Does Arturo Gatti belong in the International Boxing Hall of Fame?‏

[StarshipTrooper]

And nor should it be, I feel.


Boxing is more a microcosm of life than any sport is, draws more on the range of human emotion than any sport does. This is why I came to care more about boxing than any other sport, almost totally discarding those others I used to follow as time went on.

That's not necessarily to say any Joe, Fitz or Clubber who once whipped a crowd into a frenzy should get in a boxing HOF. But Gatti was an undeniably extraordinary fighter, in ways that transcend the usual standards of criticism and judgement for sporting achievement.

I don't want to think of boxing in purely dispassionate clinical terms, and I don't want to see its Glories determined that way; saying that, Hellyeah, Gatti should make the hall.

But the above thoughts also pretty much speak to why I'm scornful of the idea of a Hall of Fame in any sporting or artistic field, anyway. History itself is the Hall, Fame is the by turns reverently hushed, excitedly yammered and profoundly sentimental reminiscenses through which Legends traverse the generations. Anyone with a spark of interest can find out who and what the "Great" or Great fighters and fights were without too much trouble - it's not like they need to all be grouped together under some glass case.


Was Gatti "Great"? No. Was Gatti Great? Unequivocally.

I'm not saying it's a good or bad thing......it just is what it is.

Poet

[GJC]

And nor should it be, I feel.


Boxing is more a microcosm of life than any sport is, draws more on the range of human emotion than any sport does. This is why I came to care more about boxing than any other sport, almost totally discarding those others I used to follow as time went on.

That's not necessarily to say any Joe, Fitz or Clubber who once whipped a crowd into a frenzy should get in a boxing HOF. But Gatti was an undeniably extraordinary fighter, in ways that transcend the usual standards of criticism and judgement for sporting achievement.

I don't want to think of boxing in purely dispassionate clinical terms, and I don't want to see its Glories determined that way; saying that, Hellyeah, Gatti should make the hall.

But the above thoughts also pretty much speak to why I'm scornful of the idea of a Hall of Fame in any sporting or artistic field, anyway. History itself is the Hall, Fame is the by turns reverently hushed, excitedly yammered and profoundly sentimental reminiscenses through which Legends traverse the generations. Anyone with a spark of interest can find out who and what the "Great" or Great fighters and fights were without too much trouble - it's not like they need to all be grouped together under some glass case.


Was Gatti "Great"? No. Was Gatti Great? Unequivocally.

Didn't think I'd ever be saying this to you but I agree and a very good post.

[VERILY]

I'm not saying it's a good or bad thing......it just is what it is.

Poet

Just using your comment to express my view on the subject, no challenge of its truth intended.

[GJC]

He was a fan favorite: He'll get in. The IBHOF is a fan's hall that caters to the fans. Greatness isn't a prerequisite for making it in. This isn't like Cooperstown or Canton.

Poet

With the hall of fame it depends how you view it. If it is the best of the best then probably no. If the operative word is fame then Gatti certainly qualifies. I kind of view it as a time in kind of thing, I guess every employee who pus their 40 years in gets a clock when they retire but I doubt if all of them were great workers.
Whatever Gatti's deficiencies he gave a huge amount of pleasure to boxing fans so why not? I agree that there are still a lot of fighters who also deserve the honour.
Very good argument for by TS btw

[StarshipTrooper]

Just using your comment to express my view on the subject, no challenge of its truth intended.

Oh, I know there wasn't! If anything I agree with your post.....I just didn't want anyone thinking I was disdaining the IBHOF over their standards

Poet

[fitefanSHO]

Gatti was an undeniably extraordinary fighter, in ways that transcend the usual standards of criticism and judgement for sporting achievement.

Was Gatti "Great"? No. Was Gatti Great? Unequivocally.

I hope my article conveyed this theme as well as you just did.

[SCtrojansbaby]

Hamed isn't close to the top of the list for fighters that should get in before Gatti.

Hamed was every bit the performer Gatti was but he was also the best featherweight in the world for a long time

[fitefanSHO]

With the hall of fame it depends how you view it. If it is the best of the best then probably no. If the operative word is fame then Gatti certainly qualifies. I kind of view it as a time in kind of thing, I guess every employee who pus their 40 years in gets a clock when they retire but I doubt if all of them were great workers.
Whatever Gatti's deficiencies he gave a huge amount of pleasure to boxing fans so why not? I agree that there are still a lot of fighters who also deserve the honour.
Very good argument for by TS btw

Thank you.

[blaze778]

Gatti definitely belongs in the Hall of Fame.

A lot of people mistaken Hall of Famers for all-time greats.

Trainers, referees, and Sylvester Stallone are eligible, so why not the best blood and guts warrior of the 90s?

[Miburo]

Absolutely not. There have already been too many cheap names inducted.