Is Arturo Gatti a HOF?

[Clegg]

Barry McGuigan has done a lot for other boxers behind the scenes over the years. People always bring him up as if he's a terrible inclusion, but you have to remember that part of the reason for him being there is what he did outside of the ring.

Besides, McGuigan's best win (Pedroza) is better than Gatti's best win.

I like Gatti, but I don't think winning x number of paper titles is enough if you don't have the wins to match the other guys that are being put up for the vote, and IMO there are other guys not yet in there who deserve it more than he does.

[Thread Stealer]

Really, what's the clear-cut criteria on HOF standards?

I'm personally feel it should be more about your ring accomplishments and I guess you can say I'd rather it be more of a "Hall of Great" than "Hall of Fame".

So because of that, I'd say no.

But since the criteria for induction isn't defined clearly, and it is the Hall of Fame, I won't be bothered that much if Gatti gets in. After all, Jose ****ing Suliaman is the IBHOF. Gatti did good for the sport, Suliaman is a piece of excrement.

[brently1979]

I dunno about that. He only ever got battered by elite fighters such as Oscar and Floyd, plus he made an impact on the sport with his Ward trilogy. Even if he didn't die, I think they would induct him for that reason. It isn't just sport it is entertainment too.

I also think you need to look up the people who do make it in the IBHOF. The bar isn't set very high and basically anyone and everyone who is a someone in the sport is eventually inducted in to the HOF. How many boxing fans do you know who haven't heard of Gatti? He would have and should have made it into there anyway.

I agree, I think he would have been in even if he didn't die. I think he belongs in there for sure. Without a doubt. He did a lot for boxing, just ask HBO.

[Shadow boxer 3]

he will get in cause of his heart, the exciting fights he was in, and he had a fanbase. the fact that he was murdered at a young age almost makes it certain he gets in

[Tuggers1986]

I wonder how this poll would have looked a week ago

[mickey malone]

Barry McGuigan has done a lot for other boxers behind the scenes over the years. People always bring him up as if he's a terrible inclusion, but you have to remember that part of the reason for him being there is what he did outside of the ring.

Besides, McGuigan's best win (Pedroza) is better than Gatti's best win.

I like Gatti, but I don't think winning x number of paper titles is enough if you don't have the wins to match the other guys that are being put up for the vote, and IMO there are other guys not yet in there who deserve it more than he does.

Discretion being the better part of valor, I won't mention any names, but recently, an ex pro friend of mine organized a charity function in Northern Ireland.. Many other ex pros showed up & gave their support.. A cordial invitation was also sent out to McGuigan.. Barry (by far, the biggest name) responded by sending back a price list, quoting his extortionate hourly rate.. It was then decided to contact him directly by phone in order to persuade him.. Regretably, he declined the opportunity..
I KNOW McGuigan has done countless good for the sport, & I've ALWAYS admired him for it.. But on this particular occasion, he proved far less than positive..

[BennyST]

Reasons why gatti is not a hof'er

didn't win one round in his brutal, one sided losses to mayweather and de la hoya

lost to journeymen like ivan robinson, mickey ward and alfonso gomez

never defeated a single hof fighter.

Loved to see him fight, but he was not a hof'er

I don't know about that man. You're listing solely his worst points. His losses to Mayweather and Gomez were when he was severely past it. He was never a WW fighter, moving up to fight the best WW at that time in Oscar, Oscar also happened to be a very good WW then too.

I wouldn't necessarily call Robinson a journeyman either. He was never that great but at the time he fought Gatti he was at his best and his best was pretty damn good.

Anyway, while you list only his bad points, why not show his good also?

He was a two time, two division champion and made three defenses of his SFW title that he won off the great fighter Tracy Patterson. He also made three defenses of his JWW title, losing it to the P4P No. 1 in Mayweather.

His resume is actually pretty good. Tracy Patterson (long time SBW and two time, two division champion), Calvin Grove (FW champ), Gabriel Ruelas (SFW champ), Joey Gamache (two division champ), Terron Millett (JWW champ), Leonard Dorin (undefeated JWW champ), Jesse James Leija (two time champion), along with some great fighters and top contenders such as Wilson Rodriguez 44-7, Micky Ward 37-11, Gianluca Branco 32-0, Thomas Damgaard 37-0. That's not such a bad resume for a guy that supposedly could only lose to a journeyman.

Edit: Oh, and admittedly, I also don't believe he should be admitted to the HOF based on his accomplishments because there are better fighters that haven't made it, but he also brought great fights to an otherwise slightly lackluster era and brought a new legion of fans. On that side of things I could understand why he would get in and maybe think he should.