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By Keith Idec - As the disturbing details of Arturo Gatti’s gruesome murder continued to be released by Brazilian authorities Sunday, those that loved boxing’s “Blood and Guts Warrior” tried their best to focus on what made Gatti perhaps the most fascinating fighter of his generation.
“I feel like it was such a privilege to be part of [Gatti’s career], particularly that run of nine fights at Boardwalk Hall,” said Kathy Duva, chief executive officer for Main Events. “That’ll never be duplicated by anyone. When he got in that ring, he was absolute magic.”
Main Events, a Totowa, N.J., company, promoted Gatti throughout his 16-year pro career and helped make him a legend that former New Jersey boxing commissioner Larry Hazzard often said was single-handedly responsible for revitalizing boxing in Atlantic City earlier this decade.
The Italian-born Gatti, a longtime New Jersey resident, became bigger than ever following his thrilling trilogy against Massachusetts’ Micky Ward in 2002 and 2003. Their last two junior welterweight brawls, 10-round fights that Gatti won by unanimous decision, started an incredible run of nine straight Gatti fights that drew capacity crowds in excess of 11,000 to Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City from November 2002-July 2007.
Gatti lost three of his final four fights there from 2005-2007, but his loyal legion of supporters didn’t care. They kept coming back because Gatti gave fight fans as much entertainment value for their money as humanly possible.
Often with swollen skin and nasty gashes around his eyes, Gatti’s incomparable courage, inconceivable recuperative powers and countless comebacks made wins and losses almost meaningless. Gatti (40-9, 31 KOs) continually delivered drama that made him must-see TV on HBO, which televised 21 Gatti fights from 1995-2007, despite that the gutsy slugger from Montreal was never considered one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the sport. [details]
“I feel like it was such a privilege to be part of [Gatti’s career], particularly that run of nine fights at Boardwalk Hall,” said Kathy Duva, chief executive officer for Main Events. “That’ll never be duplicated by anyone. When he got in that ring, he was absolute magic.”
Main Events, a Totowa, N.J., company, promoted Gatti throughout his 16-year pro career and helped make him a legend that former New Jersey boxing commissioner Larry Hazzard often said was single-handedly responsible for revitalizing boxing in Atlantic City earlier this decade.
The Italian-born Gatti, a longtime New Jersey resident, became bigger than ever following his thrilling trilogy against Massachusetts’ Micky Ward in 2002 and 2003. Their last two junior welterweight brawls, 10-round fights that Gatti won by unanimous decision, started an incredible run of nine straight Gatti fights that drew capacity crowds in excess of 11,000 to Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City from November 2002-July 2007.
Gatti lost three of his final four fights there from 2005-2007, but his loyal legion of supporters didn’t care. They kept coming back because Gatti gave fight fans as much entertainment value for their money as humanly possible.
Often with swollen skin and nasty gashes around his eyes, Gatti’s incomparable courage, inconceivable recuperative powers and countless comebacks made wins and losses almost meaningless. Gatti (40-9, 31 KOs) continually delivered drama that made him must-see TV on HBO, which televised 21 Gatti fights from 1995-2007, despite that the gutsy slugger from Montreal was never considered one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the sport. [details]
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