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y Alberto Arias
Published: Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Arturo "Thunder" Gatti was once the most compelling boxer the world had ever seen. He is best characterized as a modern day Rocky Balboa with his no surrender and a dramatic appeal. Shortly after his retirement, boxing lost its true warrior when he tragically lost his life in a suspected suicide in Porto de Galinhas, Brazil. He was only thirty seven years of age.
A Jersey City native, Gatti was a true throwback fighter to the golden era of boxing. He galvanized crowds with his ferocious brawling style and untamed heart of a lion. His punch and get punched style gave audiences heart wrenching minutes of hellacious boxing.
He did not possess the skills of Cassius Clay's nifty foot work, the blinding hand speed of "Sugar" Ray Leonard, nor did he have the crafty defensive skills of Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker. He was a just a fighter with a rare inner strength that the boxing world admired.
Gatti was born in Italy on April 15, 1972, but raised in Montreal. After his fathers death at the age of 15 Gatti dedicated his father's memory through boxing. He fought his way to six Canadian Golden glove titles but did not want to compete in the Olympics and shortly after turned pro at age 19.
When he moved to Jersey City he garnished his toughness and developed his bones as a boxer. Jersey City being a tough and blue collar city symbolized his tenacity and never-quit attitude.
Gatti's thunderous power gave him a record of 16-1 and14 KO's. In 1994 he got a title shot when he challenged (25-2) Pete Taliaferro for the USBA title and won his first belt.
In 1995 he beat Tracy Harris Patterson, a two-time division world champion and current IBF 130 lbs. belt holder. After this he TKO'd Wilson Rodriguez in stunning fashion and the bout got Fight of the Year. His savage pugilistic style made him a fan favorite.
After gaining fame he began to get sucked into the party scene and dropped his next three bouts. His father once told him that he can't be a fighter and a rock star; you have to be one or the other; you can't be both.
He lost to Angel Manfredy and Ivan Robinson twice which one of the fights won fight of the year for 1996. On March 24, 2001, he squared off against "Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya. De La Hoya outclassed and knocked out Gatti in the 5th round.
"You can do one of two things when you leave the gym, you can go to your hotel and worry about your bruises on your face or you can go and play golf cause your not getting hit in the gym" said Gatti's newly hired head trainer and former champion James "Buddy" Mcgirt. Mcgirt started to retrain Gatti in the sweet science and began sharpening his skills.
His next bout was the epic trilogy between Gatti and tough journey man Mickey Ward. According to boxing historian, Bert Sugar, these fights had the sensational drama of, Ali and Frazier's Thrilla in Manila. Gatti vs. Ward was an electrifying slugfest that saw both fighters refusing to surrender. In the 9th round Gatti went down and got up from a pulverizing body shot. This round epitomized the will and the spirit of Gatti as both fighters traded powerful hooks. This bloody bout won Ring Magazines Fight of the Year for 2002, which Ward won in a close decision. Their second fight was won on a unanimous decision by Gatti but again both fighters needed a visit to the trauma unit. The last and final fight was another non stopping exhilarating bout that also won Ring Magazines fight of the year for 2003. The two fighters became close friends after their three fights.
In June 2005, Gatti had to defend his title against the rising phenom, "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather. The fight was one sided as Gatti's fire power was no match for Mayweathers speed and skill. After losses to Carlos Baldomir and Alfonso Gomez he retired.
"Guys like me don't come around too often I'm different from alot of guys your not going to see someone like me in a long time, fight to the end and I can take as much as I can give" said Gatti.
After his retirement in July 2007 he moved back to Montreal to pursue real estate. On July 11th 2009, the body of the former junior welterweight champ was discovered dead in his hotel room at a Brazilian tourist resort. He left behind a one year old son.
Gatti was a two-time world champion who retired with a record of 40-9 with 31 KOs. Gatti's rise and fame was attributed to his indomitable will to never surrender to an opponent. He was a gladiator in the theater of modern boxing that stimulated crowds and left his legacy on the sport.
Published: Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Arturo "Thunder" Gatti was once the most compelling boxer the world had ever seen. He is best characterized as a modern day Rocky Balboa with his no surrender and a dramatic appeal. Shortly after his retirement, boxing lost its true warrior when he tragically lost his life in a suspected suicide in Porto de Galinhas, Brazil. He was only thirty seven years of age.
A Jersey City native, Gatti was a true throwback fighter to the golden era of boxing. He galvanized crowds with his ferocious brawling style and untamed heart of a lion. His punch and get punched style gave audiences heart wrenching minutes of hellacious boxing.
He did not possess the skills of Cassius Clay's nifty foot work, the blinding hand speed of "Sugar" Ray Leonard, nor did he have the crafty defensive skills of Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker. He was a just a fighter with a rare inner strength that the boxing world admired.
Gatti was born in Italy on April 15, 1972, but raised in Montreal. After his fathers death at the age of 15 Gatti dedicated his father's memory through boxing. He fought his way to six Canadian Golden glove titles but did not want to compete in the Olympics and shortly after turned pro at age 19.
When he moved to Jersey City he garnished his toughness and developed his bones as a boxer. Jersey City being a tough and blue collar city symbolized his tenacity and never-quit attitude.
Gatti's thunderous power gave him a record of 16-1 and14 KO's. In 1994 he got a title shot when he challenged (25-2) Pete Taliaferro for the USBA title and won his first belt.
In 1995 he beat Tracy Harris Patterson, a two-time division world champion and current IBF 130 lbs. belt holder. After this he TKO'd Wilson Rodriguez in stunning fashion and the bout got Fight of the Year. His savage pugilistic style made him a fan favorite.
After gaining fame he began to get sucked into the party scene and dropped his next three bouts. His father once told him that he can't be a fighter and a rock star; you have to be one or the other; you can't be both.
He lost to Angel Manfredy and Ivan Robinson twice which one of the fights won fight of the year for 1996. On March 24, 2001, he squared off against "Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya. De La Hoya outclassed and knocked out Gatti in the 5th round.
"You can do one of two things when you leave the gym, you can go to your hotel and worry about your bruises on your face or you can go and play golf cause your not getting hit in the gym" said Gatti's newly hired head trainer and former champion James "Buddy" Mcgirt. Mcgirt started to retrain Gatti in the sweet science and began sharpening his skills.
His next bout was the epic trilogy between Gatti and tough journey man Mickey Ward. According to boxing historian, Bert Sugar, these fights had the sensational drama of, Ali and Frazier's Thrilla in Manila. Gatti vs. Ward was an electrifying slugfest that saw both fighters refusing to surrender. In the 9th round Gatti went down and got up from a pulverizing body shot. This round epitomized the will and the spirit of Gatti as both fighters traded powerful hooks. This bloody bout won Ring Magazines Fight of the Year for 2002, which Ward won in a close decision. Their second fight was won on a unanimous decision by Gatti but again both fighters needed a visit to the trauma unit. The last and final fight was another non stopping exhilarating bout that also won Ring Magazines fight of the year for 2003. The two fighters became close friends after their three fights.
In June 2005, Gatti had to defend his title against the rising phenom, "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather. The fight was one sided as Gatti's fire power was no match for Mayweathers speed and skill. After losses to Carlos Baldomir and Alfonso Gomez he retired.
"Guys like me don't come around too often I'm different from alot of guys your not going to see someone like me in a long time, fight to the end and I can take as much as I can give" said Gatti.
After his retirement in July 2007 he moved back to Montreal to pursue real estate. On July 11th 2009, the body of the former junior welterweight champ was discovered dead in his hotel room at a Brazilian tourist resort. He left behind a one year old son.
Gatti was a two-time world champion who retired with a record of 40-9 with 31 KOs. Gatti's rise and fame was attributed to his indomitable will to never surrender to an opponent. He was a gladiator in the theater of modern boxing that stimulated crowds and left his legacy on the sport.
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