Boxing
Gatti-Ward III on ropes

14.03 - LOWELL, Mass. – With St. Patrick’s Day next Monday, you’d think pro boxer “Irish” Micky Ward, winner of Ring Magazine’s prestigious 2002 and 2001 Fights of the Year, would have good reason to do a traditional jig.

Much to the contrary, though, as negotiations for the much-anticipated Gatti-Ward III fight, erroneously rumored to be a done deal for June in Atlantic City, have hit a major snag over money.

Ward (37-12, 27 KOs) is in New York City to receive an award this evening (Friday) as one of Irish America Magazine’s Top 100. As proud as he is to be honored like this, he’d prefer signing a contract for the rubber match between him and Arturo “Thunder” Gatti, who split a pair of exciting 10-round decisions last year on HBO, including the consensus 2002 Fight of the Year won by Ward last May.

“These are two warriors, throwbacks to the Golden Age of boxing,” LoNano said. “They’ve had two of the best fights in many years and the public wants a third to settle the score. Main Events (Gatti’s promoter) only offered us a 75-25 split, which is unacceptable. Why should Micky take that pay when Gatti wouldn’t have taken it for the last fight? We didn’t have to fight Gatti after we won the first fight, but we did and agreed to do it at 50-50. We’re looking for 50-50 again.

“I have a meeting next week with Micky’s promoter, Lou DiBella, who has done a great job for us. We’ll try and salvage Gatti-Ward III -- everybody in boxing wants it -- but not for what Main Events is offering us. If it can’t be worked out, we’ll start looking for somebody else. It’s a shame because Ward-Gatti is a great rivalry that should be decided with a third match.”

Instead of meeting in the ring where they really belong, the last time Gatti and Ward may see each other in person, unfortunately, could be at the 78th Boxing Writers Association of America’s banquet and dinner April 25 in New York City, where they’ll receive the Harry Markson Award for their Fight of the Year.

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