Comments Thread For: “Fighting Words” – An Apologetic ‘No’ for Arturo Gatti

[MrFynest]

When people are inducted into the hall of fame, it is an attempt to honor them in way that transcends time; in a way that acknowledges that their temporal achievements or attributes are worthy of timeless honor. As such, there is no cookie cutter way of ascribing such greatness, for with some, the sheer force of their accomplishments assures them of greatness. For others, there are intangible qualities that add to one's legend or the lore of the sport. And of course there are those cases where the combination of one's accomplishments and the qualities that they espouse, together become worthy of timeless recognition. While Gatti was in fact a champion several times over, his contribution to the sport cannot be reduced to this or any other statistic. What Gatti posessed was the greatest heart of anyone in the sport during his tenure; the degree to which he was willing to take punishment and still dig deep to garner the strength to recover and move forward. And that never say say die attitude is one of qualities that all the greats share to some degree and which others who were just good, lacked. Where boxing is considerred to be a metaphor for life, it is the inangible qualities of the heart that serve to inspire us. The reason Gatti's fights were so widely viewed, was because they touched all of us at that soulful, timeless level that even reminded each of us that we can fight harder within our own arenas. He may not have been the greatest champ who ever lived ,but he had the greatest heart of any champion of his time and he moved all of us in way that few in the sport ever did. Give him his due and put him in the hall; he has earned it and for all of the reasons we seek to immortalize greatness.

Should Mickey Ward be inducted as well? He's everything you described Gatti to be. Heck they even made a movie about him as well.

[I Love Jesus!]

Our mission is to honor and preserve boxing's rich heritage, chronicle the achievements of those who excelled and provide an educational experience for our many visitors.

That is directly from the IBHOF website.

on that note I think he should get in he might not be all time great resume wise but he is all time famous and should be a part of any boxing education.

[StrangerInTown]

The Racket Squad: This Is Prizefighting, Not The Nobel Peace Prize

In an age of multiple, lack luster Sweet Science participants, many who refuse to meet the very best, the saga of 'Thunder' is not a tale to be toyed with.

Why the writer selects Mr. Gatti as insufficent for The Hall bleeds with a hypocrisy that resounds through squared circles aroung the globe.

There are prizefight dancers, sluggers, artists, craftsmen, deviants, saints, blessings and creeps and all have a place in a joint where the name of the ultimate game, on any given night, is kill or be killed.

Save the speeches about 'deserving' for the Harvard Rowing Society.
This is Canastota where a Don King can live in glory and men who never threw a punch for pay are enshrined.
Boxing is the land that mob boss Blinky Palermo controlled in the Golden Age before Golden Boys ruled with red headed novelty acts that command 2 mil for fighting men half their age and size.
Arturo was below such ultimate class?

The man was the definition of a true fighter, a sportsman, a man who knew what friends meant, a father, a son, a haunted soul, an all action warrior and much much more.
He was, for better or for worse, why most view the pay per punch ranks.

The Robinson, Ruelas and Ward contests are the stuff of legend.
And that is the point is it not?
Arturo Gatti is a legend who earned his final resting place and as well has 'earned the hard way' his deserved position in The Boxing Hall of Fame.
Anything less would be as they say in the game' highway robbery'.

[StrangerInTown]

Should Mickey Ward be inducted as well? He's everything you described Gatti to be. Heck they even made a movie about him as well.

Ward is a given.

Most fighters are poor, working class warriors whose greatest gift is determination.
But as in many persuasions of occupations, many are called and few are chosen

Mickey and Arturo are linked for eternity for a very good reason.

They were chosen.

[sammiza567]

Ward is a given.

Most fighters are poor, working class warriors whose greatest gift is determination.
But as in many persuasions of occupations, many are called and few are chosen

Mickey and Arturo are linked for eternity for a very good reason.

They were chosen.

this. gatti and ward and hatfield and mccoy. pb&j, they go together. i can not comprehend how anyone could not consider him a hof lock. it will be a travesty if he is not in.

[crold1]

Ward is no given. If he was, he'd be on the ballot already. If gatti gets in, that is Ward's induction. Ward has no business being inducted individually.

[anonymous2.0]

My opinion is that if Michael Buffer can make the boxing HOF, why not Gatti?

[Sin City]

I love Gatti but I too disagree with him getting in.
the bar should be high and the title of "hall of famer" should only be for the best of the best.

[pacmanis1]

I love Gatti but I too disagree with him getting in.
the bar should be high and the title of "hall of famer" should only be for the best of the best.

This. I see where a lot of people here are coming from when they say he should and a part of me agrees, but I think the HOF should be something truly special. Perhaps my idea of what a HOFer is is just too high. IMO you have great fighters, than you have legendary fighters, than you have hall of fame fighters. When it comes to being the stuff of legends Gatti was that. I just don't think he was head and shoulders above his peers to be in the HOF.

[MARKBNLV]

Ward and Gatti are not Hof fighters they both lost to c-b class competition in their primes and when either of them stepped up they were clowned and sent back to fnf except for Gatti of course who had a tremendous Jersey following whick kept him on hbo bad cards.