Gatti and McGirt look forward to "surprsingly easy" fight

WBC Super Lightweight Champion Arturo “Thunder” Gatti, 39-6 (30), was in good spirits today during a conference to discuss his upcoming defense against WBC #1 ranked contender Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Sounding relaxed and confident, Gatti offered some interesting insight into his opponent. “Who is a fighter I’ve been in the ring with that I would compare him to? I compare him to Eddie Hopson. He won’t be the best fighter I’ve ever boxed against, that’s for sure. I used to spar Pernell Whitaker for four or five years and he’s way better than Floyd Mayweather. Way more intelligent. Gatti says the fight will come down to toughness…a quality he has proven over and over. But does Mayweather have any? “Talent wise, Mayweather is one of the most talented fighters, but I’ve been in with some really good fighters and most of them are tougher than Mayweather. He has ability, but who knows how tough he is? I’ve been in tough fights that I was able to come out of a winner.” Team Gatti maintain they’re going to pull a big surprise on fight night. “I believe in my heart that Arturo will win this fight easier than people think,” said trainer Buddy McGirt. “They underestimate Arturo. That’s what will make it really exciting. We’re going to show he’s a much better fighter than they think he is. Arturo rises to the occasion of his opponents. If he sticks to the gameplan, it won’t be as hard as people think.” Gatti agrees. “Mayweather will bring out the best in me. That’s for sure. That’s who I am as a fighter. My ability to box, everything. Everything I’ve learned all my life and the last five years with buddy, is going to come out that night. I know it for a fact, that’s why I’m so excited.” fightnews.com

Comments (20)

Shaolin_Bushido

Heh, I didn't know that "loss #7" = "surprisingly easy" in some parts.

20y ago

cupcrazy01

I watched PBF-Corley again last night on HBO On Demand, and if PBF gets any delusoins about being able to fight like that vs. Gatti, he may be toast. But I give him the benefit of the doubt, he will know to box and selectively flurry...I am starting to believe he may stop Gatti late, but I'll stick with my prediction of PBF UD, about 9-3 in rounds.

20y ago

Stickman

PBF isn't invincible, no fighter is. If Gatti fights a perfect fight and Mayweather makes even a single mistake, it's over. I think the upset is definitely possible, but I'm not making any calls on this one. Too unpredictable to be able to make a clean call between these two guys. If I had a gazillion bucks to blow, though, I'd probably put $20 grand on Gatti by late round KO.

20y ago

Shaolin_Bushido

All I can say to the thread title is "denial won't make the task easier."

20y ago

Floydmayweather

I must also add that Corley is a more accurate puncher than Gatti and he is a southpaw. Yet he still landed few clean shots. I will put everything i got on Floyd, Gatti is gonna get carved up like a turkey.

20y ago

Sister_Sledge

People say Mayweather isn't tough, but he knocked out beat Corrales silly and Castillo twice. He retired Genaro Hernandez, and ktfo'd Angel Manfredy, a b-level fighter who beat Gatti. Mayweather has fought the tougher competition and beat them convingly. Gatti is a glorified gatekeeper and a crowd-pleaser, but only because most of the time he's in a tough fight because of his limitations. He is physically strong, but his punching power is way overrated because he's been fighting clubfighters who were made for his style. Arturdo will be put in his rightful place after this weekend when Floyd rapes him like a two-bit whore. After this weekend, there will be a lot less nuthuggers.

20y ago

ThunderGatti

I dunno why people keep saying Corley is a soft puncher? I mean look what he did with one punch to both Mayweather and Cotto! That would suggest to me that the guy has got a bit of a dig on him! That should tell u somethin about cotto and pbf, maybe not the best chins. corely is def not a big puncher. imagine what Gatti's gonna do. wow. And one more thing Gatti seen everything. Mayweather hasnt seen brutal fighters w/ big punching power besides corrales and castillio but they arent as powerful and a brawler like a gabe ruealas type fighter. And dont sleep on the fact that Gatti hasnt seen speed, he has, the man trainedand sparred w/ pernell whitiker for 4 yrs. i'll leave u guys w/ this great quotes by Gatti on Mayweather - Gatti commentated: "He's got a big mouth; he's talented any everything, but he wishes he has the balls and heart of Micky Ward. Everyone say he's pound-for-pound but what does pound-for-pound mean? I don't know and I don't give a shit. He was able to fuck around in his last fight (the average Henry Bruseles) but no fucking way will he dare do that shit with me. Not for a second."

20y ago

Super_Lightweight

hmm This fight is interesting, some reasons why: 1) McGirt is a great trainer. This could be a factor. Perhaps he really does have a plan that will allow Gatti to win a fight hardly anyone thinks he will. 2) Mayweather has accepted the bad guy role, and Gatti is in the good guy role. You need a good guy and a bad guy...adds interest. 3) Mayweather has been totaly dissing Gatti and if he really beats Gatti as easily as he claims, I think it will open some eyes. 4) How long can Mayweather avoid the power? Can he take the power when he feels it? Who knows? 5) Can Gatti capture a win, finally, over a big timing, grade-A fighter? We'll see.

20y ago

loangunZ

corrales didn't have to trade with castillo he could have fought from the outside and won easily but in mayweathers case during his past few fights he has gone toe to toe with people trying to gain fan support as opposedto jsut pure boxing. If he was smart he would go back to boxing but I really think he wants to play more into the fan so maybe we will see him fight more like he did against Corley which could play into gattis favor.

20y ago

cupcrazy01

As we get closer to fight night, more and more people start believing Gatti will catch PBF; sorry guys, it isn't going to happen. I dislike PBF, but he's fighting a guy who's not in his league. He doesn't have to trade with Gatti to win; in fact all he has to do is stick and move. Easy, boring, UD for PBF that will look similiar to Wright-Tito but at least a bit more intriguing, since Gatti will keep flinging bombs and stumbling around the ring after missing.

20y ago

Eken

Easy fight!? Yeah right :rolleyes:

20y ago

Floydmayweather

Gatti is a deadman. Floyd has far superior footwork so i doubt Gatti will even get close to him. He has far better defense. His hands are much faster and he is also very accurate with his punches. If u add that to the fact that Gatti wears down after taking body punches and cuts easily u have a complete beat down.

20y ago

gnostic19

I hope Gatti doesn't end up following Mayfeather around the ring like Corrales did. I know it's hard with mayfeather not to do that but it only opens you up to counterpunching, counterpunches you end up walking right in to.

20y ago

Manny_P

My predictions Castillo (which he shouldve won) Wright Brewster Hatton Diamond Cotto Tyson I've been good with my predictions as of late.. Except for Tyson Diamond got robbed! Corrales just cheated to beat Castillo.. dumbfuck, lyin sack o shyt! LOL you picked Hernandez to beat Chavez picked Tszyu to beat hatton you got no credibilty whatsoever. LOL.

20y ago

mauricio95

gati is going down down down :D

20y ago

jack_the_rippuh

Gatti better try to use that to his advantage, because everytime Mayweather throws that lead left hook and misses he comes back with a right, what Gatti needs to do is get him after ducking the left if he wants to hurt him, that's what Corley did.

20y ago

sisforshaq

I dunno why people keep saying Corley is a soft puncher? I mean look what he did with one punch to both Mayweather and Cotto! That would suggest to me that the guy has got a bit of a dig on him! yeah that is very true and ThunerGatti maybe if you watch Mayweather fight big punchers like Corrales .. he fights a completley different style, look at the fight before u make bs comments about him

20y ago

Tha_Greatest6475

Castillo should have won that fight, you're right. Corrales bitched out, and I really hope he gets his head knocked off in his next fight. I didn't pay attention to a few of those fights, but I had: Castillo Wright Brewster Tszyu Tyson 2 for 5, that's kinda shitty. If it wasnt for that mouthpiece bullshit Castillo wouldve won so It would be 3 out of 5..

20y ago

BadMagick

My predictions Castillo (which he shouldve won) Wright Brewster Hatton Diamond Cotto Tyson I've been good with my predictions as of late.. Except for Tyson Diamond got robbed! Corrales just cheated to beat Castillo.. Castillo should have won that fight, you're right. Corrales bitched out, and I really hope he gets his head knocked off in his next fight. I didn't pay attention to a few of those fights, but I had: Castillo Wright Brewster Tszyu Tyson 2 for 5, that's kinda shitty.

20y ago

Tha_Greatest6475

Gatti always weighs 20 pounds more than he should when he fights. He weighs in at 138-139, then he goes up another 20 pounds in one day. He just dehydrates himself to make weight. Once the night of the fight comes, he'll be up 15+ pounds on Pretty Boy. They really need to stop him from doing this, it's essentially cheating. Everyone who knows anything about boxing KNEW that Trinidad was going to lose that fight. The other two, yeah, those were major upsets. Tyson was shot, and I haven't watched Kostya-Ricky, yet. My predictions Castillo (which he shouldve won) Wright Brewster Hatton Diamond Cotto Tyson I've been good with my predictions as of late.. Except for Tyson Diamond got robbed! Corrales just cheated to beat Castillo..

20y ago