Arturo Gatti was a special fighter

[Bhopreign]

Look at this round. I can't think of another fighter who today who could absorb this much punishment and keep going. He may not have been the fastest, most powerful but look at his heart, his chin and his determination. In that aspect he is P4P number 1. Mayweather despite being a great fighter who wouldn't allow himself to get into this kind of fight and take even half the beating Gatti took in this round, would proberbly throw in the towel and give up. That is not a knock on Mayweather either I can't think of ANY fighter today with this type of grit.

I forgot how great Gatti really is, that last thing i can think of are his losses to Mayweather and Gomez. They don't really put his career in perspective. There was some discussion about whether Gatti should be in the HOF, watch the Ward fights, the Robinson fights the fight against Ruelas and try and make a claim that he doesn't deserve to be there.

No disrespect but this shows the limited power and boxing ability of Ward to finish Gatti off if you ask me, didnt take Floyd nor Gomez that long.

[MikeBrew328]

I am not dogging him. I love Gatti he gave so much to the sport. But look at who he has beat and who he has lost to. His best wins were probably against Tracy Patterson. Micky Ward wins were just hell wins, no accomplishments, he just gave all he had and won. Now look at who he lost to. Ko loses to Baldomir, Mayweather, and De La Hoya just to name a few. Gatti gave us amazing moments but sorry not HOF

Gatti was shot before the Mayweather fight. I'm not saying Gatti would ever beat Mayweather in 100 fights, but he had no business fighting Floyd after he fought Micky Ward. Before that fight, he had a pretty decent career, he was good in the superfeatherweight division, light weight and light welter but was never big enough at 147. Plus by the time he reached welter he was a beat up fighter.

One thing I can't stand about him. He'd get hit once and almost instinctly dropped his hands and get hit numerous times. He'd even do it when he blocked a shot. He took a tremendous amount of unnecessary punishment in his career. (a lot of uncontrollable punishment too). I hope it doesn't affect him in life now

[LOLORSKATES]

he won titles a two weights with limited gifts, he had ring ****zine fight of the year award 3 times. Fighters have gotten in with less.
HELL if Bert Sugar gets in Gatti gets in.

You do understand that someone like Bert Sugar, a journalist, gets in the IBHOF under the "Spectators/etc" category and not as a fighter, right?

The qualifications for getting in the IBHOF for a trainer, journalist, or a manager is different from a fighter. Five fighters are inducted every year regardless of how many journalists are in already.

[Thread Stealer]

he won titles a two weights with limited gifts, he had ring ****zine fight of the year award 3 times. Fighters have gotten in with less.

I don't think Gatti's gifts were quite as "limited" as people say. He had some athleticism, pretty good hand speed and legs, coordination, he could have good combos as his punches were "free-flowing", respectable boxing ability.

When he lost 3 fights in a row in 1998 and was having wars before this against Rodriguez and Ruelas, he was known to undertrain and party way too much and had drug and alcohol problems.

If he had trained and took care of himself outside the ring the way he should have, he probably could've won some of those fights that he lost.

[Thread Stealer]

Gatti will probably get in Canastota, but there's a number of fighters who aren't in there that are eligible that I'd like to see in there before Gatti.

Brian Mitchell
Julian Jackson
Esteban Dejesus
Donald Curry
Marlon Starling

To name a few.

[MANGLER]

Gatti was a helluva warrior. He don't need to be in the HOF to be remembered by fight fans. **** Max Kellerman for ****tin on him like he did after the Gomez loss last summer. Thunder ain't an ATG but he's one of the most exciting fighters ever.

[PWESTNYC]

Gatti was a helluva warrior. He don't need to be in the HOF to be remembered by fight fans. **** Max Kellerman for ****tin on him like he did after the Gomez loss last summer. Thunder ain't an ATG but he's one of the most exciting fighters ever.

AMEN brother.

I dislike Max Kellerman for saying what he said. It was the end of a career for probably the greatest action fighter the sport has ever seen and that ****head ragged on him after the fight questioning his accomplishments.

Then , I noticed during the Katsidis vs Casamayor fight he was giving many props to Gatti . People must have gotten on him and given him **** for all his comments and he felt like making ammends.

[MaTTuP]

The beating Gatti took in the 8th round of the Gatti-Ward I was one of the worst I have ever seen with the possible exception of most of Paulie's fight with Cotto.

Ward could have hit him in the head with a ball bat and he wasn't going down. I don't think he lacked defense but he always has fought in spurts and gets tagged a lot when tired.
He's definately HOF worthy though.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

he won titles a two weights with limited gifts, he had ring ****zine fight of the year award 3 times. Fighters have gotten in with less.
HELL if Bert Sugar gets in Gatti gets in.

Fight of the year isn't a criteria. Mickey Ward has a few. Ae you putting him in the Hall?

BTW, remind me how Gatti "won" that second title.

[Johnny Rebel]

Fight of the year isn't a criteria. Mickey Ward has a few. Ae you putting him in the Hall?

BTW, remind me how Gatti "won" that second title.

Are you putting Chico in the HOF?

Gatti has far more accomplishments in the ring and deserves to be (and no doubt will) in the HOF!