23.07.04 – The “human highlight film”, Arturo Gatti, returns to Atlantic City, NJ on July 24 to make the first defense of his WBC super lightweight crown when he battles former WBA lightweight champion Leonard Dorin. The electrifying fight card will take place at Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall and will be hosted by Caesars Atlantic City and Bally’s Atlantic City. HBO will broadcast the Gatti-Dorin bout and a 10-round jr. welterweight contest between Francisco “Panchito” Bojado and “Jesse” James Leija, beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/ 6:30 p.m. PT.
Tickets, priced at $350, $200, $150, $100, and $50, will go on sale beginning Friday, May 28. They can be purchased at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall Box Office, by calling TicketMaster at 1-800-736-1420, or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
“Arturo Gatti, an Atlantic City fan favorite and one of boxing’s hottest fighters, returns to Boardwalk Hall to make his first title defense against hard-hitting, number-one contender Leonard Dorin,” said Ken Condon, President of Bally’s Atlantic City. “This battle for the WBC Super Lightweight championship will surely be the summer’s hottest ticket.”
Gatti (37-6, 28 KO’s) has participated in the “Fight of the Year” five times (1996-1998; 2002-2003). The 32-year-old Montreal, Canada native and current Jersey City, NJ resident captured the vacant WBC super lightweight title on January 24, 2004, when he defeated WBC #1 ranked contender Gianluca Branco in front of 11,000 fans at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ (W 12). The Branco bout was Gatti’s first since his epic trilogy against Mickey Ward in 2002-2003.
Dorin (22-0-1, 8 KO’s) captured the WBA lightweight crown on January 5, 2002, when he defeated defending champion Raul Balbi via split decision (W 12). The 34-year-old Ploiesti, Romania native who now resides in Montreal, Canada successfully defended his title twice before jumping to the jr. welterweight division. In his first bout at 140 lbs. Dorin stopped Chucky “Chucky T” Tschorniawsky in four rounds (TKO 4).
Bojado (16-1, 11 KO’s) has won his last seven bouts. The 21-year-old Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico native is the WBC Continental Americas jr. welterweight champion. USA Today selected Bojado as its 2001 “Prospect of the Year”. In his last bout on May 8, 2004, Bojado dominated Andre Eason on NBC’s “Budweiser Boxing Series” to earn a lopsided unanimous decision victory (W 10).
Leija (46-6-2, 19 KO’s) has won four of his last five bouts. The 37-year-old San Antonio, TX native’s sole loss during this time period was a six round stoppage at the hands of former undisputed jr. welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu (TKO by 6). Leija is a former WBC super featherweight champion who fought three memorable bouts against Ghanan legend Azumah Nelson. Since turning pro in 1988 Leija has fought some of the sport’s finest boxers, such as Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley, Azumah Nelson, Kostya Tszyu, Gabriel Ruelas, Micky Ward, Ivan Robinson, and Juan Lazcano.
The July 24 evening of boxing will be presented by Main Events in association with DiBella Entertainment and InterBox and hosted by Caesars Atlantic City and Bally’s Atlantic City and. It will take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City and be broadcast on HBO’s World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:30 PM ET/6:30 PM PT.