Ward-Gatti: The Final Chapter

By Tom Donelson

08.06 - Gatti began the first round by continuing his strategy of the second fight by using his superior boxing skills and fighting Ward from the outside. For three rounds, Gatti moved in and moved out; throwing combinations and Ward was being given a boxing lesson. Ward attempted to jab and box but there was no fluidity to Ward's movement. He looked like a fish out of water. Ward always had an awkward style and on occasion, looked off balanced. Mickey Ward's fight was to move forward with one goal- unleashed his vicious left hook to the body. After 20 rounds, Gatti understood this and his movement neutralized Ward's strength, as Ward could not catch the more elusive Gatti.

The fourth round changed the tone of the fight. Gatti unleashed a right hand to Ward's hip and grimaced. He broke his hand. Throughout the round, Ward connected with body shots and slowed down Gatti's movement. Gatti returned to the corner and told his trainer, Buddy McGirt that his right hand was hurt. McGirt asked, "What do you want me to do?" Gatti simply said, "I'll keep fighting," and McGirt explained to Gatti how to fight with one hand. Gatti was a warrior and for him, this was do or die, for his career was at stake. Pride took over and Gatti came out in the fifth, firing jabs. Keeping Ward off balanced and occasionally throwing a right or I should say, pushing a right, Gatti managed to pull out the fifth round.

The sixth round saw Ward catching up to Gatti, forcing Gatti to fight. Ward nailed Gatti with two left hooks and clubbing right and Gatti went down. Ward attempted to finish Gatti off but he couldn't. Gatti fought back tenaciously and countered with left jabs and hooks. Both fighters managed to throw nearly 200 punches that round. There were almost as many punches thrown in that round than in the entire heavyweight battle between Michael Grant and Dominick Guinn in the preliminary. By suriving the sixth, Gatti took control of momentum for rest of the fight as Ward could not take advantage of Gatti's sore right hand or the knockdown.

Gatti came out in the seventh with one strategy, box and move. As the fight progressed, Gatti started throwing the right hand more. Gatti figured that he could not damage the right anymore and besides, he had a fight to win.

Through the seventh thru the tenth round, Gatti was the quicker of the two fighters as he managed to out punch Ward. Gatti jabbed and his right hand landed enough to keep Ward off balanced. Ward countered with hard body shots but Gatti was out maneuvering the slower Ward. Both men fought through their fatigue and pain. Gatti won the decision but this final act was almost as good a fight as the first one. It is hard to improve on a masterpiece but these men managed to create a second masterpiece. While the score was one sided with Gatti winning by 96-93, 96-93, 97-92 margins on the official scorecard, the scores did not reflect the ferocious combat that took place within the ring. Gatti was the better fighter but both men won the hearts of boxing fans. For 30 rounds, these men demonstrated what was good and noble about boxing.

For Ward, this was the last battle and he ended with a big payday. Mickey Ward had nothing left to prove or fight for. Ward had his moment in the sun and it was time to say good- bye. Gatti showed skills that I did not think he had left and at the age of 30, he still has a serious shot at a championship. For Gatti, his victory meant not just a championship over Ward but he demonstrated that he could still fight at a championship level.

Gatti has to be considered to a serious challenger to Kostya Tszyu, the current 140-pound champion. Last year, I wrote that Gatti's best days were behind him and that the results of the various wars turned him into an old 30. Somehow the wars with Ward rehabilitated Gatti's career and showed that "Thunder" Gatti had the flexibility and conditioning to box and move for an entire fight. If he fights Tszyu the same way he fought the first three rounds of this fight, he could actually beat the Russian champion. As for Ward, he will retire with the reputation as fighter who gave all he had and left nothing in the ring. Not a bad legacy.