Mensah captures decision as Katsidis’ fade continues

Eager to reinvent his boxing career at age 31, the Australian junior welterweight lost a tough 10-round majority decision to Albert Mensah on Friday night at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Katsidis (28-6) had moved up from 135 pounds to 140, switched trainers and planned to fight smarter. But that didn’t help him against Mensah, who won on the cards of judges Patricia Morse-Jarman (96-94) and Ricardo Ocasio (98-92). Dick Houck scored it 95-95.

The loss was Katsidis’ fourth in his last five fights. Mensah improved to 20-3-1.

Katsidis took the fight to the Ghanan from the opening bell. For much of the bout, Mensah was content to lay on the ropes and absorb punishment. But he effectively countered off the ropes and landed a few solid shots to slow Katsidis.

Mensah, making his Las Vegas debut in his second fight in the United States, was the stronger fighter, and Katsidis had a hard time hurting him. Mensah likely won the fight in the last two rounds.

Katsidis used his jab more than in his most recent fights and showed better balance. But he was spotting the 5-foot-9-inch Mensah 2 inches in height and at times looked like a man trying to chop down a tree with a dull axe.

Mensah landed enough effective power punches to not only remain upright but also convince the judges he’d done enough to win.

Katsidis had said Thursday that if he didn’t win, he seriously would consider retiring. But it’s not known if he’s quitting because neither he nor Mensah were made available to media after the fight. Reporters were kept out of the fighters’ dressing rooms, and a Hard Rock official said card promoter Millenium Events had told security not to allow reporters postfight access.

In the co-feature, Alan Sanchez pummeled Artemio Reyes midway through the first round of their scheduled 10-round welterweight bout, knocking him out with a combination to the head to improve to 10-2-1. Referee Joe Cortez stopped it at 2:08. Reyes fell to 15-2.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.