By James Slater: On this day in boxing history, two important things happened: in 1985 Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns met in what was arguably the best middleweight title fight in history – a fight that had THE best single round in boxing history. While on this day in 1972, future legend Arturo Gatti was born.
Sadly, as we all know, “Thunder” passed away in July of 2009 (with still no definitive answer as to what happened that tragic day in Brazil), but had he lived Gatti would have turned the milestone age of 40 today. All we can say is, “happy birthday, Champ,” and wish he was still with us.
For who will ever forget the thrills this amazing warrior with a ton of heart and limitless bite-down courage and guts provided his sport with? Gatti’s truly awesome trilogy with fellow warrior (and good friend) Micky Ward is the stuff of legend (and soon to be further immortalised in a sequel to the hit move “The Fighter” we hear), and the Italian-born Canadian who lived in New Jersey gave us plenty more fistic fabulousness.
Some highlights from the incredible career of “The Human Highlight Reel:”
WU12 Tracy Harris Patterson, Dec. 1995 – Gatti’s first world title winning fight and one of his first classics.
WU12 Patterson, Feb. 1997 – the rematch.
WTKO5 Gabriel Ruelas, Oct. 1997 – an awesome slugfest with a stunning ending.
LS10 Ivan Robinson, Aug. 1998 – Gatti lost this one, and the return, but he sure gave his all in providing some of his most mesmerising action.
LU10 Robinson, Dec. 1998
LM10 Micky Ward – May 2002 – Arguably THE greatest action fight of Gatti’s entire career, with a round that Emanuel Steward told us was “the round of the century!”
WU10 Ward and WU10 Ward, Nov. 2002 and Jun. 2003 – Putting way more than just the finishing touches to this once-in-a-lifetime trilogy.
Gatti won world titles at super-featherweight and light-welterweight and he took part in a number of Fights Of The Year.
Quite simply, there will never be another fighter like him.
Gatti’s final pro record: 40-9(31).