz used his jab well and was prepared to mix it with Katsidis at close quarters. AAP
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