By Mark Vester
The fans have likely seen the last of the fighter known as the human highlight reel. Contender star Alfonso Gomez (17-3-2, 9 KOs) dominated Arturo "Thunder" Gatti (40-9, 31 KOs) on route to a seventh round knockout before thousands of Gatti fans at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
It was a brutal fight to watch for Gatti fans, as their fighter was beaten from corner to corner by the light punching Gomez. Gatti's career is over, at least as a superstar. He looked like a shot fighter that had too many wars in his career. After only two rounds, Gomez had already busted up Gatti's face and began to land his right hand at will.
In the seventh, Gomez began to bang away on Gatti from all angles to the head and body. After unloading the kitchen, a solid right hand finally sent Gatti down and before the ref could stop it, NJ Athletic Commission head Larry Hazard ran in the ring to stop the fight.
Gomez landed 216 of 471 punches to a bit over 70 landed for Gatti.
In the co-feature, IBF welterweight champion Kermit Cintron (28-1, 26 KOs) crushed Walter Matthysse (26-2, 25 KOs) out of Trelew, Argentina in two-rounds by way of a vicious knockout.
The fight began with both men winging plenty of leather in the first round. Towards the end of the first, a big right hand that was followed by an uppercut sent Matthysse down for the first time in his career in the final seconds. He made it to his feet as the round came to a close.
At the start of the second, Cintron sent Matthysse down again with some hard punches off the jab. Moments later a vicious combination of punches sent Matthysse down and motionless as the ref stopped the fight.
Following the win, Cintron called out Shane Mosley.
"I heard Shane Mosley wants to fight a world champion. I'm a world champion. Come and get it," Cintron said.
On the undercard;
Unbeaten prospect Pawel Wolak (15-0, 10 KOs) stopped Edgar Reyes (18-8, 3 KOs) in the second round.
In a middleweight battle, Giovanni Lorenzo (25-0, 17 KOs) walked through Sherwin Davis (18-5, 12 KOs) by knocking him down four times on route to a third round stoppage.
Flyweight Raul Martinez (20-0, 13 KOs) stopped Everisto Primero (15-11-1) after Primero quit on his stool after five rounds of action.
Welterweight prospect Henry Crawford (16-0-1, 8 KOs) destroyed Josh Hammock (8-6-3KOs) with a single right hand in just 35 seconds of the first round.
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