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ARTURO GATTI: TEACHING AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS... |
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ARTURO GATTI: TEACHING AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS... |
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Saturday night true boxing fans got treated to one of the most spectacular encounters that boxing has to offer, a genuine war between
Arturo "Thunder " Gatti and "Irish" Micky Ward. The fight was reminiscent of the fights from the early 1930's. This fight has thrust itself
miles ahead of any other fight in the running for Fight of the Year.
I think everyone that is a true fight fan knew that this match-up could bring out those kind of results, I think it lived up to the hype and more.
What was most intriguing about the fight was how Gatti looked like a completely different fighter altogether since the arrival of his new trainer
Buddy McGirt, a former Welterweight and Jr. Middleweight Champion of the World. Although Arturo didn't win the fight he looked better in
this fight than he has at anytime in his career.
I wasn't sold when I saw his total destruction of Terron Millet even though he showed flashes of brilliance as a boxer. Gatti did not appear to
be the same fighter that the crowd has come to know as a true warrior and a profuse bleeder, who at anytime can sway the verdict his way
with one perfectly landed punch, be it the right-hand or the left-hook. I sat at the edge of my seat waiting to see the old Gatti show up, he
never did; at least not in the Millet fight. He boxed intelligently and stayed out of harm's way throughout, but the fight ended abruptly.
On May 18th I was once again mesmerized by the boxing skills of Arturo Gatti, only difference this time is that he would be extended and
would he be able to maintain what appeared to be this new found boxing ability to be hit and not be hit. Gatti looked amazing as he ran off
countless combinations on Micky Ward. He was in, he was out, he had great range and what appeared to be excellent timing. Well of course
in the heat of the battle the old Arturo would show his almost forgotten presence, as he appeared to throw his new found boxing ability out
of the window, going back to the Gatti that true boxing enthusiasts have come to know.
He would not disappoint, neither would Micky Ward; as the fight became and all out war of pure guts and glory, and in the end Micky would
prevail and emerge victorious, by the smallest of margins. There was no real losers on this night, as the crowd was entertained with one of the
best fights in the history of the sport and in the end you had two extremely classy guys give praise to one another's effort and are willing to
put their bodies through mass destruction once again.
I felt a little bad for my friend Buddy because he has made Gatti much more complete and versatile in terms of his boxing career, maybe
even adding a year or two to his boxing future if he can fully embrace McGirt's teaching. Gatti will be even more entertaining than he has
been in the past; I applaud all involved in this fight.
I also saw and heard something that is rare in boxing in Gatti's corner when Buddy cared enough about his fighter as a person to tell him "I
don't want you taking no unnecessary punishment." It showed genuine compassion for the man he was working for and although at the time
Gatti was possibly winning, that speaks volume about the character of Mr. Buddy McGirt, a former prize fighter and a champion whom at one
time may have been in that exact same scenario.
I think Buddy has shown the entire world that you CAN teach an old dog some new tricks. Arturo Gatti is still a work in progress but he's
getting there thanks to Buddy McGirt.
