Gatti-Ward boxing rivalry of 21st century: Rubber match June 7 in Atlantic City

14.04 - LOWELL, Mass. – Boxing legacies are often the product of great rivalries.

Fighters sometimes need each other to be properly remembered, their accomplishments secondary to historical arch rivalry. Mohammad Ali had Joe Frazier, Sugar Ray Leonard needed Roberto Duran, and the names of Tony Zale and Rocky Graziano are practically synonymous as one.

Today it’s extremely rare for boxers to fight each other multiple times and rubber matches are, unfortunately, nearly non-existence. “Irish” Micky Ward 38-12 (27 KOs) and Arturo “Thunder” Gatti (35-6, 28 KOs) have captured the hearts and minds of boxing fans all over the world with their two memorable matches, leading to the marquee headline of “Greatest Boxing Rivalry of the 21st Century,” one that will be completed June 7 with Gatti-Ward III in Atlantic City.

These noble warriors have split a pair of sensational “throwback” type of fights, Ward winning a 10-round decision last May in the consensus “2002 Fight of the Year,” Gatti taking a 10-round decision this past November. Ward, of course, hopes that his rivalry with Gatti will be a carbon copy of Zale-Graziano. The former won the first and third matches and Micky plans on going into self-imposed retirement June 8 on a high note.

“There’s no question Micky Ward needed Arturo Gatti to put a conclusion to his great career,” Ward’s advisor Lou DiBella explained. “There’s also no question that Gatti needed Ward to elevate his greatness with this trilogy. Gatti never had an HBO contract, despite so many great fights, until he beat Micky Ward. The Gatti-Ward trilogy is huge for both fighters. They will have leave a mark together long after their boxing careers are over.”

Before they square off in the ring, however, Ward and Gatti are scheduled to together receive “The Harry Markson Award” for “Fight of the Year” at the 78th annual Boxing Writers Association of America’s 78th annual awards dinner April 25 in New York City.

Rarely have two fighters demonstrated as much genuine respect for each other as Arturo and Micky. Gatti and Ward, Ward and Gatti -- whichever way is preferred -- will always be remembered together, not only for what they did in the ring, but for what they have done for boxing. That is the legacy they will leave behind.