Nobody will deny the excitement Arturo Gatti (W 40-8 (31 KOs) brings to the ring. Being from Philadelphia, I watched him fight his very first fight, and I hope last night in Atlantic City, I watched him fight his last.

Old blood and guts, displayed blood and guts, but did not display any respect for one of the greatest trainers in boxing, or his rugged, work horse opponent, Carlos Baldomir (43-9-6, 13 KOs), and he paid dearly for it. He was told to use his speed, to box the naturally, bigger, stronger Baldomir, but he instead decided to play to his home crowd, with ridiculous antics, like bouncing off the bottom rope, and flipping to his feet after slipping in the ring. It was great stuff, had it been the WWE, but when you’re fighting for a world title, your trainer, your peers, and the boxing world expects you to be a professional, to relish the opportunity, and more importantly, to listen to the valuable information your trainer is feeding you in betweens rounds.

Carlos Baldomir was in a rare situation that he took seriously, and took his fight to Gatti. After losing the first round, he proceeded to try to force Gatti into a war, which he would not be able to win. His camp had that plan all along, and although McGirt knew exactly what to do, Gatti decided to try to play Rocky, and found out rather quickly, that the role of the working class, durable, and consistent fighter, was clearly given to Carlos Baldomir.

Baldomir has not lost a fight in 7 years, and 20 matches. He beat a very good fighter in Zab Judah, and should have been given the respect he so honorably deserved.

I asked Buddy McGirt, over a month ago, about what Gatti should do with Baldomir. He said and I quote; “Well, the thing with Baldomir is, you have to box him, and you have to fight him. You have to break him down. You can’t just sit there in the pocket and brawl, because even though he is not a big puncher, he is very strong, and very consistent.” We all know McGirt knew what to do, but you never know who is going to show up, when Gatti steps into the ring.

There is a Gatti that can box, and has the speed to counter punch, and score points. Then there is the Gatti that plays to his fans and friends in the crowd, and insults his competition. This fight above all else was a microcosm of  Arturo Gatti’s fights. He showed us, he can take a shot, box when he wants to, but ultimately he is going to do, exactly what he wants to do in the ring. I loved watching Gatti fight over his career. The very thing that I believe lost him his biggest fights, was sometimes the very thing that kept us all buying tickets, and cheering for him. However, at some point, a fighter has to realize that winning a world title is a lot more important than trying to live up to his own media created persona.

Baldomir saw the prize, and took it. Gatti never saw it, and watched it brawl right past him with a few hundred right hands to his jaw.

Mike Casile

“The Philadelphia Boxing Report”
MIkeCasile@philaboxingreport.com
www.philaboxingreport.com

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