Ward v Gatti III: Gatti defeats Ward in another classic

By James McDonnell

09.06 - It was a fight which judged by any other criteria other than it's own two predecessors, would have been considered a barnstormer. However, on the occasion, the third fight between these three men, which has produced a hall of fame calibre trilogy, didn't live up to the violent beauty of 1 and 2.

The reason for this in short, was Gatti's almost total dominance. Despite suffering a broken hand in the third round, and even being decked in the 6th, Gatti won the fight with relative ease.

At the weigh in, both men scaled 142 pounds, and both looked in their best fighting shape, as one would expect of two men about to engage in such a loaded battle.

Gatti started the fight much as Buddy McGirt would have ordered. The man responsible reshaping the career of the man who has become more lightning than thunder under his skilful grooming, would have been pleased with his fighters adherence to his tactics.

The first round began very cautiously, but it was first blood to Gatti, who began working the body immediately, landing a jab/left hook to the body. It was the work to the body for me, that was the key to this (and the last) fight, and Gatti was obviously under instruction to take Ward's legs away early on.

Wisely throughout the fight between rounds, sagacious McGirt entreated his fighter to work to the body, a salient comment given the stamina sapping effect of such shots, especially on an older fighter like Ward. This also removed one of Ward's chief weapons, as he was not able to deliver his own body shots, deterred from moving forward by Gatti sharp digs to the ribs

The first three rounds were unfolding in a similar fashion to the 2nd fight, with Gatti landing to the head and body with flashing combinations, until that was, Gatti caught Ward on the left hip, in the dying stages of the third round.

The replay clearly showed Gatti shaking the offending gloved fist, and grimacing as he tried to contain the pain. At this point in the fight, Gatti had been cruising, but now he had major problems. Gatti whispered something to McGirt between rounds, and after a private conflab, McGirt reassured Gatti, '.but you're boxing beautifully baby.'

However, Ward was not without some success in the fight.

In the 4th Gatti appeared panic-stricken, understandably, facing as formidable a warrior as Ward with only one good hand, and not his strongest either.

Sensing all was not well with Gatti, Ward poured forward, bulling his man from the very start of the round. The fleet-footed, almost elegant movement Gatti displayed in the first 3, disappeared in the 4th, as he pawed with the jab, allowing Ward to close.

Ward responded by ripping hooks to the body and head, not the cleanest of shots, but hard and punishing nonetheless. Near the close of the round, Ward landed a massive right cross, and Gatti was forced to respond with a double left.

The power balance had certainly shifted in Ward's favour, at least for the time being.

Gatti though, was not to be overcome, even by a broken hand. He collected himself, and after careful direction from McGirt, fought brilliantly with his one good hand. He turned his left hand beautifully, landing stiff jabs, followed by single and double hooks to the body and head.

It was a mark of just how far Gatti has progressed under McGirt since the first fight with Ward. Fighting with only half his arsenal, he landed at will on ward, whose legs began already to look weary. The Gatti who first fought Ward would have been eaten alive with only 1 good hand, but that fighter seemed a different opponent from the one seen this night.

Gatti caught Ward with 2 rapid and punishing lead left hooks, and Ward suddenly looked all of his 37 years, a booming left uppercut, punctuated with another left hook staggered Ward, and Gatti remarkably closed the 5th with his man badly hurt, even with a broken right hand.

The sixth was all Gatti, who began to enjoy his work. He looked both relaxed and focussed, his shoulders loose, and his arms and legs flowing in perfect unison as he positively capered around the ring.

Ward was already beginning to look extremely fatigued, a cumulative dissipation caused by his advancing years, the toll of all his hard fights (especially his last two), and the vigour sapping effect of Gatti's earlier body shots.

Ward every now and then would stop momentarily to pull up his trunks, a habit he has had for years, and would simultaneously suck in a breath of life giving air, as if working a set of bellows, before trudging forward into the line of fire.

Gatti was picking him off at will now, even landing the right hand occasionally. They were not massive shots, but they were crisp and came with alarming and painful regularity.

Ward was gradually being broken down, and it seemed like he was on a rapidly downward spiral.

In an instant that perception was made mockery. Out of nowhere, after being dominated for the entirety of the round, Ward produced a short staccato left hook, which travelled no more than six inches. Catching Gatti flush on the point of the chin, it immediately doubled his legs up, and he juddered to the canvas.

In another fight this would have seemed remarkable, but we have come to expect such sudden volte-faces from these two men, who have given us such treasured memories.

It came too late for Ward to capitalise however, and in any case, Gatti eyes were clear, and his legs returned to a state of stability as soon as he arose. Between rounds he was examined by the ringside physician, to check for signs of neural trauma, but Gatti sounded remarkably calm and collected.

McGirt appeared to act like a balm in moments like these during the fight, and his clear, concise and insightful instructions between rounds demonstrated that he is an excellent cornerman as well a potentially great trainer.

By the time the start of the 7th came around, Gatti was ready and certainly able for combat once more, and as Ward rushed out to meet him, the crowd roared their approval.

It was to be the best round of the fight, and the round most reminiscent of their first tumultuous battle.

Ward roared into life, as Gatti surged forward to meet him, Gatti got their first with a left jab and a clubbing left hook to the head, Ward returned the favour with a massive right cross, and Gatti was forced to jab his way out of trouble.

Ward was pouring it on, but within 20 seconds, the Irish storm had blown itself out. Gatti, rather than retreating had stood his ground, his faster hands gradually dissipating the gale of Ward's desire.

As Ward gradually came to a halt, Gatti upped the ante, teeing off with a left hook, right hook to the head, and a left hook to the body which drew a grimace from Ward. Another left right left followed, and Ward stood rocking from the impact like a becalmed ship under fire.

By the 8th, it was now clear Ward was trading on pride and his formidable will alone. His legs could no longer close the distance on Gatti, who still sprang around his foe, tormenting him with fast and accurate combinations with the left. After a few seconds at the beginning of the round, when Ward fired off the jab, he began puffing hard, and ceased to close the gap.

A left hook to the body halted Ward in his tracks, and he stopped for a moment, totally still, and heaved in a huge gulp of air, as re-inflating himself after the injurious shot.

Gatti was totally focussed on his opponent now, watching every slothful movement of Ward, wide eyed with the effects of his adrenaline heightened perception, he seemingly couldn't miss Ward, as he rolled slowly forward on a weary and inexorable journey to defeat.

In the final round, Gatti put on a grandstand finish. The pain of the broken hand numbed by the palliative effects of his coming victory. He even broken into a brief shuffle, picking his feet up imperiously as if a courtier at a dance.

Ward just ushered him forward, for one final violent waltz In the final 30 seconds, Ward thrust the last of his energies into a final salvo of punches, trapping Gatti along the ropes, he fought the torpor of his limbs as he heaved one final enormous effort.

It wasn't to be, and Gatti responded in kind, in a final mere hint of a brawl, which faintly echoed the violent beauty of their first contest.

His last explosion of effort contained, nullified, Ward staggered backward to the centre of the ring, and gulped down the humid air of the Atlantic city convention centre, as he breathed what was possibly his last breath as an active combatant.

All in all, Gatti's performance was not far from flawless, aside from his brief hiccup in the 4th and the flash knockdown in the 6th, he had used his superior skills and assets brilliantly, against a weary but determined foe.

I feel certain that a two-handed Gatti would have stopped Ward, who by the 5th round was running on near empty.

From here, where? For Ward, hopefully retirement beckons for this bravest and hardest working of fighters, who even at 37 had retained the sculpted and firm flesh of a man 10 years his junior.

Ward has given enough to boxing, and in the last three fights of his career, boxing has given him enough back financially, for him to be able to quit with his pride and hopefully his health intact, to spend the money he finally made, and bask in a career which saw him give his all in every fight.

For Gatti however, it is the future of his career that is of interest, not the past.

There are those I have spoken to recently, who almost unbelievable to me, said they didn't care who won this fight, and that the two men were just two journeymen whose fights weren't of the least significance to the division.

I have to say I disagree entirely. Gatti showed himself to be a league apart from Ward on this night, and looked to me a genuine class act.

The metamorphosis from crude and foolhardy brawler to hard punching, fleet-footed boxer is nothing short of amazing, and McGirt deserves all the credit in the world for his efforts with Gatti, who now looks like a fighter reborn.

People seem to forget, that Gatti has held a major world sanctioning bodies belt previously, albeit at Super Featherweight. Gatti though is undeniably strong at Jr Welter, as is anyone who can repeatedly hurt Gatti as often as he did.

With Kostya Tszyu moving up to welterweight in all likelihood, the division is wide open. De Marcus Corley looks far from unbeatable, and there will be a likely division of titles between the top men in the division should Tszyu move up to welterweight to challenge Corey Spinks.

I can easily envisage an eliminator between the likes of Gatti, Sharmba Mitchell, Ricky Hatton, and DeMarcus Corley materialising, following the split of these titles, and to my mind, Gatti stands as good a chance as anyone.

Hatton v Gatti would be a monumental, not to mention highly profitable fight, and I have to say judging by Gatti's newfound versatility, it would be a terrifically difficult contest for Hatton to win, with his essentially limited though effective style.

Whoever he fights, I think Gatti has an excellent chance, and while I cannot see him being a dominant champion like Tszyu has been, there is no telling how far his association with McGirt will take him.