Boxer Katsidis quietly driven

Michael Katsidis took a page from the Mark McGwire handbook upon arriving in Las Vegas for his lightweight championship showdown against Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden on Saturday.

He's not here to talk about the past.

Specifically, Katsidis refuses to talk about the death of brother Stathi last month in their native Australia.

"I really don't want to discuss it; I hope you can respect my wishes," Katsidis told reporters this week. "There's been lots of speculation about me after my brother's death last month. But nothing in this sport comes easy. I'm here -- and I'm here to win."

Stathi, a thoroughbred jockey in Australia, was found dead at home Oct. 19. Michael, the WBO interim lightweight champion, issued a statement two days later from his training camp in Thailand saying he would keep his date with Marquez.

But Katsidis has gone mum and continues to avoid discussing his brother's death, which remains under investigation after autopsy results proved inconclusive. Brendon Smith, Katsidis' manager and trainer, is also tight-lipped, refusing to divulge anything on how the death of Katsidis' brother has affected his fighter's preparation -- mentally and physically -- for Marquez, the WBA and WBO champion.

"Michael's worked very, very hard, and we've come here to win this fight," Smith said.

Katsidis (27-2, 22 knockouts), has won four straight fights since losing a 12-round decision to Juan Diaz in September 2008 and, before that, a 10th-round knockout by Joel Casamayor in March 2008. Katsidis stopped Kevin Mitchell in the fifth round May 15 in his most recent fight and appears to have regained momentum in his career.

"It made me work harder," Katsidis said of his back-to-back defeats. "I lost to two quality fighters in Casamayor and Diaz. Now I'm going to face a tough guy in Marquez. He's faced the best of the best and it's going to be a challenge. But I'm prepared for anything he does. There's nothing I haven't seen before."

Marquez, a 3-1 favorite to beat Katsidis, sympathizes with Katsidis as he deals with his brother's death.

"I applaud the character of Michael Katsidis for his willingness to fight after the death of his brother," Marquez said.

Katsidis, 30, said this opportunity has been nine years in the making and even a tragedy so great as losing a sibling would not deter him.

"I've always wanted this fight," he said. "It's a fight that had to happen, and I always believed it would happen."

Katsidis has always been considered a brawler, an Australian version of the late Arturo Gatti. He was willing to take three punches to land one. Now older and somewhat wiser, Katsidis knows that might not be the best strategy, particularly against someone as tough and relentless as Marquez.

"I'd probably be better off not getting hit as much," Katsidis said with a smile. "I think I'm a more complete fighter. I can still brawl, but I also believe I'm capable of boxing if I have to."

Katsidis will need to be flexible because Marquez can box or slug, as the situation merits. He has displayed a tough chin throughout a likely Hall of Fame career that has produced a 51-5-1 record with 37 KOs.

"My game is about myself and being the best I can be," Katsidis said. "I'm as ready as I'll every be."

■ NOTES -- Today's weigh-in will be in the MGM Grand lobby starting at 2:30 p.m. and is open to the public. ... Marquez's purse is $1.4 million with Katsidis scheduled to earn $530,000, according to figures released by the Nevada Athletic Commission.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.