Travis Marks @ ringside

After he defeated Zabdiel “Super” Judah for the “disputed” undisputed welterweight championship, reigning WBC welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir (photo by Tom Casino) out of Santa Fe, Argentina did not receive the credit he deserved for winning the fight. Instead all the post-fight talk centered on how immature Judah still was and how unfocused he was in the ring. The most popular question was how could Zab lose to this bum knowing that he had a fight with pound for pound king “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather in the near horizon?

By defeating blood and guts warrior Arturo “Thunder” Gatti in front of a packed house at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City last night, Carlos Baldomir cemented himself as a legitimate champion in the welterweight division and is now a forced to be reckoned with.

In the opening round of the bout Carlos Baldomir came out attacking Arturo Gatti. The first flush punch that Baldomir landed was a straight right over the left guard of Gatti. It sounded and looked like a hard shot but Gatti took it well. However that right hand found a home on the left side on Gatti face and head all night long..

As is customary, Gatti fought Baldomir back with everything he had. He tried to mount an attack and at times caught Baldomir coming in. However Baldomir was very prepared. It appears that he must have studied Mayweather’s “white-washing” of Gatti on June 25, 2005. Baldomir found success coupling his straight right hands with left hooks both to the body and the head. That strategy was the blueprint that Mayweather used as he thoroughly dismantled Gatti.

In the second round Baldomir continued his assault by landing that right hand over and over again. Baldomir is a thinker in the ring. He not only throws the straight lead right hand to the head he also finds a target to the chest of his opponents. As the round progressed Gatti’s fans got excited by every punch Gatti threw, whether it connected or not. But Baldomir was unrelenting. He never gave Gatti a chance to breathe.

After trainer James “Buddy” McGirt took Gatti under his wing he made Arturo more of a conventional boxer. Due to the urging of McGirt, Gatti began utilizing his jab and threw his power shots off of that jab in his fights. Last night the accuracy of Baldomir’s straight right hand leads forced Gatti to put his shotgun jab back into its holster for fear that he would be hit.

By the end of the third round Gatti had the look of a fighter who realized that he would have to do something dramatic to turn the tide in his favor. He had just taken a vicious pummeling from Baldomir that left him staggering to the ropes at the sound fo the bell. Gatti throughout his career has been in drama filled bouts but last night was different. Gatti’s offensive output was unmistakably limited. He stopped trying to lead and his offensive output became simply just a defense against the oncoming attacking Baldomir.

The fifth round was a damaging round for Gatti as Baldomir just continued his dominance. He beat Gatti from “pillar to post”. Only the heart of Gatti kept him from succumbing to the pressure of the champion. Baldomir continued to punish Gatti with his aggression and accuracy, landing 51 of the 79 punches he threw. Last night, The Argentinean showed that he is a fighter here to stay and not just visiting. He put on a world class beat down on one of the more popular fighters out there today.

The end of the bout came at 2:50 of the ninth round when Gatti was floored for the second time by a left hook in that round. Gatti was sprawled out on his back and referee Wayne Hedgepeth was left with no other option than to wave the bout off without a count.

Baldomir is now a legitimate player at welterweight. He has earned the chance to call some shots. Beating Judah was no easy feat, even Mayweather can testify that and now with a dominating knockout win over Gatti under his belt in front of such a huge audience his stock has surely risen.

In the post fight press conference Baldomir said that he wants to fight either Mayweather or WBA welterweight champion, Great Britain’s Ricky “Hitman” Hatton. The chances of getting Mayweather in the ring seems likely for two reasons. First of all Floyd would get the lion share of the purse and secondly Baldomir holds the WBC version of the welterweight championship, a belt that Mayweather covets.

McGirt said something interesting as he left the arena last night. He said that Baldomir would give Mayweather a very tough fight because Carlos is very strong. McGirt contends that even Mayweather would have difficulties with Baldomir’s strength and pressure.

Contact writer at travioso76@yahoo.com

Carlos Baldomir TKOs Gatti in 9

By Frank Gonzalez Jr.

July 23rd, 2006 - Saturday night in Atlantic City, Arturo “Thunder” Gatti (40-7, 31 KO’s), took a beating in front of his hometown fans at the hands of WBC Welterweight Champion, Carlos Baldomir (42-9-6, 12 KO’s) of Argentina.

The fight was stopped late in the ninth round after Baldomir caught Gatti against the ropes and landed a barrage of punches, capped off by a left hook that put Gatti down. When Gatti got up, Baldomir pounced on him for the finish, landing another left hook that put Arturo down, forcing the stoppage.

It was clear from the opening moments of the fight that Gatti’s power couldn’t hurt Baldomir. Baldomir recognized that and forced Gatti into brawls that Gatti couldn’t win.

The Fight

The first was a feel out round. Baldomir’s right hands got to feel Gatti’s face and body often. Gatti landed a few shots but Baldomir landed stronger and more often.

Baldomir used his jab nicely in the second, always pressing the action and tagging Gatti with something. Gatti’s arms looked too short to catch Baldomir. Gatti’s left eye started to swell. Baldomir landed a clean right and a body shot that rocked Arturo.

By the third, Baldomir was having a party with his right hand, landing it at will over Gatti’s guard. Gatti seemed caught between whether to box or brawl and just couldn’t get into gear against the harder working Baldomir.

Baldomir’s confidence was soaring in the fourth as he continued to dominate the exchanges and always managed to land flush rights to Gatti’s face. Gatti IS a warrior and he made his stand, blasting Baldomir with a big right hand to the chin. Baldomir just kept coming forward, knowing Gatti could not hurt him.

The fifth was more of the same, with Baldomir cracking Gatti against the ropes and when Gatti rallied back heroically…it wasn’t enough and Baldomir just doled out more punishment. Gatti looked on the verge of going down from all the rights he was eating.

It was a one sided affair with Gatti losing round after round, eating Baldomir right hands in the sixth round, when suddenly, Gatti took a shot to his right wrist that froze him for a second, while pain said hello. Baldomir approached with punches even as the ref was stepping between to inspect Gatti. Gatti threw some shots in retaliation over the ref at the swinging Baldomir.

With a damaged right hand, Gatti stayed outside in the seventh, worked his jab and slipped most of Baldomir’s offense. He rarely threw his right hand but with his left, he landed good, clean shots. Unfortunately, nothing he did ever shook the iron chinned Baldomir. The only round I gave Gatti was the seventh, because he managed to out box and neutralize Baldomir with superior footwork, feints and jabs. A message of too little, too late in terms of what strategy Gatti might have successfully employed earlier.

In the eighth round, Gatti went down during an exchange at center ring from what looked like a push. Gatti jumped up gymnastically and drew applause. He then proceeded to get walloped by Baldomir. Gatti went down in the corner from a combination of a punches and a loss of balance. It was ruled a slip.

Gatti was overmatched but managed to have a few good moments when he boxed outside, jabbed and moved in and out with punches. The slicker boxer style Gatti currently employs somehow keeps his left hand too low in defense, which made him vulnerable to Baldomir’s right hands all night.

In the ninth round, Gatti was back to boxing outside and doing well until Baldomir cut off the ring, cornered Gatti and started to throw combinations. Gatti went down, it was ruled a slip. A moment later, Baldomir landed a hard low blow. It seemed accidental and Baldomir was very apologetic. When action resumed, Baldomir got Gatti on the ropes and unleashed his arsenal. A left hook snapped Gatti’s head and he went down. This time, it was properly ruled a knock down. Gatti got up on the count of 8, the referee gave him at least five more seconds before allowing action to resume and when it did, Baldomir went for the finish, throwing a flurry and another left hook grazed Gatti just enough to send him back to the canvas forcing the stoppage.

Baldomir retained his Title.

Win or lose, Arturo Gatti always gave the fans their money’s worth. His fights have always been exciting. Though Gatti is only 34 years old, his boxing age is more like 50, considering all the wars he’s put his body through. Every fighter has an expiration date and I suspect that Arturo Gatti is thinking about that date right about now. He’s had a hell of a career, made lots of money and fans around the world love him. What more could a fighter ask for?

This might be a good time for Gatti to consider other pursuits in life and take his rightful place in the Boxing Hall of Fame. He definitely deserves it.

Congratulations to Carlos Baldomir, who demonstrated his tenacity and durability when he beat the inconsistent Zab Judah last January with grit and determination and again in Atlantic City with a strong showing against the always dangerous, Arturo Gatti. It has been seven years since Baldomir lost a fight. Beating Arturo Gatti in the twilight of his career may be more a big name on Baldomir’s resume than the best challenge the division had to offer but Baldomir has made it clear, he wants to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Ricky Hatton.

If he has any intent on fighting Antonio Margarito, I haven’t heard about it. Margarito, the WBO Welterweight Champion, is possibly the best in the division, yet no one is rushing to fight him. Do we really have to guess why that is?

The Welter division has a good stock of fighters. Somehow, I doubt Mayweather will fight Baldomir or Margarito. He’s busy chasing Oscar De La Hoya for the money. I doubt Oscar will dishonor his trainer to fight his trainer’s son regardless of rumors. Mayweather needs to stop chasing guys that are past their best days anyway and fight guys who are in their prime now. THAT would be the mark of greatness.

Mayweather would be wise to fight Baldomir and Margarito in an attempt at consolidating the Titles at 147. Consider that in the last two years, Mayweather has fought DeMarcus Corley, Henry Bruseles, Arturo Gatti, Sharmba Mitchell and Zab Judah. Not exactly a best of the best list that would justify ‘best pound for pound’ status. As talented as Floyd may be, he has a lot left to prove.

Its not enough to just assume Floyd can beat the top guys in the division. He will only be top p4p if he consistently fights the best fighters (in their prime) and beats them. Remember Roy Jones Jr.?

There are some tough dogs at 147. Antonio Margarito, Carlos Baldomir, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Luis Collazo, Carlos Quintana, Shane Mosley, Kermit Cintron and Oscar Diaz come to mind.

Margarito (33-4-0, 24 KO’s) is slated to fight Cosme Rivera (30-9-2, 21 KO’s) in September. What a waste. Mayweather is not slated to fight anyone so far as I know. Hatton needs to go back to 140, but he’s scheduled to fight Urkal Oktay (37-3, 11 KO’s) in December. What a waste. It looks like Mayweather vs. Baldomir could be a very real scheduling possibility. Since there are no commissions to mandate that Champions fight each other, lets see what Floyd decides.

Carlos Baldomir - Arturo Gatti: Thunder Fades In The Distance

photo by Tom Casino

By Wray Edwards

23.07.06 -Like a force of nature, Arturo Gatti came over the boxing horizon in earnest as he captured the IBF Super Featherweight Title from Tracy Patterson on December 15th 1995.  The young Canadian had traveled across the river from his New Jersey second home to the crown jewel of Boxing - Madison Square Garden.  There, he brought his stormy style onto the national scene. 

Then, after a couple more bites from the Big Apple, it was back to Atlantic City to thrill a growing throng of fanatical admirers. Fight after fight, the “B” fighter with the A+ heart endeared himself to the rowdy crowds from the rough streets of Hoboken and Union City to the brick canyons of Newark.  He was the perfect blue collar Hero for these enthusiastic, brawl-loving groupies.  Last night the WBC Welterweight Champion, Carlos Baldomir, used his stronger, older body to introduce Arturo to his ultimate destiny, and that which all fighters must one day face. 

Gatti’s Argentinian instructor last night also hails from a second home…it’s on the left coast – Los Angeles.  In fact their roots from the streets, to the gym, to the U.S. were similar. There was, however, one important difference.  Gatti had, during his professional career, moved up through the weight classes from featherweight to welterweight.  Carlos, on the other hand, has always fought at or near welterweight.  Thus we had a newcomer to the division attempting to take on a well-established welterweight fighter who had recently stunned many by defeating the rowdy Zab Judah. 

Still, Carlos was a slight underdog until the first round of the fight when it became clear that he might have quite a lot to say about that.  Round One was typical of the first six, with Gatti attempting to box, as he had been trained to do against Branco, and likewise was instructed by Buddy McGirt to repeat versus Carlos.  Baldomir would have none of that and bulled forward at every opportunity. 

Even though Gatti was reported to be faster and supposedly enjoyed a three inch reach advantage, he seemed to have trouble getting to Baldo at boxing range, and as Carlos closed in each time Arturo was tempted to brawl.  Gatti looked positively willowy next to the thicker Baldomir.  Arturo’s best punches kept motivating Carlos to walk through them and deliver endless rights.  There was a minor head clash in this frame. 

I gave Round Two to Gotti as he seemed the more effective.  Round Three ended with a real slug-fest, and as the bell rang Gatti was a bit wobbly as he steadied himself by a left hand on the ropes as he headed for his corner.  During Round four a small abrasive cut opened under Gatti’s right eye.  No biggie.   

At 1:30 of the Fifth Round Carlos bombs Arturo around the ring and traps him in the corner…Gatti is in real trouble.  First real hurt to Gatti from Baldo shots and he’s pretty chopped up through the rest of the round.  Gatti actually briefly staggered Carlos a bit in this one. 

At 2:16 of the sixth Baldo leans way to his left and throws an “underhand” left at Arturo’s right hip as Gatti leans to his right, his right elbow is partially trapped by the blow.  Gatti straightens up, looks at his left forearm and holds it with his left glove Carlos charges in while Gatti is distracted by something that has happened to his arm. Gatti backs up and holds his right arm up as if trying to get it working again. 

Perhaps a nerve pinch (post fight they did not ask him about it).  At this point Ref Wayne Hedgepeth is rushing to get between the fighters, and trying to restrain Carlos with the back of his right hand (it appears that he thinks Gatti is injured and wants to check it out).  Gatti is standing in an awkward position with his right hand up and his left at his side.  Carlos charges past the ref’s right arm, and lunges a vicious right cross to Gatti’s chin, which rotates Arturo’s head to the right. 

Arturo gets fired up about this and tries to attack Carlos with a lunging left as the ref is still trying to get between them.  Gatti cocks another left and almost blasts Wayne with it. 

During much of the Sixth and mostly through the Seventh Round Baldomir seemed to back off quite a bit and began to wait for Arturo to come in.  When Gatti did Carlos would counter, and pretty much thrash Gatti’s defenses around while getting in scary power shots.  At 0:09 of the Eighth Carlos makes a really low blow with his left, and as Gatti walks away Baldomir follows him to apologize before the Ref responds…if he saw it at all.  Carlos and Arturo maintained a professional and sportsman-like attitude throughout the bout…to the point that Larry complained. 

At 2:40 of the Ninth round Baldo catches Gatti with big right at which point Gatti, for some reason, begins to bounce up and down on the second strand with his butt. At 1:19 Arturo misses with a sweeping left which leaves that glove at waste level as he falls forward, off-balance.  As he straightens up, he leans into a strong Baldo right which stuns him, and as he tries to fight back, Carlos traps Arturo against the ropes and delivers an absolute flurry of lefts and rights 

At 1:04, with Gatti still against the ropes, a Baldomir overhand right is arcing down toward the left side of Arturo’s head.  Just before Carlos’ glove makes contact, Gatti intentionally spits out his mouthpiece. Was he thinking of Corrales when he did that.  Wayne Does nothing about it. He then sits down on the second strand again trying to avoid Carlos’ attack.  I watch the blow five or six times in slo-mo, and Gatti definitely purses his lips and is spitting out his piece just before the punch connects. 

At 0:36 Baldo catches Gatti with a stinging left hook.  Gatti’s own left lashes by out of control as he falls to his right face-first to the canvass.  He gets up, pleads his case and is allowed to continue 0:18.  Again against the ropes Arturo is pummeled by Carlos who catches Gatti with a left to the right temple at 0:13 (unlucky for Arturo) and Gatti goes down on his back with his feet in the air (a la Hawkins v Peter).  The ref pulls his mouthpiece and calls the bout.  

No one doubts Arturo’s courage.  He appears not suited to compete as a welter.  In fact he probably should retire.  He admitted to that possibility during the post fight interview.  The man has been in a lot of wars and still seems to have all his faculties…now’s a good time to take a new road Arturo.  Watching him work so hard at Elite in Vero and make so many exciting efforts, has been a pure pleasure…win or lose. 

Fernando Vargas didn’t do any better against Shane Mosley last night than he did last week.  As I said then, about Fernando Vargas:  “Go do something else.”    In the course of eight days we have seen, perhaps, the end of two signal boxing careers.  It is not arrogant or careless sentiment which prompts us to encourage these brave men to think twice.  Everything in life is timing.   Age is one consideration, but ability is king in sport.  “It’s not bragging if you can do it.”  It IS foolishness to continue, if you can’t.  See you at the fights.