Sharkie’s Machine: “The Exception To The Rule”

photo: ring99.com

Arturo “Thunder” Gatti vs. “Irish” Mickey Ward
(34-6-0-27 KO’s) (38-11-0-27 KO’s)

Part II

24.11 - By Frank Gonzalez Jr.: Once again, the Pride of Lowell Massachusetts battles the Thunder from Jersey City N.J. in a battle of two of the truest warriors of our era in Boxing.

In this age of predictable mismatches, overpaid under-achievers and classless loudmouths who taunt more than they fight, Gatti and Ward are the exception to the rule. These guys gave boxing fans an encore performance of last May’s candidate for ‘Fight of the Century’. The rematch had all the thrills and excitement of the first fight but there was something missing. That something was Ward’s ability to keep the balance with Gatti, who used outstanding boxing skills to deliver his shots without taking as much in return.

Ward is typically a slow starter, in the first fight; he lost the first three rounds to Gatti who out-boxed him. In the rematch, Ward lost the first round but looked very good in the second, then suffered a staggering blow in the third that almost ended the fight. But on wobbled legs and visions of stars circling his head, he managed to not only survive the round but to hurt Arturo with some of his own shots late in the round.

When they met last May in Connecticut, it was a WAR. Two fighters who represent the sport of Boxing at it’s best went toe to toe and in the end, a winner emerged on the Judge’s scorecards. With the success of his powerful hooks to the body, Mickey Ward won that first decision.

There was room for argument that Gatti had won the first fight. But, Arturo lost a point in the fourth round for a low blow and a suffered a knockdown from a vicious Ward body shot in the ninth that must’ve sold the Judges up in Connecticut who scored the ninth round 10-7 in favor of Ward. Not many complained about the decision since both fighters gave so much. It was practically a shame that either man had to lose that fight.

In the rematch, Gatti used his legs and head movement to outbox Ward and keep out of the slugfests that enable Mickey to do his most damage. In this fight, Arturo was the one bombing away at the body of Ward, taking some of the steam out of his 37-year-old body.

The Fight

Round One

Passing on the ‘feeling out’ process typical of first rounds, this looked like the continuation of their last fight with both men plugging away. Gatti had an edge in speed and mobility as he out boxed Ward with effective aggression from the outside. When in close, Gatti would tend to go low with his body and present an awkward target for Ward’s body shots. Ward scored some but Gatti scored more. I gave the round to Gatti, 10-9.

Round Two

Ward comes out aggressively and tags Gatti a few times with combinations to the head and body. Gatti gets away with a pair of low blows that referee Earl Morton seemed not to notice. Ward paid it no mind and never complained. At one point, while in a hold, Ward used his free left hand to pop Gatti repeatedly until Morton separated them. Exchanges went back and forth with both scoring well. I called this round even.

Round Three

Both are aggressive, Gatti catches Ward with an overhand right to the back of his ear that sends Ward into the corner post, knee touching the canvas. Ward’s equilibrium was disturbed by the punch on the ear as he wobbled up and bobbed on his feet, fighting the effect and miraculously not only survived Gatti’s attempts to finish him but actually hurt Gatti with a right left combo to the head that staggered Arturo only a short moment later. The tide turned back and forth as the round came to a close. A gallant round for Ward but I scored it 10-8 for Gatti.

Round Four

Ward came on strong in the fourth, catching Gatti with many good shots. Gatti almost gets drawn in to a brawl but goes back to boxing and does some damage of his own. Ward did more to win this round. Ward 10-9.

Round Five

Gatti follows the instructions of his trainer Buddy McGirt and works Ward from the outside and going low with his head in a crouch when in close, avoiding Ward’s best shots. Ward scores some and opens a cut on Gatti’s eye but Arturo holds his own and scores about as much. I called this an even round.

Round Six

Gatti dances round the ring, full of energy, throwing many punches from all angles and scoring as Ward chases him down with little success. Gatti’s ring generalship shines in the sixth as he controls the tempo and wins the round 10-9.

Round Seven

Arturo seems to own Mickey in the seventh, running circles round Ward and peppered him with body shots like a rival plumber who stole the other mans toolbox. It was Gatti who dominated in the bodywork contest here. Gatti wins 10-9.

Round Eight

Gatti is lighter on his feet and shows he’s the superior boxer. Ward looked slowed and frustrated in this round as Gatti dominates him. Gatti wins 10-9.

Round Nine

Gatti starts to look a little spent as they go back and forth winning little segments of the round. Late in the round, Ward catches Gatti with some good shots but it just wasn’t enough to win the round. Gatti wins 10-9.

Round Ten

The tenth opened with Ward and Gatti hugging in a show of good sportsmanship. Knowing he was losing the fight, Ward showed strong desire to knock Gatti out but Arturo was able to weather Ward’s storm and even took it to Ward midway through the round as he pummeled Mickey against the corner ropes. Ward chased Arturo down but Gatti was able to escape most of Mickey’s best shots. In the closing moments, Ward had Gatti in a slugfest but then the bell rang, it was over. Ward wins the final round 10-9.

* * *

Unlike last weeks fight between Erik Morales and Paulie Ayala, there was no sense of dislike between them. Both fighters sought each other at the end to hug and mug for the cameras, sharing the spotlight together with the kind of grace that’s heart warming and rare in today’s sports.

* * *

In summary, Gatti fought a smart fight. He went to the body early and often, had better footwork and head movement and was extremely well coached, keeping his focus on the strategy instead of allowing his ego to get him into a slugfest where he’d have been possibly at a disadvantage. During the post fight interview, Gatti was complimentary of his opponent, saying he knew Ward would get up after the knockdown and finish the fight.

Ward showed amazing courage and fortitude; surviving that third round much the way Gatti survived the ninth round of their previous fight. Maybe it was the seven-year age difference between them that caught up to Ward? Or maybe it was, as Ward said during the post fight interview, “He fought a good fight, I’m not going to take anything away from him. No excuses, he fought a good fight, a smart fight. I give him all the credit in the world. He’s a great fighter. It was his night tonight, plain and simple. My hat’s off to him and Buddy, his whole camp are great people, dynamite people, they’re an asset to the sport and the better man beat me tonight, that’s all.”

When asked if this was Mickey’s last fight, he said, “Well, if we can get it together again, I’ll give it another shot, if not then…I’ll see what happens.”

Gatti said he hopes to fight Kostya Tszyu if Kostya picks him for a title defense. When asked about his thoughts about a third fight with Ward, he said, “We fought a great fight tonight, it’s one and one now, so a third one I wouldn’t mind.” Ward could be heard saying in the background, “That sounds good.”

Kostya Tszyu has evolved into a perfect fighting machine. He has a great chin, great power, great footwork and boxing skills and fights intelligently. I would favor K.T. to beat either Ward or Gatti. But with the heart these guys bring into a fight, you can never count either of them out.

I’d like to see Gatti fight Ward again. Who knows; next time it might be Ward’s night. But, Mickey’s not getting younger and Arturo is seven years younger than him and appears to be peaking at age 30 with McGirt in his corner. If they do have another fight, it’ll have to be soon, like in the next six-eight months because father time is not on Ward’s side. After losing by such a wide margin in this second fight, is there justification for a third fight?

I say, “Hell yeah!”

The first fight was in Connecticut, which is New England, Ward country. The second fight was in Atlantic City N.J., Gatti country. They are 1-1 vs. each other. Let them break the tie in a neutral locale, like maybe Las Vegas. Another reason they should they have a third fight: To put it plain and simple, because Arturo Gatti and Mickey Ward are the exception to the rule.

Agree or disagree? Send comments to dshark87@hotmail.com