11.03.05 – By Jim Amato: It looks like June 25th will be the date on which WBC 140 lb. champ, Arturo Gatti takes on the vastly talented Floyd Mayweather Jr. This bout could do two things for Gatti. A win would probably secure a spot for him in the Hall Of Fame. A loss wound more then likely end his fabulous career. One thing is for sure, Arturo will have himself a nice payday. No boxer today deserves it more then Gatti. He is a fighter from the old school type who paid his dues with his own blood and a heart the size of Canada..
What are Arturo’s chances of winning? In my opinion slim to none. As talented as Gatti is he will be facing a man who may be the best boxer pound for pound in boxing today. Mayweather is a fistic marvel in the mold of a young Sugar Ray Leonard.
Whatever Arturo can do well, Floyd can probably do better. Gatti is a crafty boxer when he choses to be but there’s no way he’ll outbox Floyd. Gatti carries some pwer but Floyd is the sharper hitter with the much quicker hands. This should give Floyd the edge in most exchanges.
Floyd is a master at defense while Arturo tends to get hit quite often Also Arturo has a tendency to cut. That could be a real problem against a sharpshooter like Floyd.
The big edge for Gatti is his tremendous courage. This is not to say that Floyd lacks it. Floyd has not been put in the countless situations that Gatti has been in. Time and time again Arturo has answered the call. I feel certain that against Mayweather he will again have to call upon all his will and raw courage. The question is, will it be enough to pull out a victory?