The Ugly Truth About Arturo Gatti's Career (??)

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

Gatti TKO Terron Millet

Was that nearly seven years ago?

[Phantasm]

You are wrong. I did not make that implication at all. It spoke to the marketability of the fights. You are making an inference that is not there.

but also, if you look at the upper echelon of the fighters in Gatti's weight classes during his tenure, it WAS dominated by Latino and black fighters.

You say that you are not making that implication, and perhaps that's honest. But you also mention that his fan base is white. Now how does that come into play with his career? As others mentioned, he had many african american fans as well (Pernell Whitaker was one of his closest fans and friends and was rumored to be in the running as his trainer). Did you stop to think about the fact that Gatti is Italian-Canadian? I personally havent met any african-american italians, though I'm sure there is a small group of them around. And I lived in Bensonhurst, NY for a long part of my life, so I've met MANY italian americans. And I'm Puerto Rican...I always root for my countryman in a fight. I've seen large contingencies of Brazilians root for their fighters; as well as Argentinians for theirs, Panamanians for the panamanian fighters and so on. You see a large crowds of mexican and european fans rooting for their countrymen...is there a race implication there?
Perhaps you are sincere in that you didnt imply race as an issue, however the way you worded your statement shows otherwise.

And Gatti faced many hispanic fighters; to say that the division was headed by latino and african american fighters and Gatti ducked them during his career is unfounded.

[Knockyouout!!]

Was that nearly seven years ago?

less then 7 years ago.

[danny stash]

sorry i figured you would get inference to ike ibeabuchi. My bad. Not the best example their.

[Phantasm]

I respect and understand you. But ...Would Gatti's fans have been MORE interested in seeing:

Casamayor, Corrales, Corley, Vivian, NDou, Raheem, Forbes, Campbell, Witter, Mosley, Judah AND Cotto, Tszyu, Freitas, etc, etc?

OR

Damgaard, Branco, Jukabowski, Gamache & Dorin?

What would YOU pay for?

Like you suggest, Gatti was never a great elite fighter. The fighters you name that he didnt face were the cream of the crop for the most part. Was there any chance of Gatti beating them? No...both Gatti, his handlers and his fans know that. They put him in with the guys he DID have a chance at beating...and that it the role of a matchmaker and manager; to put his or her fighter in against the best matchup for them possible. So you are complaining that Gatti was never an elite fighter, and yet you are complaining that he never faced elite competition.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

less then 7 years ago.

Cool. About six years. Still an eternity.

Casamayor, Corrales, Corley, Vivian, NDou, Raheem, Forbes, Campbell, Witter, Mosley, Judah AND Cotto, Tszyu, Freitas, etc, etc?

[Knockyouout!!]

Cool. About six years. Still an eternity.

Casamayor, Corrales, Corley, Vivian, NDou, Raheem, Forbes, Campbell, Witter, Mosley, Judah AND Cotto, Tszyu, Freitas, etc, etc?

well you said 7. plus he fought Dela before that. Leija fwas FRESh off BEATING Bajado when GAtti fought him. and in his very next fight he fought Floyd...what wrong with that?

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

Like you suggest, Gatti was never a great elite fighter. The fighters you name that he didnt face were the cream of the crop for the most part. Was there any chance of Gatti beating them? No...both Gatti, his handlers and his fans know that. They put him in with the guys he DID have a chance at beating...and that it the role of a matchmaker and manager; to put his or her fighter in against the best matchup for them possible. So you are complaining that Gatti was never an elite fighter, and yet you are complaining that he never faced elite competition.

I didn't complain that he wasn't an elite fighter. For the most part, fighters are who they are. You can't complain about that.

But at the same time, you can't say that "dude has crazy heart" when he was unwilling to test himself against even the "very good". That is inconsistent.

I know that he can't beat "the best". We saw that with ODLH and PBF. Clearly. But how about fighting a notch below that?

For example, I have alot of respect for JJ Leija who fought Lazcano, Azumah, Shane, machito (?), Tszyu, and Bojado in addition to ODLH and Gatti.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

well you said 7. plus he fought Dela before that. Leija fwas FRESh off BEATING Bajado when GAtti fought him. and in his very next fight he fought Floyd...what wrong with that?

Is there anyone who didn't know that Leija was done/smoke/toast? Seriously.
Was he 38?

I'll go look.

Checked. Yeah. He was a former SFW going on 39 y.o. With 50+ fights. JJL was on vapors.

[Phantasm]

I didn't complain that he wasn't an elite fighter. For the most part, fighters are who they are. You can't complain about that.

But at the same time, you can't say that "dude has crazy heart" when he was unwilling to test himself against even the "very good". That is inconsistent.

I know that he can't beat "the best". We saw that with ODLH and PBF. Clearly. But how about fighting a notch below that?

For example, I have alot of respect for JJ Leija who fought Lazcano, Azumah, Shane, machito (?), Tszyu, and Bojado in addition to ODLH and Gatti.

I agree..I respect Leija immensley as well. And of those guys you mentioned, who did he beat? An aged Azumah Nelson and Panchito Bojado, who seems to have been more hype than ability.
And to say that Gatti had no heart because he didnt face more guys that would have ko'ed him is ridiculous. Gatti is said to have heart because of the times he has risen from the canvas or from being pummeled to coming back and winning the fight. Its one thing to know when or not to mix it up with someone; it's another to already be in the mix and keep fighting back when you are getting your ass handed to you. I feel the latter takes more courage. I dunno about you, but some of us have been in that situation before and I'm not going to talk **** about those who do it for a living while others sit at home in their chair, watch them and talk tough.