Albert Mensah wins in Vegas

ESPN2's Friday Night Fights returned to Las Vegas on a Friday the 13th with the always-exciting Australia's Michael Katsidis "The Great" (28-5, 23 KOs) taking on Albert Mensah (19-3-1, 10 KOs) of Ghana in a thrilling jr. welterweight main event that went the distance for the IBF International title from the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Katsidis came out early, pressuring ad backing Mensah up to the corner while working on the inside. In round two, Katsidis continued to pressure as Mensah began to pop the jab and counter with rights - it did little to stop Katsidis making it a phone booth fight.


Katsidis began to dig the body in round three as Mensah could not keep away from Katsidis aggressiveness. The action began to pick up in round four as Mensah would have his best round landing a solid one-two combination as Katsidis came forward. Soon, Mensah began connecting with right hands.


The Ghanan began keeping his distance in round five as he jabbed setting up straight rights. Both exchanged in the center of the ring early in round six as they continued to excite the crowd before closing the round exchanging left hooks.


Mensah began round seven using his distance, before throwing haymakers that missed his charging opponent. Katsidis rallied, backing up Mensah to the ropes as the crowd was once again up on their feet at the closing of the round. Continuing to exchange in round eight, Katsidis got the better as Mensah began to tire. Mensah was not done however as he continued to pop the jab as he knocked out Katsidis mouthpiece but Katsidis continued his attack on the inside, Mensah caught Katsidis with a left hook at the end of the round.

In the final round both gave it their all as Mensah stuck to his jab setting up counters on the aggressive Katsidis, as both would finish strong, giving the crowd their money's worth.


In the end one judge scored it even, while the other judges scored it 96-94 and 98-92 in favor of Albert Mensah


With the win Albert Mensah makes a splash in defeating Michael Katsidis as Mensah improves his record to 20-3-1, 10KOs. Katsidis record drops top 28-6, 23KOs.