Micky Ward

Some fights are only truly appreciated years after they took place. Other fights are instantly recognized as special; in some cases, super-special.

The great, the all-action every time, the simply unmatchable Arturo Gatti, should be celebrating his 49th birthday today. Instead, as we all lament, the most exciting fighter of, not only his era, but perhaps any era, lost his life at the far too young age of 37, this back in July of 2009.

Together, Arturo Gatti and Mickey Ward shared 30 rounds of ring battle. At the end of the savage rivalry (savage in the ring, the two men became great friends, each full of admiration for the other out of it), Gatti won, 2 fights to 1.