24.03.05 – By Mike Indri, Retired Boxers Foundation – Photo*: Dave Scardino/RBF: All the big boxing people involved with the Arturo Gatti vs. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. “Thunder & Lightning” Championship fight set for June 25 in Atlantic City, to be broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View, were present for today’s kick off press conference at the popular Copacabana restaurant – with the glaring exception of Arturo Gatti.
While the Main Events team of Kathy Duva, Carl Moretti and Buddy McGirt spoke on behalf of the sickened Gatti, Team Mayweather was not so understanding.
“I’ve been chasing him (Gatti) for years and he ain’t even here today. If he was here today I’d give him a card for a good plastic surgeon – come June 25th he is going to need it!” stated Mayweather, Jr..
Boxing’s most talented fighter also added, “I have no respect for him as a fighter. Fighting Gatti is going to be easy – it’s easy money. I’m going to punish him, step on him, in his own backyard!”
An extra long-winded Roger Mayweather, Floyd’s uncle and trainer, spoke about the “ultimate deluxe package”, referring to the proposed beating that his nephew has in store for Gatti. Fortunately, for most, Main Events CEO Kathy Duva had an answer for the “Black Mamba’s” verbal barrage – reminding Roger that he personally was 0-2 against Main Event’s fighters during his fighting days (a unanimous decision loss to Pernel Whitaker as well as suffering a first round knockout at the hands of Rocky Lockridge).
Obviously Roger isn’t privy to the hourly parking rate in NYC!
Both camps showed confidence in their fighters.
Top Rank’s Bob Arum stated, “Mayweather is far and away the best fighter today. He has fought great fighters-beat them all-and made it look easy.” The legendary promoter added, “He is the most talented, pure fighter I’ve ever seen.”
Buddy McGirt, the world champion fighter turned world champion trainer, sees it differently. “Floyd has bit off a little more than he can chew! It’s going to come down to the seventh, eighth and ninth rounds when nuts and guts have to be put on the line – Arturo Gatti will beat Floyd Mayweather!”
Tickets will go on sale Friday, April 8th and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1 (800) 736-1420. The Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall, site of this World Super Lightweight Championship fight, is readied to hold an estimated crowd of 12,000.
HBO’s Pay-Per-View broadcast is priced at $44.95 and will start at 9PM.
This highly anticipated bout comes down to a battle of boxing’s “pound-for-pound” champions.
“Flamboyant” Floyd Mayweather, (33-0 with 22 KO’s), is boxing’s best, most talented fighter. His talents are unparalleled and he is boxing’s “pound-for-pound” most gifted fighter.
Arturo “Thunder” Gatti, (39-6 with 30 KO’s), hasn’t beaten a fighter near the caliber of Mayweather. While not as talented, not as skilled, and not possessing the blazing hand speed of the flamboyant one; Arturo Gatti has the intrinsic talents of a true champion – heart, courage, and more heart. He is boxing’s “pound-for-pound” most exciting fighter.
Most of boxing’s so-called experts will tell you, that on paper, Gatti’s chances are slim-to-none. Fortunately for boxing fans, fights aren’t fought on paper – they are fought in the ring.
On June 25th Gatti and Mayweather will fight in the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall boxing ring, the “Arturo Gatti ring”, with the 12,000 members of “Team Gatti” therein.
Slim-to-none? Don’t tell that to Michael Bentt, Oliver McCall, Buster Douglas, or Arturo Gatti.
* PHOTO CAPTION; “Flamboyant Floyd” Mayweather promises that “IF” Arturo Gatti shows up on June 25th he will punish him! Photo by: Dave Scardino/RBF