Gatti-Ward 1 im still in awe by these 2 guys

the fight could have (and probably should have) easily been stopped in round 9.

That's ok and I see where you are coming from. It's just that a guy I know beat him and pretty bad, and that guy will never get in the HOF. That's life. You're right in that it is perception and he did bring people to the sport. If you go through that list. Most of the guys in that list were beaten by guys at one time or another who are not on the list. You cannot measure it by who beat who. You measure it by the career and what the individual gave to the sport.

That's ok and I see where you are coming from. It's just that a guy I know beat him and pretty bad, and that guy will never get in the HOF. That's life. You're right in that it is perception and he did bring people to the sport. If you don't mind me asking, who was your friend, Jreck?

So dean, we could make the fights hall of fame then, awarding both men for their efforts. I think that. I just don't think either truly shined as far as victories, but maybe I am thinking in terms of how other sports do it. All you need to do is look at the list bro. Lets take Gatti for example. 1: He rivals ODLH for bringing in more casual fans than anyone in the current era, even while taking a large amount of losses 2: He has had more fights of the year, and more runner ups, than any other fighter period. 3: The heart he has displayed in the ring, gets rivaled by nobody. That heart won him so many fights including some championship fights. You simply cannot overlook that. Once again the HOF is for the best of the best. Where people read that wrong is that it is not there for the best of the best skill wise. It is there for those who make the sport the best sport in the world. It is there to celebrate what is great about the sport. Gatti is the blood and guts warrior poster child. He will get in there and they will place him in there with pride. What you believe the HOF is not the true reason of what the hall of fame was created in the first place. The Hall of fame if there for those who capture the heart and soul of all of us.

I've been through this argument 100's of times Jab. The Hall Of Fame has never been there for the best alone. Yes they are in there, but they are not alone. The HOF is there for those who have shined a true light on the sport. Who have bettered the sport and transcended it to a higher level. It is not about skills. Go take a look at the list. The sport looks back on Gatti and Ward with extreme pride. That is what the Hall Of Fame truly is for. Someone got mixed up a while back and throught it was only for the great fighters. It is not only for that. Unfortuntley induction to the IBHOF is a popularity contest. William Perry and Jim McMahon trancended football in the mid 80s, but neither belong in footballs hall of fame, my friend. To put in mediocre fighters taks the luster off of the fighters who actually acheived greatnessin MY opinion.

1 of my favorite fights. :boxing:

Im a huge fan of both these guys, but neither is orthy of the HOF. That right should be reserved for the best o the best. I've been through this argument 100's of times Jab. The Hall Of Fame has never been there for the best alone. Yes they are in there, but they are not alone. The HOF is there for those who have shined a true light on the sport. Who have bettered the sport and transcended it to a higher level. It is not about skills. Go take a look at the list. The sport looks back on Gatti and Ward with extreme pride. That is what the Hall Of Fame truly is for. Someone got mixed up a while back and throught it was only for the great fighters. It is not only for that.

Ward and Gatti, were both overachievers or underachievers depending on how you look at it, but they both sealed their legacy in their trilogy. You had two of the biggest hearts the sport has ever seen in the ring. History will be kind to them. No matter what the naysayers say, both will end up in the hall of fame. They will be there not for being overly skilled, but for showing the world the true essence and struggle of this blood and guts sport. May the haters be dammed! Im a huge fan of both these guys, but neither is orthy of the HOF. That right should be reserved for the best o the best.

the commentators really getting into makes it so good too. haha i could probably quote that whole round.

do you think if any other refs were in there, it woulda been stopped at one point or another. like in round 9 when mickey ward is t'ing gatti up and then pretty much pushes him into the corner. gotta give some props to frank cappuccino yeah..i really thought it would be stopped wen Ward was nailing Gatti and pushed him on the ropes..then Merchant even commented that gatti doesnt even have the energy to hold on so he just kept throwing punches..:boxing:

but yea my personal favorite fight. i get goosebumps watching round 9.

Ward and Gatti, were both overachievers or underachievers depending on how you look at it, but they both sealed their legacy in their trilogy. You had two of the biggest hearts the sport has ever seen in the ring. History will be kind to them. No matter what the naysayers say, both will end up in the hall of fame. They will be there not for being overly skilled, but for showing the world the true essence and struggle of this blood and guts sport. May the haters be dammed!

do you think if any other refs were in there, it woulda been stopped at one point or another. like in round 9 when mickey ward is t'ing gatti up and then pretty much pushes him into the corner. gotta give some props to frank cappuccino

Ward-Gatti was great. Corrales-Castillo was better. I like gatti-ward 1 better than Corrales-Castillo..but both great fights..the gatti-ward 1 reminds me of the fight of Ali and Wepner..gatti and Wepner dont know how to quit..:boxing:

Whhaaattt shit ur hurting me men?that was my fave boxing fight..ive seen lots of boxing matches but I have never seen a fight with so much drama than this one..this is the reason y boxing will be my fave sports..those two guys are really digging deep down..I know wat u min that these two guys are not highly skilled but they were former champs right? :boxing: Utterly awesome fight, one of the best ever

One Hell of a fight. They just dont have fights like that often. great fight. I have seen no fight sense that one that can over ride that one. Ward-Gatti was great. Corrales-Castillo was better.

One Hell of a fight. They just dont have fights like that often. great fight. I have seen no fight sense that one that can over ride that one. It's very difficult to top that fight..Probably, it will remain as my fave fight ever..Sadly, it was not marketed well so many fans missed that fight..I didnt even know those two guys when I saw them fight..Imagine if this was marketed like the DLH-Mayweather fight,,boxing would stil have been very big..this one fight just converts fans..chills all over my body everytime I see these highlights..round 5 and round 10 of this fight were great as well..:boxing:

yeah i remember watching that fight wid my grandfather and tells me that fight takes him back to marciano days

gatti vs ward was the best fight of (as floyd Sr. would say) not of this time, that time, full time, part time, but of all time.... And round 9 was a work of art that michael angello would have marvelled over... Gatti and Ward were two absolute warriors who were willing to die in the ring before thay lost (a rare thing today). and its amazing that the two are the best of friends. I can also say that this fight made boxing my favorite fight and micky ward my favorite athlete ever... You should get Bob Haloran's book "Irish thunder: the hard times and life of Mickey Ward", than. Im only about 80 pages in so far, but its been excellent up to that point.

The Ulitmate Journeyman V Journeyman Nah there fights are classics... but seriously, it was a fight between 2 C+ level fighters. j/k, they are classics.