Boxing

Gatti Yanked From Mitchell Purse Bid

EAST ORANGE, NJ (March 24, 2003) – Add Arturo Gatti's, 35-6 (28 KOs), name to the long list of suitors who are afraid to step-up and take on a "Little Big Man."

Gatti's promoter, Main Events, informed the IBF this morning that Gatti would not be participating in its jr. welterweight title elimination bout against "Little Big Man," SHARMBA MITCHELL, 51-3- (29 KOs), effectively scrubbing the purse bid that had been scheduled for Noon today.

"Obviously Main Events was not confident Gatti could beat Mitchell," said Gary Shaw, whose company Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, promotes Mitchell. "I guess Main Events would rather see Gatti lose a title shot opportunity than lose a title elimination bout. It is too bad, a fight between two former world champions and the top-two contenders would have been a win-win situation for boxing fans, getting a great fight and seeing the winner become the true mandatory challenger."

Per the IBF's title elimination decree, Gatti will drop from his position as the No. 1 contender to below No. 5.

"I am grateful to the IBF for enforcing its title elimination order and I look forward to moving ahead and getting Sharmba his deserved shot at becoming the mandatory challenger to Kostya Tszyu. Since Main Events rejected any discussion of making a Zab Judah - Sharmba Mitchell title elimination bout, I have made an offer to Omar Weis to fight Sharmba in May. I am hopeful we can successfully conclude the negotiations this week."

Weis, 36-4-3 (16 KOs), moved into the IBF's top-five ratings by winning a lopsided unanimous decision over then- No. 3 IBF-rated Emanuel Augustus in February. He is better known as being the man who dished, previously undefeated and WBA No. 1-rated contender, Hector Camacho, Jr., his first loss.

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