Gatti to the Hall of Fame?

Skillswise absolutely not he was more of a hall of fame punching bag than a fighter.In terms of heart,chin,pain threshold and exciting action-packed fights he will be remembered for the ages. Add to that he was HBO's favorite son (huge pull) and a violent premature death that will definitely sway any fence straddlers. Regardless of what we think he's gettin in.

They allow non-fighters into the hall for their contributions to the sport, but the most exciting fighter of his generation cant get in? Get the **** outta here. You may have a point. But I don't think guys like Larry Merchant get in to the boxing HOF. Do they?

They allow non-fighters into the hall for their contributions to the sport, but the most exciting fighter of his generation cant get in? Get the **** outta here.

He is not deserving of the HOF in my opinion. I love Gatti, but there are plenty of brave fighters that didn't get in there. He never became the linear champ of any weight division. That is an important criteria for getting in. Tommy Hearns was the exception because of all the other great fighters he beat. Barry Mcguin got in the hall, and he didn't deserve it though.

Out The Gate Gatti Had Some Gritty Perfomances. FOTY Is What I Associate With Gatti More Then Thunder. And the Wars With Ward, Sheesh. I'd Vote Em.

Gatti is a great action fighter, but not a great fighter which is a requisite to get into the HOF. He lost against his biggest opponents, but he had a warriors spirit, no doubt about that.

Better fighters than Gatti aren't in the HOF. The bottom line is that being in great fights doesn't make you a great fighter. So I'll ask you, why is Ken Norton Inducted? I mean his fights with Ali were hardly blockbuster and he wasn't a box office attraction before or after. He was never elevated to superstar status due to his fights with Ali so what is his plateau to superstardom solidifying his place in the Boxing Hall of fame? Peace.

1997 Fight of the Year: Arturo Gatti KO5 Gabriel Ruelas 1998 Fight of the Year: Ivan Robinson W10 Arturo Gatti I 2002 Fight of the Year: Micky Ward W10 Arturo Gatti I 2003 Fight of the Year: Arturo Gatti W10 Micky Ward III 2002 Comeback of the Year: Artur Gatti 1997 KO of the Year: Arturo Gatti KO5 Gabriel Ruelas 1997 Round of the Year: Gatti-Ruelas, Round 5 1998 Round of the Year: Robinson-Gatti II, Round 3 2002 Round of the Year: 2002 Ward-Gatti I, Round 9 I think the 4 Fight of the Year awards have to count for something. Boxing isnt all about world titles even though he still managed to win a couple of those. Honestly I dodnt see how you can be the most exciting fighter for over a decade and not make it in.

Better fighters than Gatti aren't in the HOF. The bottom line is that being in great fights doesn't make you a great fighter.

My friend and I debated this before Gatti/Gomez and we both said that he shouldn't get in. He didn't accomplish enough to get into the hall but it wouldn't chap my ass if he did get in. Theres a lot of people that get into hall of fames for different reason then what they did in the ring or on the field. I still say no though. I honestly dont think he accomplished enough in terms of titles and records to get in...this i dont dispute. but you dont think based on what he did in the ring (the warrior that he was) he deserves to get in? this troubles me because some of the most loved fighters werent GREAT in terms of skill/achievements but were average in the boxing department but they easily surpassed the skill of great with nothing but heart. sure heart doesnt always win against skill but it made them true icons and role models in the sport and i think he belongs in the HOF for all his contributions to the sport and should be in the HOF as a reminder to all future generations of how great of a soul he was. i think with as much punishment he's taken and given and as many times as he fought on when many believed he couldnt do it is achievement enough in my book.

Considering he was HBO’s original media darling (by way of the original Tuesday Night Fights program) It wouldn’t surprise me if they petitioned for it. In my book he earned it whether you agree with the length of his accomplishments or not. Peace. thats my point. i think what he lacked in titles and records on paper should be overlooked because a guy like gatti cant be understood just by looking at how many titles he won. to truly understand how good gatti was you had to watch him fight... period.

He gave more than any boxer did. Win or lose. with out a question he should and will be a HOFer.

He was a great crowd pleasing fighter,but when it comes down to greatness he doesn't deserve to be in their. courage and heart dont qualify as greatness? not just any man can do what guys like gatti in ward did in their 3 fights (ie. punish each other till they cant even keep their hands up and still come forward for more; injure their right hand EARLY in a fight and fight majority of the fight one handed...and have the courage to do so...to get off the mat when it when it looks hopeless or that it would feel much easier to just stay down and collect your paycheck). guys like gatti are special fighters that in my opinion rarely come around more than once a generation. thats why he belongs in the hall of fame...he stands for everything a fighter should in terms of heart and courage. i think what guys like gatti have inside them is very special and rare and not something you come across in just any fighter.

i agree. damn...even if he wasnt a two division champ i think he still earned it to be honest. The heart and grit alone deserve it. the gatti/ward trilogy wasnt for any belts...all 3 fights were only 10 rounders...and still it was more entertaining than majority of the world title fights out there. not to mention all the other great fights gatti has had. i think in boxing the hall of fame should also include some of the best in terms of courage and heart because those two qualities in a fighter are just as important as skill and talent (which is usually what earns you a spot in the hall of fame). if guys like gatti, corrales, ward; etc. didnt have all that heart and courage they wouldnt have achieved what they did and they wouldnt have been loved by the fans nearly as much. so i think gatti should make it... even corrales deserves to be in the hall of fame with all this great moments in the sport and his courage/heart. Considering he was HBO’s original media darling (by way of the original Tuesday Night Fights program) It wouldn’t surprise me if they petitioned for it. In my book he earned it whether you agree with the length of his accomplishments or not. Peace.

He was a great crowd pleasing fighter,but when it comes down to greatness he doesn't deserve to be in their. Then niether should Ken Norton.... Peace.

gatti is a 2 division champ and gave his all to this sport...put this man in the hall of fame..no questions he earned it i agree. damn...even if he wasnt a two division champ i think he still earned it to be honest. The heart and grit alone deserve it. the gatti/ward trilogy wasnt for any belts...all 3 fights were only 10 rounders...and still it was more entertaining than majority of the world title fights out there. not to mention all the other great fights gatti has had. i think in boxing the hall of fame should also include some of the best in terms of courage and heart because those two qualities in a fighter are just as important as skill and talent (which is usually what earns you a spot in the hall of fame). if guys like gatti, corrales, ward; etc. didnt have all that heart and courage they wouldnt have achieved what they did and they wouldnt have been loved by the fans nearly as much. so i think gatti should make it... even corrales deserves to be in the hall of fame with all this great moments in the sport and his courage/heart.

He was a great crowd pleasing fighter,but when it comes down to greatness he doesn't deserve to be in their.

HOF is really more about reverence than genuine gr8ness. I wouldn't argue Gatti bein in, tho based on accomplishments he probably shouldn't be.

So i really enjoyed my saturday morning by watching the trilogy again on HBO between Gatti and Ward and after all these years have passed i really am just remembering how entertaining each fight was. Which led me to this question: Will Gatti (and my other question is SHOULD gatti) be inducted to the Hall of Fame? Will he? im not 100% sure. Should he? absolutely if my vote counts. While Gatti wasnt a 5 time weight champion in 6 different weight classes (or whatever) or even a truly gifted fighter in terms of ability...what he lacked in terms number of championships, technical ability; etc. he made up for it in courage, grit, and heart. I think given all the wars he's been in and the courage he's shown over the entire span of his career he deserves to be remembered as a great in boxing. do you agree? disagree? have a different take on this? post it. thanks. RIP GATTI. He'd get my vote. I mean there are other fighters inducted that I didn't think should have gotten the nod to be inducted. Peace.